Section 37 CrPC: Public when to assist Magistrates and police

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 37 CrPC at a Glance

Section 37 CrPC deals with public when to assist Magistrates and police. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 31 BNSS.

Now BNSS

Section 31 →

What Section 37 CrPC Says

37. Public when to assist Magistrates and police

Every person is bound to assist a Magistrate or police officer reasonably demanding his aid—

(a) in the taking or preventing the escape of any other person whom such Magistrate or police officer is authorised to arrest; or

(b) in the prevention or suppression of a breach of the peace; or

(c) in the prevention of any injury attempted to be committed to any railway, canal, telegraph or public property.

Source: Section 37, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 37 CrPC in Simple Words

Section 37 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 deals with when the public is to assist Magistrates and police.

Every person is bound to assist a Magistrate or police officer reasonably demanding his aid in any of the cases listed in Section 37 CrPC: in the taking or preventing the escape of any other person whom such Magistrate or police officer is authorised to arrest, in the prevention or suppression of a breach of the peace, or in the prevention of any injury attempted to be committed to any railway, canal, telegraph or public property.

When Section 37 CrPC Applies

  • Under Section 37 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, every person is bound to assist a Magistrate or police officer reasonably demanding his aid in the cases listed in Section 37(a) CrPC, Section 37(b) CrPC and Section 37(c) CrPC.
  • Under Section 37(a) CrPC, the aid is in the taking or preventing the escape of any other person whom such Magistrate or police officer is authorised to arrest.
  • Under Section 37(b) CrPC, the aid is in the prevention or suppression of a breach of the peace.
  • Under Section 37(c) CrPC, the aid is in the prevention of any injury attempted to be committed to any railway, canal, telegraph or public property.

Example of Section 37 CrPC

Inspector Vikram sees Ramesh attempting to damage railway signalling equipment on a station platform. Inspector Vikram is authorised to arrest Ramesh, and Ramesh tries to escape. Inspector Vikram reasonably demands the aid of Karan, a bystander, in preventing the escape of Ramesh and in preventing the attempted injury to the railway. Under Section 37(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Section 37(c) CrPC, Karan is bound to assist Inspector Vikram.

When Section 37 CrPC Does Not Apply

  • Section 37 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 speaks of a Magistrate or police officer reasonably demanding aid. It does not deal with a demand for aid made by a person who is not a Magistrate or police officer.
  • Section 37(a) CrPC speaks of a person whom such Magistrate or police officer is authorised to arrest. It does not deal with taking a person whom the Magistrate or police officer is not authorised to arrest.
  • Section 37(c) CrPC speaks of an injury attempted to be committed to any railway, canal, telegraph or public property. It does not deal with an attempted injury to other property.

Section 37 CrPC Under BNSS 31: What Changed

Section 37 CrPC is now covered under Section 31 BNSS.

Section 37 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 became Section 31 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024, with the same heading. Section 31(c) BNSS reads in the prevention of any injury attempted to be committed to any public property, and does not contain the words railway, canal, telegraph found in Section 37(c) CrPC. The opening words, Section 31(a) BNSS and Section 31(b) BNSS have the same text as Section 37 CrPC.

View detailed comparison (CrPC 37 vs BNSS 31) →

FAQs on Section 37 CrPC

Who can demand assistance from the public under Section 37 CrPC?▼

Section 37 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 speaks of a Magistrate or police officer reasonably demanding aid. Every person is bound to assist a Magistrate or police officer reasonably demanding his aid in the taking or preventing the escape of any other person whom such Magistrate or police officer is authorised to arrest, in the prevention or suppression of a breach of the peace, or in the prevention of any injury attempted to be committed to any railway, canal, telegraph or public property.

When must a member of the public help with an arrest under Section 37 CrPC?▼

Under Section 37(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, every person is bound to assist a Magistrate or police officer reasonably demanding his aid in the taking or preventing the escape of any other person whom such Magistrate or police officer is authorised to arrest.

What kinds of property are covered by Section 37(c) CrPC?▼

Section 37(c) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 speaks of any railway, canal, telegraph or public property. Every person is bound to assist a Magistrate or police officer reasonably demanding his aid in the prevention of any injury attempted to be committed to any such property.

Where is Section 37 CrPC found from 1 July 2024?▼

The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 was replaced by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024. Section 37 CrPC is found in Section 31 BNSS, which has the same heading. Section 37(a) CrPC maps to Section 31(a) BNSS, Section 37(b) CrPC maps to Section 31(b) BNSS, and Section 37(c) CrPC maps to Section 31(c) BNSS.

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