Section 150 BNSS: Power of certain armed force officers to disperse assembly

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 150 BNSS at a Glance

Section 150 BNSS deals with power of certain armed force officers to disperse assembly. It replaced Section 131 CrPC on 1 July 2024.

Was CrPC

Section 131 →

Section 150 BNSS Bare Act Text

150. Power of certain armed force officers to disperse assembly

When the public security is manifestly endangered by any such assembly and no Executive Magistrate can be communicated with, any commissioned or gazetted officer of the armed forces may disperse such assembly with the help of the armed forces under his command, and may arrest and confine any persons forming part of it, in order to disperse such assembly or that they may be punished according to law; but if, while he is acting under this section, it becomes practicable for him to communicate with an Executive Magistrate, he shall do so, and shall thenceforward obey the instructions of the Magistrate, as to whether he shall or shall not continue such action.

Source: Section 150, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 150 BNSS in Simple Words

Section 150 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 deals with the power of a commissioned or gazetted officer of the armed forces to disperse an assembly. It applies when the public security is manifestly endangered by any such assembly and no Executive Magistrate can be communicated with.

The officer may disperse such assembly with the help of the armed forces under the officer's command, and may arrest and confine any persons forming part of it. If it becomes practicable to communicate with an Executive Magistrate, the officer shall do so, and shall thenceforward obey the instructions of the Magistrate as to whether to continue such action.

When Section 150 BNSS Applies

  • Section 150 BNSS applies when the public security is manifestly endangered by any such assembly and no Executive Magistrate can be communicated with.
  • Any commissioned or gazetted officer of the armed forces may disperse such assembly with the help of the armed forces under the officer's command.
  • The officer may arrest and confine any persons forming part of the assembly, in order to disperse such assembly or that they may be punished according to law.
  • If, while the officer is acting under Section 150 BNSS, it becomes practicable to communicate with an Executive Magistrate, the officer shall do so, and shall thenceforward obey the instructions of the Magistrate as to whether to continue such action.

Example of Section 150 BNSS

Major Rao is a commissioned officer of the armed forces. The public security is manifestly endangered by an assembly and no Executive Magistrate can be communicated with. Under Section 150 BNSS, Major Rao may disperse the assembly with the help of the armed forces under the command of Major Rao, and may arrest and confine persons forming part of it. If it becomes practicable to communicate with an Executive Magistrate, Major Rao shall do so and shall thenceforward obey the instructions of the Magistrate as to whether to continue such action.

When Section 150 BNSS Does Not Apply

  • Section 150 BNSS speaks of a commissioned or gazetted officer of the armed forces. It does not deal with the dispersal of an assembly by use of civil force, which Section 148 BNSS addresses.
  • Section 150 BNSS speaks of the case where no Executive Magistrate can be communicated with. It does not deal with an Executive Magistrate who may require an officer in command of any group of persons belonging to the armed forces to disperse the assembly, which Section 149 BNSS addresses.

Section 150 BNSS in the CrPC (Previous Law)

Section 150 BNSS replaces Section 131 CrPC from the old criminal code.

Section 150 BNSS has the same heading and the same text as Section 131 CrPC. Neither section refers to another section by number.

View CrPC Section 131 →

FAQs on Section 150 BNSS

When may an officer of the armed forces disperse an assembly under Section 150 BNSS?▼

When the public security is manifestly endangered by any such assembly and no Executive Magistrate can be communicated with, any commissioned or gazetted officer of the armed forces may disperse such assembly with the help of the armed forces under the officer's command.

What may the officer do to persons forming part of the assembly under Section 150 BNSS?▼

The officer may arrest and confine any persons forming part of the assembly, in order to disperse such assembly or that they may be punished according to law.

What shall the officer do under Section 150 BNSS if it becomes practicable to communicate with an Executive Magistrate?▼

The officer shall communicate with the Executive Magistrate, and shall thenceforward obey the instructions of the Magistrate as to whether to continue such action.

What changed from Section 131 CrPC to Section 150 BNSS from 1 July 2024?▼

Section 150 BNSS has the same heading and the same text as Section 131 CrPC. Neither section refers to another section by number.

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Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 20 Oct 2026 ·