Section 34: Duty Of Officers Employed In Connection With Affairs
Code:
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, Section 34
Explanation:
This section deals with the duty of individuals and village officials to report suspicious activities and events to the authorities. It mandates prompt communication of information related to:
- (a) Notorious receivers or vendors of stolen property: If anyone knows about individuals involved in receiving or selling stolen goods, they must report it to the nearest Magistrate or Police Station.
- (b) Suspected criminals: If someone sees or knows about a suspected robber, escaped convict, or proclaimed offender in or passing through their village, they must report it.
- (c) Non-bailable offenses: Any information about the commission or intention to commit a non-bailable offense or offenses punishable under sections 189 and 191 of the BNSS, 2023, must be reported.
- (d) Sudden or unnatural deaths: If a sudden or unnatural death, a death under suspicious circumstances, or the discovery of a corpse or parts of a corpse is found in or near the village, the concerned parties must report it.
- (e) Offenses committed outside India: If someone knows about an act committed outside India, near the village, which would be an offense under certain specific sections of the BNSS, 2023, if committed in India, they must report it.
- (f) Matters affecting public order: If the District Magistrate, with the approval of the State Government, has directed individuals to report any matter that may affect public order, the prevention of crime, or the safety of persons or property, they must comply.
Illustrations:
- A villager notices a stranger frequently visiting a known receiver of stolen goods. Then they should report it to the authorities.
- A village official sees a person matching the description of an escaped convict. For this, they must inform the nearest Police Station.
- If a villager discovers a body in a suspicious location, they must report it immediately.
Common Question and Answers: on Duty Of Officers Employed In Connection With Affairs
Q: What are the consequences of not reporting such information?
A: Failure to report such information as required by this section may be considered an offense. It could lead to legal consequences.
Q: Who can be considered a “proclaimed offender” under this section?
A: Any person declared an offender by a court or authority in India. Even in areas where the BNSS doesn’t extend, as an act that would be an offense. It will be punishable with imprisonment for ten years or more or life imprisonment or death under the BNSS, 2023.
Q: What is the meaning of “village” in this section?
A: It includes the village lands and not just the built-up area.
