Maharashtra Police Stations To Have Control Rooms, Digital Display Of Arrested Persons As State Govt Implements Provision Under BNSS

In a first, the Maharashtra Government has resolved to implement a provision of the newly enforced Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 (BNSS), mandating the establishment of control rooms in police stations in every District and at State level.

As per a Government Resolution (GR) issued on August 1, the Maharashtra government has resolved to implement section 37 (a) and (b) of BNSS in letter and spirit.

This means, police station across Maharashtra will have a 'control room' and will also have 'a prominent digital display' of the names of persons who are arrested, the nature of the offences committed by them, their addresses etc.

Section 37(a) of BNSS states that the state government shall establish a "Police control room in every district and at State level".

Sub clause (b) mandates that the state government shall designate a "police officer in every district and in every police station"–not below that of Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police, who will be "responsible for maintaining the information" pertaining to the name and address of the persons so arrested.

The information would also include the "nature of the offence" with which the person is charged, which is to be "prominently displayed" in any manner–including in digital mode, in every police station as well as in the district headquarters.

The GR further authorises the Director General of Police (DGP) for proper implementation of Section 37, BNSS.