Indian police law | Act No. 34 of 1978

Delhi Police Act, 1978: Sections, Special Police Officers, Discipline and Penalties

Enacted: 27 August 1978 | Updated: 11 October 2026

The Delhi Police Act, 1978 regulates the organisation, supervision, powers, duties and discipline of the police force in Delhi. This chapter-wise guide provides links to all 152 sections and explains important provisions concerning appointments, special police officers, punishment, appeals and public order.

Purpose of the Act. Parliament enacted the Delhi Police Act, 1978 to amend and consolidate the law relating to regulation of the police in the Union territory of Delhi. The Act establishes a statutory framework for police administration, policing duties and specified offences and penalties.

Key legal provisions explained

Sections 1 and 2: Address the Act's short title, extent, commencement and statutory definitions. Defined expressions must be read in their specific statutory context.

Sections 3 to 16: Deal with the unified Delhi police force, superintendence, Commissioner of Police, senior officers, police districts, subordinate appointments, certificates, suspension and administrative powers.

Section 17 - Special police officers: Provides for appointment of special police officers in circumstances specified by the Act. The statutory appointment mechanism, eligibility and scope of authority must be checked before treating a person as a special police officer.

Section 18 - Additional police officers: Concerns deployment of additional police officers in the circumstances contemplated by the provision.

Sections 19 to 23 - Discipline: Cover administrative regulations, returns, powers of punishment, procedure for imposing punishments and appeals against punishment orders. Dismissal and other disciplinary measures must comply with the applicable Act, service rules and procedural safeguards.

Sections 28 to 37 - Police regulations: Concern traffic, public places, directions, public order, noise, assemblies and other specified regulatory matters.

Sections 46 to 54 - Preventive measures: Address dispersal, removal of certain persons, duration of orders, hearing, appeal and temporary permission to return, subject to statutory conditions.

Sections 80 to 131 - Offences and punishments: Address specified public-order offences, penalties, non-compliance, misconduct and related prosecution provisions. The precise elements and punishment for any offence should be verified from the applicable section.

Effect of the new criminal laws

The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) came into force on 1 July 2024 and repealed the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, subject to savings under Section 531 of the BNSS. Accordingly, historical references to the CrPC in the Delhi Police Act, including the headings of sections 70 to 72, should be read with the applicable replacement law, transitional provisions and any legislative amendments. The Delhi Police Act is a separate enactment and was not itself repealed merely because the CrPC was replaced.

Complete chapter-wise index of sections 1 to 152

Choose a section below to open the existing detailed section page. The index retains the original section links and chapter organisation.

Chapter 1: Preliminary

Section 1Short title, extent and commencement Section 2Definitions

Chapter 2: Organisation, superintendence and control

Section 3One police force for the whole of Delhi Section 4Superintendence of police force to vest in the Administrator Section 5Constitution of police force Section 6Commissioner of Police Section 7Additional Commissioner of Police Section 8Deputy, Additional Deputy and Assistant Commissioners of Police Section 9Appointment of Principals of Police training institutions Section 10Constitution of police districts, sub-divisions and police stations Section 11Officers in charge of police districts, police sub-divisions and police stations Section 12Appointment of subordinate ranks Section 13Certificate of appointment Section 14Effect of suspension of police officer Section 15General powers of Commissioner of Police Section 16Power of Commissioner of Police to investigate and regulate matters of police accounts Section 17Special police officers Section 18Additional police officers

Chapter 3: Regulation, control and discipline

Section 19Framing of regulations for administration of the police Section 20Commissioner of Police may call for returns Section 21Powers of punishment Section 22Procedure for awarding punishments Section 23Appeal from orders of punishment Section 24Police officers to be deemed to be always on duty and to be liable to employment in any part of Delhi Section 25Circumstances under which police officer of subordinate rank may resign Section 26Certificate, arms, etc., to be delivered by person ceasing to be a police officer Section 27Occupation of, and liability to vacate, premises provided for police officers

