Section 50A CrPC: Obligation of person making arrest to inform about the arrest, etc., to a nominated person

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 50A CrPC at a Glance

Section 50A CrPC deals with obligation of person making arrest to inform about the arrest, etc., to a nominated person. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 48 BNSS.

Now BNSS

Section 48 →

What Section 50A CrPC Says

50A. Obligation of person making arrest to inform about the arrest, etc., to a nominated person
(1) Every police officer or other person making any arrest under this Code shall forthwith give the information regarding such arrest and place where the arrested person is being held to any of his friends, relatives or such other persons as may be disclosed or nominated by the arrested person for the purpose of giving such information.
(2) The police officer shall inform the arrested person of his rights under sub-section (1) as soon as he is brought to the police station.
(3) An entry of the fact as to who has been informed of the arrest of such person shall be made in a book to be kept in the police station in such form as may be prescribed in this behalf by the State Government.
(4) It shall be the duty of the Magistrate before whom such arrested person is produced, to satisfy himself that the requirements of sub-section (2) and sub-section (3) have been complied with in respect of such arrested person.

Source: Section 50A, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 50A CrPC in Simple Words

Section 50A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 deals with informing a nominated person about an arrest. Every police officer or other person making any arrest under this Code shall forthwith give the information regarding such arrest and place where the arrested person is being held to any of his friends, relatives or such other persons as may be disclosed or nominated by the arrested person.

The police officer shall inform the arrested person of these rights as soon as he is brought to the police station. An entry of who has been informed is made in a book kept in the police station, and the Magistrate before whom the arrested person is produced shall satisfy himself that these requirements have been complied with.

When Section 50A CrPC Applies

Under Section 50A(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, every police officer or other person making any arrest under this Code shall give the information regarding such arrest and place where the arrested person is being held to any of his friends, relatives or such other persons as may be disclosed or nominated by the arrested person for the purpose of giving such information.
Under Section 50A(2) CrPC, the police officer shall inform the arrested person of his rights under Section 50A(1) CrPC.
Under Section 50A(3) CrPC, an entry of the fact as to who has been informed of the arrest of such person shall be made in a book to be kept in the police station in such form as may be prescribed in this behalf by the State Government.
Under Section 50A(4) CrPC, it shall be the duty of the Magistrate before whom such arrested person is produced, to satisfy himself that the requirements of Section 50A(2) CrPC and Section 50A(3) CrPC have been complied with in respect of such arrested person.

Time Limits Under Section 50A CrPC

Under Section 50A(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the information regarding the arrest and the place where the arrested person is being held shall be given forthwith.Act text: “shall forthwith give the information regarding such arrest and place where the arrested person is being held”
Under Section 50A(2) CrPC, the police officer shall inform the arrested person of his rights under Section 50A(1) CrPC as soon as he is brought to the police station.Act text: “as soon as he is brought to the police station”

Example of Section 50A CrPC

Inspector Rajesh arrests Arjun under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Arjun nominates Meera, the sister of Arjun, for the purpose of giving information of the arrest. Under Section 50A(1) CrPC, Rajesh shall forthwith give Meera the information regarding the arrest and the place where Arjun is being held. As soon as Arjun is brought to the police station, Rajesh shall inform Arjun of the rights of Arjun under Section 50A(1) CrPC, and an entry that Meera was informed shall be made in the book kept in the police station under Section 50A(3) CrPC. When Arjun is produced before a Magistrate, the Magistrate shall satisfy himself under Section 50A(4) CrPC that the requirements of Section 50A(2) CrPC and Section 50A(3) CrPC have been complied with.

When Section 50A CrPC Does Not Apply

Section 50A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 speaks of a person making an arrest and the person arrested. It does not deal with a person who has not been arrested.
Section 50A(4) CrPC speaks of the Magistrate before whom the arrested person is produced. It does not deal with a Magistrate before whom the arrested person is not produced.

Section 50A CrPC Under BNSS 48: What Changed

Section 50A CrPC is now covered under Section 48 BNSS.

Section 50A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 became Section 48 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024. Section 48(1) BNSS adds that the information regarding the arrest and place where the arrested person is being held shall also be given to the designated police officer in the district. Section 48(1) BNSS reads relatives, friends where Section 50A(1) CrPC read friends, relatives, and the heading ends to relative or friend where Section 50A CrPC ended to a nominated person. Section 48(3) BNSS reads in such form as the State Government may, by rules, provide where Section 50A(3) CrPC read in such form as may be prescribed in this behalf by the State Government. Section 48(2) BNSS and Section 48(4) BNSS have the same text as Section 50A(2) CrPC and Section 50A(4) CrPC.

View detailed comparison (CrPC 50A vs BNSS 48) →

FAQs on Section 50A CrPC

Who must give information about an arrest and to whom under Section 50A CrPC?▼

Under Section 50A(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, every police officer or other person making any arrest under this Code shall forthwith give the information regarding such arrest and place where the arrested person is being held to any of his friends, relatives or such other persons as may be disclosed or nominated by the arrested person for the purpose of giving such information.

What must the police officer do at the police station under Section 50A CrPC?▼

Under Section 50A(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the police officer shall inform the arrested person of his rights under Section 50A(1) CrPC as soon as he is brought to the police station. Under Section 50A(3) CrPC, an entry of the fact as to who has been informed of the arrest shall be made in a book to be kept in the police station in such form as may be prescribed in this behalf by the State Government.

What is the duty of the Magistrate when an arrested person is produced under Section 50A CrPC?▼

Under Section 50A(4) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, it shall be the duty of the Magistrate before whom such arrested person is produced, to satisfy himself that the requirements of Section 50A(2) CrPC and Section 50A(3) CrPC have been complied with in respect of such arrested person.

Where is Section 50A CrPC found under 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 50A CrPC is found in Section 48 BNSS. Section 50A(1) CrPC maps to Section 48(1) BNSS, Section 50A(2) CrPC maps to Section 48(2) BNSS, Section 50A(3) CrPC maps to Section 48(3) BNSS, and Section 50A(4) CrPC maps to Section 48(4) BNSS.

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Sources: Bare Act Text, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Last updated: 26 Oct 2026 ·