Section 60 of the Delhi Police Act, 1978 (Act 34 of 1978), in Chapter VI, sets out the everyday statutory responsibilities of police officers in Delhi. The provision lists eighteen duties, clauses (a) to (r), that combine enforcement obligations with public assistance and humane treatment.
What does Section 60 require?
Every police officer must perform the duties specified below. The clause text is retained from the statutory provision, followed by a plain-language explanation. The official consolidated Act is available through India Code - Section 60.
Clause (a) - Execution of lawful process and obedience to lawful superior orders
Statutory provision: (a) promptly to serve every summons and obey and execute every warrant or other order lawfully issued to him by the competent authority and to comply with all lawful commands of his superior.
Meaning: Execution of lawful process and obedience to lawful superior orders.
Clause (b) - Intelligence gathering and lawful crime prevention, including cognizable offences
Statutory provision: (b) to the best of his ability, to obtain intelligence concerning the commission of cognizable offences or designs to commit such offences and to lay such information and to take such other steps consistent with law and with the orders of his superiors as shall be best calculated to bring offenders to justice and to prevent the commission of cognizable and, within his view, of non-cognizable offences.
Meaning: Intelligence gathering and lawful crime prevention, including cognizable offences.
Clause (c) - Prevention of public nuisances
Statutory provision: (c) to prevent to the best of his ability the commission of public nuisances.
Meaning: Prevention of public nuisances.
Clause (d) - Prompt apprehension only where arrest is legally authorised and justified
Statutory provision: (d) to apprehend without unreasonable delay all persons whom he is legally authorised to apprehend and for whose apprehension there is sufficient reason.
Meaning: Prompt apprehension only where arrest is legally authorised and justified.
Clause (e) - Lawful and reasonable cooperation between police officers
Statutory provision: (e) to aid any other police officer when called upon by such other police officer or in the case of need in the discharge of the duty of such other police officer, in such ways as would be lawful and reasonable on the part of the officer aided.
Meaning: Lawful and reasonable cooperation between police officers.
Clause (f) - Prevention of breaches of public peace
Statutory provision: (f) to prevent the breach of the public peace.
Meaning: Prevention of breaches of public peace.
Clause (g) - Assistance to persons with disabilities or others needing help in streets
Statutory provision: (g) to afford every assistance within his power to disabled or helpless persons in the streets.
Meaning: Assistance to persons with disabilities or others needing help in streets.
Clause (h) - Protection and lawful care of vulnerable or intoxicated persons who pose a danger or cannot care for themselves; applicable mental-health safeguards remain important
Statutory provision: (h) to take charge of intoxicated persons and of lunatics at large, who appear dangerous or incapable or taking care of themselves.
Meaning: Protection and lawful care of vulnerable or intoxicated persons who pose a danger or cannot care for themselves; applicable mental-health safeguards remain important.
Clause (i) - Prompt medical assistance and due regard for the health of persons in custody
Statutory provision: (i) to take prompt measures to procure necessary help for any person under arrest or in custody, who is wounded or sick and whilst guarding or conducting any such person to have due regard to his condition.
Meaning: Prompt medical assistance and due regard for the health of persons in custody.
Clause (j) - Adequate sustenance and shelter for people in custody
Statutory provision: (j) to arrange for the proper sustenance and shelter of every person who is under arrest or in custody.
Meaning: Adequate sustenance and shelter for people in custody.
Clause (k) - Respectful searches without unnecessary harassment
Statutory provision: (k) in conducting searches, to refrain from needless rudeness and the causing of unnecessary annoyance.
Meaning: Respectful searches without unnecessary harassment.
Clause (l) - Decency and reasonable gentleness in dealing with women and children
Statutory provision: (l) in dealing with women and children, to act with strict regard to decency and with reasonable gentleness.
Meaning: Decency and reasonable gentleness in dealing with women and children.
Clause (m) - Fire prevention and mitigation
Statutory provision: (m) to use his best endeavours to prevent any loss or damage by fire.
Meaning: Fire prevention and mitigation.
Clause (n) - Prevention of accidents and danger to the public
Statutory provision: (n) to use his best endeavours to avert any accident or danger to the public.
Meaning: Prevention of accidents and danger to the public.
Clause (o) - Traffic management, obstruction prevention and enforcement of lawful street rules
Statutory provision: (o) to regulate and control the traffic in the streets, to prevent obstructions therein and to the best of his ability, to prevent the contravention of any rule, regulation or order made under this Act or any other law in force for observance by the public in or near the streets.
Meaning: Traffic management, obstruction prevention and enforcement of lawful street rules.
Clause (p) - Maintenance of order in public places and near places of worship
Statutory provision: (p) to keep order in the streets and at and within public bathing and washing places, fairs, temples and all other places of public resort and in the neighbourhood of places of public worship.
Meaning: Maintenance of order in public places and near places of worship.
Clause (q) - Management of crowds and prevention of overcrowding at public places
Statutory provision: (q) to regulate resort to public bathing and washing places and all other places of public resort, to prevent overcrowding there and to the best of his ability, to prevent the contravention of any regulation or order lawfully made for observance by the public at such place; and.
Meaning: Management of crowds and prevention of overcrowding at public places.
Clause (r) - Compliance with additional duties imposed by other laws currently in force
Statutory provision: (r) to discharge such other duties as are imposed upon him by any law for the time being in force.
Meaning: Compliance with additional duties imposed by other laws currently in force.
How Section 60 operates with other laws
Section 59 of the Delhi Police Act addresses enforcement of the Act, including warnings, seizure and specified arrest powers and restrictions. Section 60 complements those provisions by stating broader duties. It is not an independent exemption from procedural safeguards.
Since 1 July 2024, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) generally governs criminal procedure for new matters, subject to its transitional provisions and any applicable special law. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) addresses substantive criminal offences, while the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA) addresses evidence. The Delhi Police Act continues to be relevant as a special police statute, subject to applicable amendments and other laws.
The historical wording of clause (h) uses the expression "lunatics". This is reproduced only to identify the statutory language. Contemporary handling of persons with mental illness must respect the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, including relevant protections and police responsibilities, and applicable disability-rights law.
For example, the duty to help an injured detainee under clause (i) is a positive obligation to seek necessary care, while clause (k) requires officers to avoid unnecessary harassment during searches. Neither provision eliminates judicial or constitutional safeguards.
Frequently asked questions
What does Section 60 of the Delhi Police Act provide?
It specifies 18 categories of duties of every police officer, including execution of lawful orders, crime prevention, public safety, care of persons in custody and traffic regulation.
Does Section 60 itself authorise arrest without a warrant?
Section 60 describes duties; arrest must be legally authorised. Section 59 of the Delhi Police Act and applicable criminal procedure govern the relevant powers and safeguards.
Does Section 60 require police to assist sick persons in custody?
Yes. Clause (i) requires prompt measures to obtain necessary help for a wounded or sick person under arrest or in custody, and clause (j) requires proper sustenance and shelter.
Official legal sources
Editorial update: 19 October 2026. For proceedings or legal advice, verify the current official text, amendments, notifications and applicable judicial decisions.