CrPC 54A→BNSS 54

CrPC 54A to BNSS 54: Identification of person arrested

Section 54A CrPC (1973) replaced by Section 54 BNSS (2023)

View CrPC Section 54A →View BNSS Section 54 →

CrPC 54A to BNSS 54 at a Glance

Section 54A CrPC (Identification of person arrested) is now Section 54 BNSS, in force from 1 July 2024. What changed is set out below.

What Changed From CrPC 54A to BNSS 54?

Section 54A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 became Section 54 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024, with the same heading and the same main text. Where the person identifying the person arrested is mentally or physically disabled, Section 54 BNSS reads under the supervision of a Magistrate where Section 54A CrPC read under the supervision of a Judicial Magistrate, and reads shall be recorded by any audio-video electronic means where Section 54A CrPC read shall be videographed. Section 54 BNSS puts both points in one proviso, where Section 54A CrPC had a proviso and a further proviso.

CrPC 54A vs BNSS 54: Comparison Table

AspectCrPC 1973 (repealed)BNSS 2023 (in force)
Section54A54
HeadingIdentification of person arrestedSame

CrPC 54A and BNSS 54: Bare Act Text Side by Side

CrPC 1973 (repealed)

Section 54A, CrPC 1973

54A. Identification of person arrested.—Where a person is arrested on a charge of committing an offence and his identification by any other person or persons is considered necessary for the purpose of investigation of such offence, the Court, having jurisdiction may, on the request of the officer in charge of a police station, direct the person so arrested to subject himself to identification by any person or persons in such manner as the Court may deem fit: Provided that, if the person identifying the person arrested is mentally or physically disabled, such process of identification shall take place under the supervision of a Judicial Magistrate who shall take appropriate steps to ensure that such person identifies the person arrested using methods that person is comfortable with: Provided further that if the person identifying the person arrested is mentally or physically disabled, the identification process shall be videographed.
BNSS 2023 (in force)

Section 54, BNSS 2023

54. Identification of person arrested.—Where a person is arrested on a charge of committing an offence and his identification by any other person or persons is considered necessary for the purpose of investigation of such offence, the Court, having jurisdiction may, on the request of the officer in charge of a police station, direct the person so arrested to subject himself to identification by any person or persons in such manner as the Court may deem fit: Provided that if the person identifying the person arrested is mentally or physically disabled, such process of identification shall take place under the supervision of a Magistrate who shall take appropriate steps to ensure that such person identifies the person arrested using methods that person is comfortable with and the identification process shall be recorded by any audio-video electronic means.

When It Applies: CrPC 54A vs BNSS 54

Under CrPC 54A
  1. Section 54A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 speaks of a person arrested on a charge of committing an offence, whose identification by any other person or persons is considered necessary for the purpose of investigation of such offence.
  2. Under Section 54A CrPC, the Court, having jurisdiction may, on the request of the officer in charge of a police station, direct the person so arrested to subject himself to identification by any person or persons in such manner as the Court may deem fit.
  3. Under the first proviso to Section 54A CrPC, if the person identifying the person arrested is mentally or physically disabled, such process of identification shall take place under the supervision of a Judicial Magistrate who shall take appropriate steps to ensure that such person identifies the person arrested using methods that person is comfortable with.
  4. Under the second proviso to Section 54A CrPC, if the person identifying the person arrested is mentally or physically disabled, the identification process shall be videographed.
Under BNSS 54
  1. Section 54 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 speaks of a person arrested on a charge of committing an offence, whose identification by any other person or persons is considered necessary for the purpose of investigation of such offence.
  2. Under Section 54 BNSS, the Court, having jurisdiction may, on the request of the officer in charge of a police station, direct the person so arrested to subject himself to identification by any person or persons in such manner as the Court may deem fit.
  3. Under the proviso to Section 54 BNSS, if the person identifying the person arrested is mentally or physically disabled, such process of identification shall take place under the supervision of a Magistrate who shall take appropriate steps to ensure that such person identifies the person arrested using methods that person is comfortable with.
  4. Under the same proviso to Section 54 BNSS, in that case the identification process shall be recorded by any audio-video electronic means.

What CrPC 54A to BNSS 54 Means in Practice

From 1 July 2024, a direction for identification of a person arrested is made under Section 54 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 in place of Section 54A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Where the person identifying the person arrested is mentally or physically disabled, Section 54 BNSS names supervision of a Magistrate and recording by any audio-video electronic means.

FAQs: CrPC 54A to BNSS 54

Where is Section 54A CrPC found from 1 July 2024, and did the main text change?▼

From 1 July 2024, Section 54A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 is found in Section 54 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The main text has the same wording: the Court, having jurisdiction may, on the request of the officer in charge of a police station, direct the person so arrested to subject himself to identification. Both provisos of Section 54A CrPC map to the single proviso of Section 54 BNSS.

Who supervises the identification when the person identifying is mentally or physically disabled?▼

Section 54A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 read under the supervision of a Judicial Magistrate. Section 54 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 reads under the supervision of a Magistrate. In both, the Magistrate shall take appropriate steps to ensure that such person identifies the person arrested using methods that person is comfortable with.

How is the identification process recorded under Section 54 BNSS?▼

Where the person identifying the person arrested is mentally or physically disabled, Section 54 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 reads the identification process shall be recorded by any audio-video electronic means. Section 54A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 read the identification process shall be videographed, in a further proviso.

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: 20 Oct 2026 ·