Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter XI: Maintenance of Public Order and Tranquillity · B.—Public nuisances
Section 158: Power of Magistrate to direct local investigation and examination of an expert
In plain words
For an inquiry under section 156 or 157, the Magistrate can order a local investigation by a suitable person, or summon and examine an expert.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
The Magistrate may, for the purposes of an inquiry under section 156 or section 157—
(a) direct a local investigation to be made by such person as he thinks fit; or
(b) summon and examine an expert.
Corresponding sections were matched by comparing the wording of both official texts, and for the IPC and BNS, also against a published correspondence table. Wording, punishments and structure often changed, so read both sections before relying on the match.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 12 September 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 158
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.