Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter IV: Powers of Superior Officers of Police and Aid to the Magistrates and the Police
Section 31: Public when to assist Magistrates and police
In plain words
Everyone must help a Magistrate or police officer who reasonably asks for help to catch or stop the escape of someone they are authorised to arrest, to prevent or stop a breach of the peace, or to prevent injury to public property.
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
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 public property.
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 31
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.