Vidhi Codex

The Delhi Police Act, 1978

The Delhi Police Act, 1978

Criminal1978152 sections11 chapters

The Delhi Police Act, 1978, establishes a unified police force for the Union Territory of Delhi to ensure public safety. It regulates traffic, public order, and licensing of entertainment venues while granting the Commissioner broad powers to prevent riots and manage crime. The Act applies to all police officers and the general public in Delhi. It is vital because it introduced the Police Commissioner system, improving efficiency by granting police direct executive authority. By defining duties and penalties for public nuisances, it provides a clear legal framework for maintaining civil discipline.

Start reading →Read full ActSections

Chapter I PRELIMINARY →

  1. 1Short title, extent and commencement.
  2. 2Definitions.

Chapter II ORGANISATION, SUPERINTENDENCE AND CONTROL OF THE POLICE FORCE →

  1. 3One police force for the whole of Delhi.
  2. 4Superintendence of police force to vest in the Administrator.
  3. 5Constitution of police force.
  4. 6Commissioner of Police.
  5. 7Additional Commissioner of Police.
  6. 8Deputy, Additional Deputy and Assistant Commissioners of Police.
  7. 9Appointment of Principals of Police training institutions.
  8. 10Constitution of police districts, sub-divisions and police stations.
  9. 11Officers in charge of police districts, police sub-divisions and police stations.
  10. 12Appointment of subordinate ranks.
  11. 13Certificate of appointment.
  12. 14Effect of suspension of police officer.
  13. 15General powers of Commissioner of Police.
  14. 16Power of Commissioner of Police to investigate and regulate matters of police accounts.
  15. 17Special police officers.
  16. 18Additional police officers.

Chapter III REGULATION, CONTROL AND DISCIPLINE OF THE DELHI POLICE →

  1. 19Framing of regulations for administration of the police.
  2. 20Commissioner of Police may call for returns.
  3. 21Powers of punishment.
  4. 22Procedure for awarding punishments.
  5. 23Appeal from orders of punishment.
  6. 24Police officers to be deemed to be always on duty and to be liable to employment in any part of Delhi.
  7. 25Circumstances under which police officer of subordinate rank may resign.
  8. 26Certificate, arms, etc., to be delivered by person ceasing to be a police officer.
  9. 27Occupation of, and liability to vacate, premises provided for police officers.

Chapter IV POLICE REGULATIONS →

  1. 28Power to make regulations for regulating traffic and for preservation of order in public places, etc.
  2. 29Power to give directions to the public.
  3. 30Power to prohibit certain acts for prevention of disorder.
  4. 31Police to provide against disorder, etc., at places of public amusement or public assembly or meeting.
  5. 32Power to prohibit, etc., continuance of music, sound or noise.
  6. 33Issue of order of prevention of riot, etc.
  7. 34Maintenance of order at religious or ceremonial display, etc.
  8. 35Commissioner of Police may take special measures to prevent outbreak of epidemic disease at fairs, etc.
  9. 36Power to reserve street or other public place for public purpose and power to authorise erecting of barriers in streets.
  10. 37Power to make regulations prohibiting disposal of the dead except at places set apart.

Chapter V SPECIAL MEASURES FOR MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC ORDER AND SECURITY OF STATE →

  1. 38Employment of additional police to keep peace.
  2. 39Employment of additional police in cases of special danger to public peace.
  3. 40Employment of additional police at large work and when apprehension regarding behaviour of employees exists.
  4. 41Compensation for injury caused by unlawful assembly how recoverable.
  5. 42Dispute in regard to cost of deputing additional police or compensation under section 41.
  6. 43Recovery of amount payable under section 38, 39, 40 or 41.
  7. 44Collector to award compensation.
  8. 45Recovery of amounts payable under sections 39 and 41.
  9. 46Dispersal of gangs and bodies of persons.
  10. 47Removal of persons about to commit offences.
  11. 48Removal of persons convicted of certain offences.
  12. 49Period of operation of orders under section 46, 47 or 48.
  13. 50Hearing to be given before order under section 46, 47 or 48 is passed.
  14. 51Appeal against orders under section 46, 47 or 48.
  15. 52Finality of order in certain cases.
  16. 53Procedure on failure of person to leave the area and his entry therein after removal.
  17. 54Temporary permission to enter and consequences of non-observance of conditions of such permission.
  18. 55Taking measurements and photographs, etc., of persons against whom an order under section 46, 47 or 48 is made.
  19. 56Resistance to the taking of measurements, etc.
  20. 57Banning of use of dress, etc., resembling uniform of armed forces.
  21. 58Constitution of Defence Societies.

Chapter VI EXECUTIVE DUTIES AND POWERS OF POLICE OFFICERS →

  1. 59Duty of police officer to enforce provisions of the Act.
  2. 60Other duties of a police officer.
  3. 61Power to enter places of public resort.
  4. 62Power to search suspected persons in street, etc.
  5. 63Emergency duties of police.
  6. 64Superior police officer may himself perform duties imposed on a subordinate officer.
  7. 65Persons bound to comply with the reasonable directions of police officer.

Chapter VII POWERS IN RELATION TO UNCLAIMED PROPERTY →

  1. 66Police to take charge of unclaimed property.
  2. 67Procedure for disposal of property taken charge of under section 66.
  3. 68Delivery of property to person entitled.
  4. 69In default of claim, property to be at disposal of Government.

