BNSS Section 195: Power to summon persons (formerly CrPC 175)

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · in force from 1 July 2024

BNSS 195: Power to summon persons

From 1 July 2024

(1) A police officer proceeding under section 194 may, by order in writing, summon two or more persons as aforesaid for the purpose of the said investigation, and any other person who appears to be acquainted with the facts of the case and every person so summoned shall be bound to attend and to answer truly all questions other than questions the answers to which would have a tendency to expose him to a criminal charge or to a penalty or forfeiture:

Provided that no male person under the age of fifteen years or above the age of sixty years or a woman or a mentally or physically disabled person or a person with acute illness shall be required to attend at any place other than the place where such person resides:

Provided further that if such person is willing to attend and answer at the police station, such person may be permitted so to do.

(2) If the facts do not disclose a cognizable offence to which section 190 applies, such persons shall not be required by the police officer to attend a Magistrate's Court.

What it replaced in the CrPC

BNSS 195 ← CrPC 175 · Power to summon personsChanged

BPR&D's comparison records a change. Read what changed before relying on the old wording.

What changed, per BPR&D: Proviso to Subsection (1) of 195 provides immunity to male persons under the age of fifteen years or above the age of sixty years, or a woman or a mentally or physically disabled persons or a person with acute illness shall not be required to attend at place other than the place where such person resides. However, they can attend at police station willingly.

Printed in both official correspondence tables (BPR&D and NCRB).

(1) A police officer proceeding under section 174 may, by order in writing, summon two or more persons as aforesaid for the purpose of the said investigation, and any other person who appears to be acquainted with the facts of the case and every person so summoned shall be bound to attend and to answer truly all questions other than questions the answers to which would have a tendency to expose him to a criminal charge or to a penalty or forfeiture.

(2) If the facts do not disclose a cognizable offence to which section 170 applies, such persons shall not be required by the police officer to attend a Magistrate's Court.

CrPC 175 on its own page →

Which one applies

Procedure follows the proceeding. Under section 531(2)(a) of the BNSS, an appeal, application, trial, inquiry or investigation already pending on 1 July 2024 continues under the CrPC; one begun on or after that date proceeds under the BNSS.

Read BNSS section 531 →

Judgments decided under CrPC 175

They remain the law on CrPC 175. Where the provision changed in the move, read what changed before relying on one for an offence after 1 July 2024.

Sources

BPR&D is the Bureau of Police Research & Development (Ministry of Home Affairs); NCRB the National Crime Records Bureau. Their correspondence tables are training aids, not law. This page is general information, not legal advice on any case; the bare Acts as published by the Government of India are the authority.