Section 74 BNSS: Warrants to whom directed

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 74 BNSS at a Glance

Section 74 BNSS deals with warrants to whom directed. It replaced Section 72 CrPC on 1 July 2024.

Was CrPC

Section 72 →

Section 74 BNSS Bare Act Text

(1) A warrant of arrest shall ordinarily be directed to one or more police officers; but the Court issuing such a warrant may, if its immediate execution is necessary and no police officer is immediately available, direct it to any other person or persons, and such person or persons shall execute the same.

(2) When a warrant is directed to more officers or persons than one, it may be executed by all, or by any one or more of them.

Source: Section 74, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 74 BNSS in Simple Words

Section 74 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 deals with the person to whom a warrant of arrest is directed. A warrant of arrest shall ordinarily be directed to one or more police officers.

The Court issuing the warrant may, if its immediate execution is necessary and no police officer is immediately available, direct it to any other person or persons, and such person or persons shall execute the warrant. Under Section 74(2) BNSS, when a warrant is directed to more officers or persons than one, it may be executed by all, or by any one or more of them.

When Section 74 BNSS Applies

  • A warrant of arrest shall ordinarily be directed to one or more police officers.
  • The Court issuing the warrant may direct it to any other person or persons if its immediate execution is necessary and no police officer is immediately available.
  • Such person or persons shall execute the warrant.
  • When a warrant is directed to more officers or persons than one, it may be executed by all, or by any one or more of them.

Example of Section 74 BNSS

A Court issues a warrant of arrest for Gopal. The warrant is ordinarily directed to one or more police officers. Under Section 74(1) BNSS, if its immediate execution is necessary and no police officer is immediately available, the Court may direct the warrant to Rakesh, who is not a police officer, and Rakesh shall execute the warrant. Under Section 74(2) BNSS, when a warrant is directed to more officers or persons than one, it may be executed by all, or by any one or more of them.

When Section 74 BNSS Does Not Apply

  • Section 74(1) BNSS speaks of the person to whom a warrant of arrest is directed. It does not deal with the endorsement of the name of another police officer on the warrant, which Section 76 BNSS deals with.
  • Section 74(2) BNSS speaks of a warrant directed to more officers or persons than one. It does not deal with the form of a warrant of arrest, which Section 72 BNSS deals with.

Section 74 BNSS in the CrPC (Previous Law)

Section 74 BNSS replaced Section 72 CrPC from 1 July 2024.

Section 74 BNSS has the same heading and the same text as Section 72 CrPC, with no renumbered cross-references.

Each sub-section below names its own source.

FAQs on Section 74 BNSS

To whom is a warrant of arrest ordinarily directed under Section 74 BNSS?▼

A warrant of arrest shall ordinarily be directed to one or more police officers.

When may a Court direct a warrant to another person under Section 74 BNSS?▼

The Court issuing the warrant may, if its immediate execution is necessary and no police officer is immediately available, direct it to any other person or persons.

How may a warrant directed to more officers or persons than one be executed under Section 74 BNSS?▼

Under Section 74(2) BNSS, it may be executed by all, or by any one or more of them.

What changed from Section 72 CrPC to Section 74 BNSS from 1 July 2024?▼

Section 74 BNSS has the same heading and the same text as Section 72 CrPC, with no renumbered cross-references.

Section 74 BNSS: Sub-sections Explained

Section 74(1) BNSS: Warrants to whom directed

▶

Bare Act Text

(1) A warrant of arrest shall ordinarily be directed to one or more police officers; but the Court issuing such a warrant may, if its immediate execution is necessary and no police officer is immediately available, direct it to any other person or persons, and such person or persons shall execute the same.

Previous Law

CrPC 72 → Section 74(1) BNSS

Section 74(2) BNSS: Warrants to whom directed

▶

Bare Act Text

(2) When a warrant is directed to more officers or persons than one, it may be executed by all, or by any one or more of them.

Previous Law

CrPC 72(2) → Section 74(2) BNSS

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