Section 54 CrPC: Examination of arrested person by medical officer
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
Section 54 CrPC at a Glance
Section 54 CrPC deals with examination of arrested person by medical officer. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 53 BNSS.
What Section 54 CrPC Says
54. Examination of arrested person by medical officer
(1) When any person is arrested, he shall be examined by a medical officer in the service of Central or State Government, and in case the medical officer is not available, by a registered medical practitioner soon after the arrest is made:
Provided that where the arrested person is a female, the examination of the body shall be made only by or under the supervision of a female medical officer, and in case the female medical officer is not available, by a female registered medical practitioner.
(2) The medical officer or a registered medical practitioner so examining the arrested person shall prepare the record of such examination, mentioning therein any injuries or marks of violence upon the person arrested, and the approximate time when such injuries or marks may have been inflicted.
(3) Where an examination is made under sub-section (1), a copy of the report of such examination shall be furnished by the medical officer or registered medical practitioner, as the case may be, to the arrested person or the person nominated by such arrested person.
Source: Section 54, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
Section 54 CrPC in Simple Words
Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 deals with the examination of an arrested person by a medical officer. When any person is arrested, he shall be examined by a medical officer in the service of Central or State Government, and in case the medical officer is not available, by a registered medical practitioner soon after the arrest is made.
Where the arrested person is a female, the examination of the body shall be made only by or under the supervision of a female medical officer, and in case the female medical officer is not available, by a female registered medical practitioner. The record of the examination mentions any injuries or marks of violence and the approximate time when they may have been inflicted, and a copy of the report shall be furnished to the arrested person or the person nominated by the arrested person.
When Section 54 CrPC Applies
- Under Section 54(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, when any person is arrested, he shall be examined by a medical officer in the service of Central or State Government.
- Under Section 54(1) CrPC, in case the medical officer is not available, the arrested person shall be examined by a registered medical practitioner.
- Under the proviso to Section 54(1) CrPC, where the arrested person is a female, the examination of the body shall be made only by or under the supervision of a female medical officer, and in case the female medical officer is not available, by a female registered medical practitioner.
- Under Section 54(2) CrPC, the medical officer or a registered medical practitioner so examining the arrested person shall prepare the record of such examination, mentioning therein any injuries or marks of violence upon the person arrested, and the approximate time when such injuries or marks may have been inflicted.
- Under Section 54(3) CrPC, where an examination is made under Section 54(1) CrPC, a copy of the report of such examination shall be furnished by the medical officer or registered medical practitioner, as the case may be, to the arrested person or the person nominated by such arrested person.
Time Limits Under Section 54 CrPC
- Under Section 54(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the arrested person shall be examined soon after the arrest is made.Act text: “soon after the arrest is made”
Example of Section 54 CrPC
When Section 54 CrPC Does Not Apply
- Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 speaks of a person who is arrested. It does not deal with a person who has not been arrested.
- Section 54(1) CrPC speaks of a registered medical practitioner in case the medical officer is not available. It does not deal with an examination by a registered medical practitioner where the medical officer is available.
- Section 54(3) CrPC speaks of furnishing a copy of the report to the arrested person or the person nominated by such arrested person. It does not deal with furnishing a copy to any other person.
- The duty under Section 54(3) CrPC to furnish a copy of the examination report does not apply in favour of any person who is neither the arrested person nor the person nominated by that arrested person.
Section 54 CrPC Under BNSS 53: What Changed
Section 54 CrPC is now covered under Section 53 BNSS.
Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 became Section 53 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024, with the same heading. Section 53(1) BNSS adds a first proviso, with no counterpart in Section 54 CrPC, under which if the medical officer or the registered medical practitioner is of the opinion that one more examination of such person is necessary, he may do so. The proviso on the examination of a female becomes the second proviso, with the same text. Section 53(1) BNSS reads the Central Government or a State Government where Section 54(1) CrPC read Central or State Government. Section 53(2) BNSS and Section 53(3) BNSS have the same text as Section 54(2) CrPC and Section 54(3) CrPC.
View detailed comparison (CrPC 54 vs BNSS 53) →FAQs on Section 54 CrPC
Who examines an arrested person under Section 54 CrPC?▼
Under Section 54(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, when any person is arrested, he shall be examined by a medical officer in the service of Central or State Government, and in case the medical officer is not available, by a registered medical practitioner soon after the arrest is made.
What special rule applies under Section 54 CrPC when the arrested person is a female?▼
Under the proviso to Section 54(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, where the arrested person is a female, the examination of the body shall be made only by or under the supervision of a female medical officer, and in case the female medical officer is not available, by a female registered medical practitioner.
What does the record of examination mention, and who receives a copy of the report, under Section 54 CrPC?▼
Under Section 54(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the record of the examination mentions any injuries or marks of violence upon the person arrested, and the approximate time when such injuries or marks may have been inflicted. Under Section 54(3) CrPC, a copy of the report shall be furnished by the medical officer or registered medical practitioner, as the case may be, to the arrested person or the person nominated by such arrested person.
Where is Section 54 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 54 CrPC is found in Section 53 BNSS, which has the same heading. Section 54(1) CrPC maps to Section 53(1) BNSS, Section 54(2) CrPC maps to Section 53(2) BNSS, and Section 54(3) CrPC maps to Section 53(3) BNSS.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Last updated: 22 Oct 2026 ·