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In force Central Act No. 64 of 1949

The Police Act, 1949

An Act to provide for the constitution of a general police-district embracing two or more [Union territories] and for the establishment of a police force therefor.

Enacted
27 December 1949
Ministry
Ministry of Home Affairs
Sections
7
Text retrieved
15 September 2026
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Unofficial text. This copy is for reference and has no legal authority. Check the Gazette of India before relying on it. View on India Code

Source and data quality
Source
India Code, Legislative Department (record 123456789/496528)
Retrieved
15 September 2026
Extraction method
sections
Quality score
1.000 out of 1

1. Short title, extent and commencement

(1)

This Act may be called the Police Act, 1949.

(2)

It extends to all the [Union territories].

(3)

It shall come into force in a [Union territory] on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint in this behalf for [such territory].

Amendment notes (3)
  1. Subs . Subs., ibid., for "Part C States".
  2. Subs . Subs., ibid., for "Part C State."
  3. Subs . Subs., ibid., for "such state".

2. Definition

In this Act "general police-district" means the general police-district constituted under section 3.

3. Constitution of general police-district embracing two or more Union territories

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Police Act, 1861 (5 of 1861), the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute a general police-district embracing two or more [Union territories].

Amendment notes (1)
  1. Subs . Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 3) Order, 1956, for "Chief Commissioners' Provinces".

4. Constitution of one police force for general police-district

The entire police establishment in a general police-district shall be one police force and shall consist of such number of officers and men and shall be constituted in such manner as the Central Government may, by order, direct.

5. Superintendence and administration of police

(1)

The superintendence of the police throughout a general police-district shall vest in, and be exercised by, the Central Government.

(2)

The administration of the said police force shall vest in an officer, appointed in this behalf by the Central Government, who shall exercise in respect of that police force such of the powers exercisable by an Inspector-General of Police under the Police Act, 1861 (5 of 1861), as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf.

6. Application of the Police Act, 1861

Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, the provisions of the Police Act, 1861 (5 of 1861), shall apply to the police force constituted for the general police-district as if it were one police force constituted for a State, and members of the said police force shall have, in every part of [any territory] which is included in the general police-district, the same powers, duties and privileges, and shall be subject to the same liabilities, as they would have had, or would have been subject to, as police officers if they had formed a police establishment under one State Government.

Amendment notes (1)
  1. Subs . Subs., ibid., for "any State".

7. Saving

Nothing in this Act shall be deemed to affect the provisions contained in the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 (25 of 1946).