Section 41C CrPC: Control room at districts

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 41C CrPC at a Glance

Section 41C CrPC deals with control room at districts. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 37 BNSS.

Now BNSS

Section 37 →

What Section 41C CrPC Says

41C. Control room at districts

(1) The State Government shall establish a police control room—

(a) in every district; and

(b) at State level.

(2) The State Government shall cause to be displayed on the notice board kept outside the control rooms at every district, the names and addresses of the persons arrested and the name and designation of the police officers who made the arrests.

(3) The control room at the Police Headquarters at the State level shall collect from time to time, details about the persons arrested, nature of the offence with which they are charged and maintain a database for the information of the general public.

Source: Section 41C, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 41C CrPC in Simple Words

Section 41C of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 requires the State Government to set up police control rooms so that arrest records are available for the information of the general public. The State Government shall establish a police control room in every district and at State level.

On a notice board kept outside the control rooms at every district, the State Government shall cause to be displayed the names and addresses of arrested persons and the name and designation of the arresting police officers. The State level Police Headquarters control room shall also collect arrest and offence details from time to time and maintain a public database.

When Section 41C CrPC Applies

  • The State Government shall set up a police control room in every district as well as at the State level under Section 41C(1) CrPC.
  • Outside every district control room, the State Government shall ensure that a notice board is kept to display required arrest information under Section 41C(2) CrPC.
  • Whenever arrests are made, the district control room notice board must show the names and addresses of the arrested persons and the name and designation of the officers who made the arrests.
  • The State level control room at Police Headquarters shall periodically gather information on arrested persons and the nature of the offences charged against them to maintain a database open to the general public under Section 41C(3) CrPC.

Example of Section 41C CrPC

Inspector Vikram arrests Arjun, a resident of Pune. Under Section 41C of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, a police control room is established by the State Government in the district and at State level. Under Section 41C(2) CrPC, the State Government shall cause the notice board kept outside the Pune district control room to display the name and address of Arjun and the name and designation of Inspector Vikram, who made the arrest. Under Section 41C(3) CrPC, the State level Police Headquarters control room shall collect from time to time details about Arjun and the nature of the offence charged, and maintain a database for the general public.

When Section 41C CrPC Does Not Apply

  • The duties to display and record personal particulars under Section 41C CrPC do not apply when an individual has not been arrested.
  • The obligation under Section 41C(2) CrPC to post arrest particulars on an exterior notice board applies only at district control rooms and does not extend to the State level control room.

Section 41C CrPC Under BNSS 37: What Changed

Section 41C CrPC is now covered under Section 37 BNSS.

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 detailed comparison (CrPC 41C vs BNSS 37) →

FAQs on Section 41C CrPC

Where must the State Government establish police control rooms under Section 41C CrPC?▼

The State Government shall establish a police control room both at the district level and at the State level under Section 41C(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Under Section 41C(1)(a) CrPC, a police control room must be established in every district. Under Section 41C(1)(b) CrPC, a police control room must also be established at State level. Because the Code uses the mandatory word shall, setting up control rooms at both levels is a statutory duty of the State Government.

What information must be displayed outside a district police control room under Section 41C CrPC?▼

On the notice board kept outside the control rooms at every district, the State Government shall cause to be displayed specific details about arrests under Section 41C(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The notice board must show the names and addresses of the persons arrested. In addition, the notice board under Section 41C(2) CrPC must show the name and designation of the police officers who made the arrests.

What is the duty of the State level Police Headquarters control room under Section 41C CrPC?▼

The control room at the Police Headquarters at the State level has a continuing duty to gather and maintain arrest records under Section 41C(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. It shall collect from time to time details about the persons arrested and the nature of the offence with which they are charged. Using these collected details, the State level control room under Section 41C(3) CrPC shall maintain a database for the information of the general public.

Does Section 41C CrPC specify a fixed deadline for updating the State level arrest database?▼

No fixed hourly or daily deadline is stated in Section 41C of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Instead, Section 41C(3) CrPC states that the control room at the Police Headquarters at the State level shall collect from time to time details about the persons arrested and the nature of the offence with which they are charged, and maintain a database for the information of the general public.

Which provision of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 replaced Section 41C CrPC?▼

The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 was replaced by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024. The provision corresponding to Section 41C CrPC is Section 37 of the Sanhita, titled Designated police officer. From 1 July 2024, Section 37 BNSS governs the establishment of district and State level police control rooms, the designation of police officers to maintain arrest information, and the display of arrest details.

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