Section 29 Delhi Police Act, 1978: Police Directions to the Public
Section 29 of the Delhi Police Act, 1978 authorises the Commissioner of Police and, subject to the Commissioner's orders, police officers of at least Inspector rank to issue necessary oral or written directions about public processions, assemblies, obstructions, public order, music and loudspeakers. The power is expressly limited by applicable regulations and other laws.
Section 29: Full statutory provision
The Commissioner of Police and, subject to the orders, if any, made by the Commissioner of Police, every police officer not inferior in rank to an Inspector, may from time to time as occasion may arise, but not so as to contravene any regulation made under section 28 or any law, rule, or bye-law referred to in sub-section (4) of that section, give all such orders either orally or in writing as may be necessary to—
- (a) direct the conduct of, and behaviour or action of persons constituting processions or assemblies on or along streets;
- (b) specify the routes by which and the times at which any such processions may pass or shall not pass;
- (c) prevent obstructions—
- (i) on the occasion of all processions and assemblies; and
- (ii) in the neighbourhood of all places of worship during the time of worship; and
- (iii) in all cases when any street or public place or place of public resort may be thronged or liable to be obstructed;
- (d) keep order on, and in, all streets, and at, and within, public bathing and washing places, fairs, temples, mosques, gurdwaras, churches and all other places of public resort or public worship;
- (e) regulate and control the playing of music, singing or the beating of drums, tom-toms and other instruments and the blowing or sounding of horns or other noisy instruments in, and near, any street or public place;
- (f) regulate and control the use of loudspeakers in residential areas, streets, near any public places and places of public amusement or public entertainment; or
- (g) make reasonable orders consequential to, and in furtherance of, any order made under this section.
Primary source: Delhi Police Act, 1978 (India Code). The wording above reproduces the provision in the supplied page, with paragraphing added for readability. Consult the official consolidated Act and notifications for any subsequent amendments.
What activities can be regulated?
| Provision | Practical scope |
|---|---|
| Clauses (a) and (b) | Conduct of processions and assemblies, and their routes and timings. |
| Clause (c) | Preventing obstruction during processions, near places of worship and in crowded public areas. |
| Clause (d) | Maintaining order in streets, fairs, public bathing areas and places of worship or public resort. |
| Clauses (e) and (f) | Controlling music, noisy instruments and loudspeakers in the specified public and residential settings. |
| Clause (g) | Reasonable follow-up orders needed to give effect to directions made under Section 29. |
For example, a direction may identify the route and time of a procession, or address congestion near a place of worship. The legality of any particular direction depends on its statutory basis, purpose, facts and applicable legal restrictions.
Limits on the power to issue directions
The opening words of Section 29 are important: an order must not contravene regulations made under Section 28 or the relevant laws, rules and bye-laws referred to in Section 28(4). Directions must also remain within the purposes listed in Section 29; clause (g) expressly refers to reasonable consequential orders.
Orders concerning assemblies and processions must be considered alongside applicable constitutional rights, including Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b), and the constitutionally permitted restrictions on those rights. A power to regulate public order is not an unlimited power to prohibit peaceful activity.
For loudspeaker use, the applicable environmental and noise-control law, including the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 and relevant permissions or restrictions, may also be material. The precise position should be checked against current notifications and directions.
Related: Section 30 - Power to prohibit certain acts for prevention of disorder. For current rules and police notifications see the Delhi Police Acts and Rules directory.
Frequently asked questions
Can an Inspector issue directions under Section 29?
Yes. The provision covers police officers not below the rank of Inspector, subject to orders of the Commissioner of Police.
Must a direction be in writing?
No. Section 29 expressly allows directions to be given orally or in writing, as necessary.
Can police regulate procession routes and timings?
Yes. Clause (b) authorises directions specifying routes and times at which processions may or may not pass, subject to the statutory and constitutional limits.
Does Section 29 cover loudspeakers?
Yes. Clause (f) addresses regulation and control of loudspeaker use in the places specified in the section. Other applicable noise-control requirements may also apply.
This article is general legal information, not advice on a particular order or dispute. Verify the current official law and any applicable notification before relying on it.