Police Act, 1861 · Power of police-officers
Section 44: Police-officers to keep diary
It shall be the duty of every officer in charge of a policestation to keep a general diary in such form shall, from time to time, be prescribed by the [State Government] and to record therein all complaints and charges preferred, the names of all persons arrested, the names of the complainants, the offences charged against them, the weapons or property that shall have been taken from their possession or otherwise, and the names of the witnesses who shall have been examined.
The Magistrate of the district shall be at liberty to call for and inspect such diary.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 44
-
Shailesh Kumar v. State of U.P. (Now State of Uttarakhand)
What is the goal of investigation and what is the role of investigating officer; Are s.172 CrPC and ss. 145 & 161 of the Evidence Act to be read in consonance with each other; Can a General Diary entry precede the…
- State by Lokayuktha Police v. H. Srinivas
- Lalita Kumari v. Govt. of U.P. and Ors.
- Budh Singh and Ors. v. State of U.P.