Section 76: Warrant directed to police officer
Section 76 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 deals with the procedure and authority in respect of the execution of arrest warrant specifically directed to police officers. This provision is very important in ensuring that the actions of law enforcement are well coordinated, legal, and accountable.
A warrant of arrest issued to a police officer can be executed by any other police officer, provided that the name of the executing officer is endorsed on the warrant by the officer to whom the warrant is initially directed. This endorsement ensures that the execution of the warrant is legally authorized and performed by a duly recognized officer of the law .
This section explicitly states that only the police officers whose names are endorsed on the warrant have the legal authority to carry out the execution. This is in a bid to ensure accountability and traceability in law enforcement activities, which would prevent improper or unauthorized activities
by police officers .
The provision that enables a warrant to be executed by any officer whose name has been endorsed introduces an element of operational flexibility. This is very useful where the officer who was originally assigned to execute the warrant is not available, or when several officers are needed for the safe and effective execution of the warrant .