Chapter 4: Police regulations

Section 28Power to make regulations for regulating traffic and for preservation of order in public places, etc Section 29Power to give directions to the public Section 30Power to prohibit certain acts for prevention of disorder Section 31Police to provide against disorder, etc., at places of public amusement or public assembly or meeting Section 32Power to prohibit, etc., continuance of music, sound or noise Section 33Issue of order of prevention of riot, etc Section 34Maintenance of order at religious or ceremonial display, etc Section 35Commissioner of Police may take special measures to prevent outbreak of epidemic disease at fairs, etc Section 36Power to reserve street or other public place for public purpose and power to authorise erecting of barriers in streets Section 37Power to make regulations prohibiting disposal of the dead except at places set apart

Chapter 5: Public order and security

Section 38Employment of additional police to keep peace Section 39Employment of additional police in cases of special danger to public peace Section 40Employment of additional police at large work and when apprehension regarding behaviour of employees exists Section 41Compensation for injury caused by unlawful assembly how recoverable Section 42Dispute in regard to cost of deputing additional police or compensation under section 41 Section 43Recovery of amount payable under section 38, 39, 40 or 41 Section 44Collector to award compensation Section 45Recovery of amounts payable under sections 39 and 41 Section 46Dispersal of gangs and bodies of persons Section 47Removal of persons about to commit offences Section 48Removal of persons convicted of certain offences Section 49Period of operation of orders under section 46, 47 or 48 Section 50Hearing to be given before order under section 46, 47 or 48 is passed Section 51Appeal against orders under section 46, 47 or 48 Section 52Finality of order in certain cases Section 53Procedure on failure of person to leave the area and his entry therein after removal Section 54Temporary permission to enter and consequences of non-observance of conditions of such permission Section 55Taking measurements and photographs, etc., of persons against whom an order under section 46, 47 or 48 is made Section 56Resistance to the taking of measurements, etc Section 57Banning of use of dress, etc., resembling uniform of armed forces Section 58Constitution of Defence Societies

Chapter 6: Executive duties and powers

Section 59Duty of police officer to enforce provisions of the Act Section 60Other duties of a police officer Section 61Power to enter places of public resort Section 62Power to search suspected persons in street, etc Section 63Emergency duties of police Section 64Superior police officer may himself perform duties imposed on a subordinate officer Section 65Persons bound to comply with the reasonable directions of police officer

Chapter 7: Unclaimed property

Section 66Police to take charge of unclaimed property Section 67Procedure for disposal of property taken charge of under section 66 Section 68Delivery of property to person entitled Section 69In default of claim, property to be at disposal of Government

Chapter 8: Criminal procedure powers

Section 70Power of Central Government to authorise Commissioner of Police and certain other officers to exercise powers of District Magistrates and Executive Magistrates under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 Section 71Notifications under section 70 to be laid before Parliament Section 72References to Judicial Magistrate of the first class in sections 108, 109 and 110 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 not to be construed as references to an Executive Magistrate

Chapter 9: Prevention of cruelty to animals

Section 73Powers with regard to offences under Act 59 of 1960 Section 74Powers of Metropolitan Magistrate to return animal to person from whose possession it was taken Section 75Veterinary officer to examine the animal Section 76Animal to be dealt with under Act 59 of 1960 Section 77Power of police officer to unsaddle animal or to unload it Section 78Arrest without warrant in case of certain offences under Act 59 of 1960 Section 79Provisions of Chapter to be in addition to the provisions of Act 59 of 1960

