Section 1 of the Delhi Police Act, 1978: Short Title, Extent and Commencement

Section 1 identifies the official name of the Delhi Police Act, establishes its territorial application and specifies the date from which the Act is deemed to have taken effect.

Section 1 - Statutory Text

Meaning and Explanation of Section 1

Sub-section (1): Short title

The expression short title means the official name by which legislation may be cited. Sub-section (1) names this enactment the Delhi Police Act, 1978. The Act is a parliamentary law intended to amend and consolidate the law relating to the regulation of police in Delhi.

Sub-section (2): Territorial extent

The term extent identifies the geographical area to which an enactment applies. Sub-section (2) extends the Act to the whole of the Union territory of Delhi, now known as the National Capital Territory of Delhi. It does not, by this provision alone, extend the Act to neighbouring states.

Sub-section (3): Commencement

Commencement is the date from which a law takes legal effect. Sub-section (3) expressly provides that the Act is deemed to have come into force on 1 July 1978. Although the Act bears the enactment date of 27 August 1978, Parliament specified an earlier effective date. This is a statutory retrospective commencement provision; the effect of any particular provision must still be assessed in its legal context.

Why Section 1 Matters

Section 1 provides the starting point for reading the Act. It establishes how the legislation should be identified, where it applies and the date relevant to its operation. The following provisions address defined terms, the organisation of the Delhi police force, its superintendence and the appointment of police authorities.

Section 1 does not itself create a specific criminal offence, prescribe a punishment or confer an independent power of arrest. Those questions require examination of the relevant substantive provisions and other applicable laws.

Related Provisions

• Section 2 - Definitions: explains terms used throughout the Act.
• Section 3 - One police force for the whole of Delhi: addresses the police force constituted for Delhi.
• Section 4 - Superintendence of police force: addresses statutory superintendence.

Official Legal Sources

Summary

Section 1 of the Delhi Police Act, 1978 sets out three preliminary matters: the law is called the Delhi Police Act, 1978; it extends throughout Delhi; and it is deemed to have commenced on 1 July 1978.