Section 45: Pursuits of offenders into other jurisdictions
Section 45 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 grants powers to law enforcing officers to pursue and arrest people who can be arrested under other jurisdictions of India without the need for a warrant.
It clearly empowers a police officer to follow any person whom he is empowered to arrest, as long as he is authorized, without regard for the fact that such person goes into another province of India. This section will allow the police to continue its pursuit without need for a warrant, which, in cases requiring prompt action for preventing the disappearance of a fugitive, proves indispensable.
The ability to pursue and arrest a suspect without a warrant increases the operational efficiency of law enforcement agencies. The police will be well prepared and ready to move in with efficiency. This ensures that the criminal justice system remains effective even when a suspect wishes to cross the territorial boundary in an effort to avoid arrest.
It gives the police officers a lot of powers, but it also imposes a duty on them to ensure that their actions are within the law. The officers should use their authority responsibly, making sure that their actions are justified and that the rights of individuals are respected in the pursuit and arrest process. This provision, while broad in scope, requires law enforcement to be vigilant in balancing their duty to enforce the law with the protection of individual freedoms.