Chapter 10: Offences and punishments

Section 80Disregarding the rules of the road Section 81Causing obstruction or mischief by animal Section 82Exposing animal for hire, sale, etc Section 83Causing any obstruction in a street Section 84Obstructing a footway Section 85Causing obstruction and annoyance by performances, etc Section 86Doing offensive acts in or near a street or public place Section 87Letting loose horse, etc., and suffering ferocious dogs to be at large Section 88Bathing or washing in places not set apart for those purposes Section 89Defiling water in public wells, etc Section 90Obstructing bathers Section 91Behaving indecently in public Section 92Obstructing or annoying passengers in the street Section 93Misbehaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace Section 94Prohibition against flying kites, etc Section 95Committing nuisance in or near street, etc Section 96Disregard of notice in public building Section 97Penalties for offences under sections 80 to 96 Section 98Penalty for failure to keep in confinement cattle, etc Section 99Punishment for cruelty to animals Section 100Wilful trespass Section 101False alarm of fire or damage to fire alarm Section 102Being found under suspicious circumstances between sunset and sunrise Section 103Possession of property of which no satisfactory account can be given Section 104Omission by pawn-brokers, etc., to report to police possession or tender of property suspected to be stolen Section 105Melting, etc., of property referred to in section 104 Section 106Taking pledge from child Section 107Suffering disorderly conduct at places of public amusement, etc Section 108Cheating at games and gambling in street Section 109Penalty for disobedience to order under section 27 Section 110Penalty for contravening regulations, etc., under section 28 Section 111Liability of licensee of place of public amusement or entertainment for acts of servants Section 112Penalty for not obtaining licence in respect of place of public entertainment or certificate of registration in respect of eating house or for not renewing such licence or certificate within prescribed period Section 113Penalties for contravention of orders, etc., under sections 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34 Section 114Penalty for contravention of regulations, etc., made under sections 35, 36 and 37 Section 115Penalty for contravention of directions under section 46, 47 or 48 Section 116Penalty for entering without permission area from which a person is directed to remove himself or overstaying when permitted to return temporarily Section 117Penalty for contravention of orders under section 57 Section 118Penalty for opposing or not complying with direction given under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 59 Section 119Penalty for contravening directions under section 65 Section 120Dangerous performances Section 121Neglect or refusal to serve as special police officer Section 122Penalty for making false statement, etc., and for misconduct of police officers Section 123Penalty for failure to deliver up certificate of appointment or other article Section 124Vexatious entry, search, arrest, etc., by police officer Section 125Penalty for vexatious delay in forwarding a person arrested Section 126Penalty for unauthorised use of police uniforms Section 127Power to make regulations regarding carrying weapons without authority Section 128Prosecution for certain offences against this Act to be in the discretion of Delhi police Section 129Summary disposal of certain cases Section 130Prosecution for offences under other enactments not affected Section 131Offences by companies

Chapter 11: Miscellaneous

Section 132Disposal of fees, rewards, etc Section 133Method of proving orders and notifications Section 134Rules, regulations or orders not invalidated by defect of form or irregularity in procedure Section 135Presumption in prosecutions for contravention of order made under section 46, 47 or 48 Section 136Officers holding charges of, or succeeding to, vacancies competent to exercise powers Section 137Forfeiture of bond entered into by person under sub-section (1) of section 54 Section 138No police officer to be liable to penalty or damage for act done in good faith in pursuance of duty Section 139No public servant liable as aforesaid for giving effect in good faith to any rule Section 140Bar to suits and prosecutions Section 141Licences and written permissions to specify conditions, etc., and to be signed Section 142Public notices how to be given Section 143Consent, etc., of a competent authority may be proved by writing under its signature Section 144Signature on notices, etc., may be stamped Section 145Persons interested may seek to annul, reverse or alter any rule or order Section 146Powers of Commissioner of Police under other Acts Section 147Power to make rules Section 148Notification of rules and regulations in the Official Gazette and laying of rules and regulations Section 149Cesser of operation of certain enactments and savings Section 150Police force functioning in Delhi immediately before the commencement of this Act to be deemed to be police force constituted under this Act Section 151Power to remove difficulties Section 152Repeal and saving

Official legislation and further reading

For the authoritative wording, amendments and commencement notifications, consult the India Code legislative database, the Gazette of India and the Ministry of Home Affairs: New Criminal Laws. Check the latest applicable Delhi Police rules, regulations and notifications where a section delegates powers or prescribes procedure.

This is a legal information guide, not a substitute for the enacted text or case-specific legal advice. Section headings are navigational summaries; the operative law is the provision as amended and in force.