Section 171 BNSS: Prevention of injury to public property

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 171 BNSS at a Glance

Section 171 BNSS deals with prevention of injury to public property. It replaced Section 152 CrPC on 1 July 2024.

Was CrPC

Section 152 →

Section 171 BNSS Bare Act Text

171. Prevention of injury to public property

A police officer may of his own authority interpose to prevent any injury attempted to be committed in his view to any public property, movable or immovable, or the removal or injury of any public landmark, buoy or other mark used for navigation.

Source: Section 171, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 171 BNSS in Simple Words

Section 171 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 deals with a police officer stepping in to prevent injury to public property. The officer may interpose, meaning step in, on the officer's own authority.

One case is an injury to any public property, movable or immovable, that is attempted in the officer's view. The other case is the removal or injury of a public landmark, a buoy or any other mark used for navigation.

When Section 171 BNSS Applies

  • A police officer may of his own authority interpose.
  • The injury must be one attempted to be committed in the view of the police officer.
  • The injury may be to any public property, movable or immovable.
  • The police officer may also interpose to prevent the removal or injury of any public landmark, buoy or other mark used for navigation.

Example of Section 171 BNSS

Rohan is a police officer. In the view of Rohan, Karan attempts to injure a public bench, which is public property. Under Section 171 BNSS, Rohan may of Rohan's own authority interpose to prevent the injury attempted to be committed by Karan.

When Section 171 BNSS Does Not Apply

  • Section 171 BNSS speaks of a police officer interposing to prevent an injury to public property. It does not deal with an arrest to prevent commission of cognizable offences, which is the subject of Section 170 BNSS.
  • Section 171 BNSS speaks of a police officer interposing on his own authority. It does not deal with the duty of police to prevent cognizable offences, which is the subject of Section 168 BNSS.

Section 171 BNSS in the CrPC (Previous Law)

Section 171 BNSS replaces Section 152 CrPC from the old criminal code.

Section 171 BNSS has the same heading as Section 152 CrPC and the same text, except for the wording below. Section 171 BNSS reads any public landmark, buoy or other mark where Section 152 CrPC read any public landmark or buoy or other mark.

View CrPC Section 152 →

FAQs on Section 171 BNSS

When may a police officer interpose under Section 171 BNSS?▼

A police officer may of his own authority interpose to prevent any injury attempted to be committed in his view to any public property, movable or immovable.

What else may a police officer interpose to prevent under Section 171 BNSS?▼

A police officer may of his own authority interpose to prevent the removal or injury of any public landmark, buoy or other mark used for navigation.

Whose view does Section 171 BNSS speak of?▼

Section 171 BNSS speaks of any injury attempted to be committed in his view, which is the view of the police officer who may of his own authority interpose.

What changed from Section 152 CrPC to Section 171 BNSS from 1 July 2024?▼

Section 171 BNSS has the same heading as Section 152 CrPC and the same text, except for the wording below. Section 171 BNSS reads any public landmark, buoy or other mark where Section 152 CrPC read any public landmark or buoy or other mark.

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Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 26 Oct 2026 ·