Chapter VIII SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO EXERCISE OF POWERS UNDER THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973 →

  1. 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.
  2. 71Notifications under section 70 to be laid before Parliament.
  3. 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 IX SPECIAL POWERS UNDER THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ACT, 1960 →

  1. 73Powers with regard to offences under Act 59 of 1960.
  2. 74Powers of Metropolitan Magistrate to return animal to person from whose possession it was taken.
  3. 75Veterinary officer to examine the animal.
  4. 76Animal to be dealt with under Act 59 of 1960.
  5. 77Power of police officer to unsaddle animal or to unload it.
  6. 78Arrest without warrant in case of certain offences under Act 59 of 1960.
  7. 79Provisions of Chapter to be in addition to the provisions of Act 59 of 1960.

Chapter X OFFENCES AND PUNISHMENTS →

  1. 80Disregarding the rules of the road.
  2. 81Causing obstruction or mischief by animal.
  3. 82Exposing animal for hire, sale, etc.
  4. 83Causing any obstruction in a street.
  5. 84Obstructing a footway.
  6. 85Causing obstruction and annoyance by performances, etc.
  7. 86Doing offensive acts in or near a street or public place.
  8. 87Letting loose horse, etc., and suffering ferocious dogs to be at large.
  9. 88Bathing or washing in places not set apart for those purposes.
  10. 89Defiling water in public wells, etc.
  11. 90Obstructing bathers.
  12. 91Behaving indecently in public.
  13. 92Obstructing or annoying passengers in the street.
  14. 93Misbehaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.
  15. 94Prohibition against flying kites, etc.
  16. 95Committing nuisance in or near street, etc.
  17. 96Disregard of notice in public building.
  18. 97Penalties for offences under sections 80 to 96.
  19. 98Penalty for failure to keep in confinement cattle, etc.
  20. 99Punishment for cruelty to animals.
  21. 100Wilful trespass.
  22. 101False alarm of fire or damage to fire alarm.
  23. 102Being found under suspicious circumstances between sunset and sunrise.
  24. 103Possession of property of which no satisfactory account can be given.
  25. 104Omission by pawn-brokers, etc., to report to police possession or tender of property suspected to be stolen.
  26. 105Melting, etc., of property referred to in section 104.
  27. 106Taking pledge from child.
  28. 107Suffering disorderly conduct at places of public amusement, etc.
  29. 108Cheating at games and gambling in street.
  30. 109Penalty for disobedience to order under section 27.
  31. 110Penalty for contravening regulations, etc., under section 28.
  32. 111Liability of licensee of place of public amusement or entertainment for acts of servants.
  33. 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.
  34. 113Penalties for contravention of orders, etc., under sections 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34.
  35. 114Penalty for contravention of regulations, etc., made under sections 35, 36 and 37.
  36. 115Penalty for contravention of directions under section 46, 47 or 48.
  37. 116Penalty for entering without permission area from which a person is directed to remove himself or overstaying when permitted to return temporarily.
  38. 117Penalty for contravention of orders under section 57.
  39. 118Penalty for opposing or not complying with direction given under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 59.
  40. 119Penalty for contravening directions under section 65.
  41. 120Dangerous performances.
  42. 121Neglect or refusal to serve as special police officer.
  43. 122Penalty for making false statement, etc., and for misconduct of police officers.
  44. 123Penalty for failure to deliver up certificate of appointment or other article.
  45. 124Vexatious entry, search, arrest, etc., by police officer.
  46. 125Penalty for vexatious delay in forwarding a person arrested.
  47. 126Penalty for unauthorised use of police uniforms.
  48. 127Power to make regulations regarding carrying weapons without authority.
  49. 128Prosecution for certain offences against this Act to be in the discretion of Delhi police.
  50. 129Summary disposal of certain cases.
  51. 130Prosecution for offences under other enactments not affected.
  52. 131Offences by companies.

Chapter XI MISCELLANEOUS →

  1. 132Disposal of fees, rewards, etc.
  2. 133Method of proving orders and notifications.
  3. 134Rules, regulations or orders not invalidated by defect of form or irregularity in procedure.
  4. 135Presumption in prosecutions for contravention of order made under section 46, 47 or 48.
  5. 136Officers holding charges of, or succeeding to, vacancies competent to exercise powers.
  6. 137Forfeiture of bond entered into by person under sub-section (1) of section 54.
  7. 138No police officer to be liable to penalty or damage for act done in good faith in pursuance of duty.
  8. 139No public servant liable as aforesaid for giving effect in good faith to any rule, regulation, order or direction issued with apparent authority.
  9. 140Bar to suits and prosecutions.
  10. 141Licences and written permissions to specify conditions, etc., and to be signed.
  11. 142Public notices how to be given.
  12. 143Consent, etc., of a competent authority may be proved by writing under its signature.
  13. 144Signature on notices, etc., may be stamped.
  14. 145Persons interested may seek to annul, reverse or alter any rule or order.
  15. 146Powers of Commissioner of Police under other Acts.
  16. 147Power to make rules.
  17. 148Notification of rules and regulations in the Official Gazette and laying of rules and regulations.
  18. 149Cesser of operation of certain enactments and savings.
  19. 150Police force functioning in Delhi immediately before the commencement of this Act to be deemed to be police force constituted under this Act.
  20. 151Power to remove difficulties.
  21. 152Repeal and saving.

PDF: pending for this language.