Section 37 BNSS: Designated police officer
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Section 37 BNSS at a Glance
Section 37 BNSS deals with designated police officer. It replaced Section 41C CrPC on 1 July 2024.
Section 37 BNSS Bare Act Text
37. Control room at districts
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.
Source: Section 37, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Section 37 BNSS in Simple Words
Section 37 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 requires the State Government to set up police control rooms and assign officers to maintain and display arrest records. The State Government shall establish a police control room in every district and at State level.
It shall also designate a police officer not below the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police in every district and in every police station to maintain the names and addresses of arrested persons and the nature of the offence charged. These details shall be prominently displayed, including in digital mode, in every police station and at the district headquarters.
When Section 37 BNSS Applies
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Example of Section 37 BNSS
When Section 37 BNSS Does Not Apply
- A police officer who holds a rank lower than Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police cannot be designated by the State Government to maintain arrest information under Section 37(b) BNSS.
- The duty of the designated police officer under Section 37(b) BNSS to maintain and display personal details and offence information does not apply when a person has not been arrested.
- The requirement under Section 37(b) BNSS for prominent display of arrest records applies at every police station and at the district headquarters, and does not mandate display at the State level control room.
Section 37 BNSS in the CrPC (Previous Law)
Section 37 BNSS replaces Section 41C CrPC from the old criminal code.
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.
View CrPC Section 41C →FAQs on Section 37 BNSS
Who is responsible for maintaining arrest information under Section 37 BNSS?▼
A designated police officer in every district and in every police station is responsible for maintaining arrest records under Section 37(b) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The State Government shall designate this officer, who must be not below the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police. Under Section 37(b) BNSS, the designated officer shall be responsible for maintaining the names and addresses of the persons arrested and the nature of the offence with which charged.
Where and how must arrest details be displayed under Section 37 BNSS?▼
Arrest information maintained under Section 37(b) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 shall be prominently displayed in every police station and at the district headquarters. Section 37(b) BNSS states that this display shall be made in any manner including in digital mode. The displayed information must cover the names and addresses of the persons arrested along with the nature of the offence with which charged.
Where must the State Government establish police control rooms under Section 37 BNSS?▼
The State Government shall establish a police control room in every district and at State level under Section 37(a) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. Because Section 37 BNSS uses the word shall, setting up a police control room in every district as well as at the State level is a mandatory statutory duty of the State Government.
Can a display in digital mode satisfy the display requirement of Section 37 BNSS?▼
Yes, Section 37(b) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 explicitly permits display in digital mode. The provision states that the information about the names and addresses of the persons arrested and the nature of the offence with which charged shall be prominently displayed in any manner including in digital mode in every police station and at the district headquarters.
What changed in Section 37 BNSS compared to the earlier Section 41C CrPC?▼
From 1 July 2024, Section 37 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 replaced Section 41C of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. While the duty to establish district and State level control rooms continues, 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 including in digital mode at every police station and district headquarters, and omits the arresting officer details and separate State database clause.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 18 Oct 2026 ·