CrPC 41C→BNSS 37

CrPC 41C to BNSS 37: Control room at districts

Section 41C CrPC (1973) replaced by Section 37 BNSS (2023)

View CrPC Section 41C →View BNSS Section 37 →

CrPC 41C to BNSS 37 at a Glance

Section 41C CrPC (Control room at districts) is now Section 37 BNSS, in force from 1 July 2024. What changed is set out below.

What Changed From CrPC 41C to BNSS 37?

Section 41C of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 became Section 37 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024. Consolidating Section 41C(1) CrPC into Section 37(a) BNSS is a change of form that keeps the duty to establish district and State level control rooms unchanged. Section 37(b) BNSS newly requires designating a police officer not below Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police in every district and police station, requires prominent display of arrest and offence details including in digital mode at every police station and district headquarters, and omits the arresting officer details and State database.

CrPC 41C vs BNSS 37: Comparison Table

AspectCrPC 1973 (repealed)BNSS 2023 (in force)
Section41C37
HeadingControl room at districtsDesignated police officer
Sub-sections3 sub-sectionsNone

CrPC 41C and BNSS 37: Bare Act Text Side by Side

CrPC 1973 (repealed)

Section 41C, CrPC 1973

41C. Control room at districts.—(1) The State Government shall establish a police control room— (a) in every district; and (b) at State level. (2) The State Government shall cause to be displayed on the notice board kept outside the control rooms at every district, the names and addresses of the persons arrested and the name and designation of the police officers who made the arrests. (3) The control room at the Police Headquarters at the State level shall collect from time to time, details about the persons arrested, nature of the offence with which they are charged and maintain a database for the information of the general public.
BNSS 2023 (in force)

Section 37, BNSS 2023

37. Designated police officer.—The State Government shall— (a) establish a police control room in every district and at State level; (b) designate a police officer in every district and in every police station, not below the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police who shall be responsible for maintaining the information about the names and addresses of the persons arrested, nature of the offence with which charged, which shall be prominently displayed in any manner including in digital mode in every police station and at the district headquarters.

When It Applies: CrPC 41C vs BNSS 37

Under CrPC 41C
  1. The State Government shall set up a police control room in every district as well as at the State level under Section 41C(1) CrPC.
  2. Outside every district control room, the State Government shall ensure that a notice board is kept to display required arrest information under Section 41C(2) CrPC.
  3. Whenever arrests are made, the district control room notice board must show the names and addresses of the arrested persons and the name and designation of the officers who made the arrests.
  4. The State level control room at Police Headquarters shall periodically gather information on arrested persons and the nature of the offences charged against them to maintain a database open to the general public under Section 41C(3) CrPC.
Under BNSS 37
  1. The State Government shall set up a police control room in each district as well as at the State level under Section 37(a) BNSS.
  2. In each district and each police station, the State Government shall appoint a designated police officer holding at least the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police under Section 37(b) BNSS.
  3. The designated police officer shall have the duty of keeping records of the names and addresses of arrested persons along with the nature of the offences for which they are charged.
  4. The arrest and charge records maintained under Section 37(b) BNSS shall be shown prominently at each police station and at the district headquarters in any form, which may include digital display.

What CrPC 41C to BNSS 37 Means in Practice

Under Section 41C of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, arrest notices were displayed on boards outside district control rooms, and offence details were collected for a State level database. Under Section 37 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, a designated officer not below Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police in every police station and district maintains the arrested person details and offence nature for prominent display, including in digital mode, at every police station and district headquarters, without arresting officer details.

FAQs: CrPC 41C to BNSS 37

Did the requirement to establish police control rooms change between Section 41C CrPC and Section 37 BNSS?▼

No, the duty to establish police control rooms did not change in substance. Under Section 41C(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the State Government was required to establish a police control room in every district and at State level. Under Section 37(a) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the State Government shall likewise establish a police control room in every district and at State level, with the earlier sub-clauses combined into Section 37(a) BNSS as a change of form.

How did the details required to be displayed change from Section 41C CrPC to Section 37 BNSS?▼

Section 41C(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 required the district control room notice board to display the names and addresses of the persons arrested along with the name and designation of the police officers who made the arrests. Section 37(b) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 removes the name and designation of the arresting police officers, retains the names and addresses of the persons arrested, and adds the nature of the offence with which charged to the local display.

What new officer designation requirement was introduced in Section 37 BNSS?▼

Section 41C of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 did not require the designation of a specific police officer at each police station or district to maintain arrest records. Section 37(b) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 introduces a mandatory duty on the State Government to designate a police officer in every district and in every police station, not below the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police, who shall be responsible for maintaining the required arrest and offence information.

How did the location and manner of displaying arrest records change under Section 37 BNSS?▼

Section 41C(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 required arrest details to be displayed on the notice board kept outside the control rooms at every district, while Section 41C(3) CrPC required the State level Police Headquarters control room to maintain a database for the general public. Section 37(b) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 instead requires the information to be prominently displayed in any manner including in digital mode in every police station and at the district headquarters.

Disclaimer: This comparison is for informational purposes only. The new criminal laws came into effect on 1 July 2024. Consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 18 Oct 2026 ·