Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter V: Arrest of Persons
Section 53: Examination of arrested person by medical officer
In plain words
Every arrested person must be medically examined soon after arrest by a government medical officer, or a registered medical practitioner if none is available. The doctor records any injuries or marks of violence and roughly when they were caused.
- A further examination can be done if the doctor thinks it necessary.
- A woman is examined only by or under the supervision of a female doctor.
- A copy of the report must be given to the arrested person or their nominee.
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
(1) When any person is arrested, he shall be examined by a medical officer in the service of the Central Government or a State Government, and in case the medical officer is not available, by a registered medical practitioner soon after the arrest is made:
Provided that 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:
Provided further 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 not available, by a registered medical practitioner soon after the arrest is made:
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 53
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.