Section 32 CrPC: Mode of conferring powers

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 32 CrPC at a Glance

Section 32 CrPC deals with mode of conferring powers. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 26 BNSS.

Now BNSS

What Section 32 CrPC Says

32. Mode of conferring powers
(1) In conferring powers under this Code, the High Court or the State Government, as the case may be, may, by order, empower persons specially by name or in virtue of their offices or classes of officials generally by their official titles.
(2) Every such order shall take effect from the date on which it is communicated to the person so empowered.

Source: Section 32, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 32 CrPC in Simple Words

Section 32 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 deals with the mode of conferring powers under the Code.

In conferring such powers, the High Court or the State Government, as the case may be, may, by order, empower persons specially by name or in virtue of their offices, or classes of officials generally by their official titles.

Every such order shall take effect from the date on which it is communicated to the person so empowered.

When Section 32 CrPC Applies

Under Section 32(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, in conferring powers under the Code, the High Court or the State Government, as the case may be, may act by order.
Under Section 32(1) CrPC, the order may empower persons specially by name or in virtue of their offices.
Under Section 32(1) CrPC, the order may also empower classes of officials generally by their official titles.
Under Section 32(2) CrPC, every such order shall take effect from the date on which it is communicated to the person so empowered.

Example of Section 32 CrPC

The State Government confers a power under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 on Ramesh, a State Government official. Under Section 32(1) CrPC, the State Government may, by order, empower Ramesh specially by name, in virtue of the office Ramesh holds, or as one of a class of officials described generally by their official titles. The State Government makes an order empowering Ramesh specially by name, and the order is communicated to Ramesh on a later date. Under Section 32(2) CrPC, the order takes effect from the date on which it is communicated to Ramesh.

When Section 32 CrPC Does Not Apply

Section 32(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 does not apply where the powers being conferred are not powers under the Code.

Section 32 CrPC Under BNSS 26: What Changed

Section 32 CrPC is now covered under Section 26 BNSS.

Section 32 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 became Section 26 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024, with the same heading, Mode of conferring powers. Section 26(1) BNSS reads Sanhita where Section 32(1) CrPC read Code, and its printed text reads be their official titles where Section 32(1) CrPC read by their official titles. Section 26(2) BNSS has the same text as Section 32(2) CrPC.

View detailed comparison (CrPC 32 vs BNSS 26) →

FAQs on Section 32 CrPC

Who may confer powers under Section 32 CrPC and in what modes?▼

Under Section 32(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, in conferring powers under the Code, the High Court or the State Government, as the case may be, may, by order, empower persons specially by name or in virtue of their offices, or classes of officials generally by their official titles.

When does an order conferring powers under Section 32 CrPC take effect?▼

Under Section 32(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, every order conferring powers under Section 32(1) CrPC shall take effect from the date on which it is communicated to the person so empowered.

Does Section 32 CrPC require every person to be empowered individually by name?▼

No. Under Section 32(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the High Court or the State Government, as the case may be, may by order empower persons specially by name, or in virtue of their offices, or classes of officials generally by their official titles.

Where is Section 32 CrPC found in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023?▼

The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 was replaced by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024. Section 32 CrPC is found in Section 26 BNSS. Section 32(1) CrPC maps to Section 26(1) BNSS, and Section 32(2) CrPC maps to Section 26(2) BNSS.

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Sources: Bare Act Text, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Last updated: 18 Oct 2026 ·