BNSS · Section 158 · Chapter XI — MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC ORDER AND TRANQUILLITY

Power of Magistrate to direct local investigation and examination of an expert.

What this section does

For the purposes of an inquiry under section 156 or section 157, the Magistrate may direct a local investigation to be conducted by any suitable person, or may summon and examine an expert. These are discretionary powers to assist the Magistrate in fact-finding.

AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).

Procedure at a glance

Key actors: Executive Magistrate · Local investigator · Expert

Old-law correspondence

Derived from CrPC s.139.

Read the official text

For the binding statutory text of BNSS Section 158, refer to the Gazette of India or the India Code official website.

Why this matters

BNSS Section 158 forms part of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita which replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 on 1 July 2024. Any new filing, FIR, charge sheet, or bail application made on or after that date should cite the new section number. References to the old act in legacy documents remain valid for matters that arose before the changeover.