सं Samvidhan

BNSS · Chapter XI

Maintenance Of Public Order And Tranquillity — MCQs with answers

100 exam-style questions on this chapter, written from the actual legal text and tagged for UPSC, Judiciary and CLAT. Five are shown below with answers and explanations — the rest are in the free interactive drill.

Q1 · easy · BNSS S.148

Under Section 148(1), an assembly of what minimum number of persons may be commanded to disperse?

  1. A.Three persons
  2. B.Five or more persons✓ correct
  3. C.Ten persons
  4. D.Any number of persons

Why: Section 148(1) expressly refers to "any assembly of five or more persons likely to cause a disturbance of the public peace" as subject to a command to disperse. Thus the statutory minimum given is five persons.

Read Section 148 — Dispersal of assembly by use of civil force →

Q2 · easy · BNSS S.148

Which of the following authorities is explicitly empowered by Section 148(1) to command an unlawful assembly to disperse?

  1. A.Any Executive Magistrate✓ correct
  2. B.Any member of the armed forces
  3. C.Any local municipal official
  4. D.Only police officers of rank Inspector and above

Why: Section 148(1) states that "Any Executive Magistrate" may command an unlawful assembly to disperse. The provision separately addresses police officers, and does not empower members of the armed forces or municipal officials in this clause.

Read Section 148 — Dispersal of assembly by use of civil force →

Q3 · medium · BNSS S.148

If the officer in charge of a police station is present, when may a police officer not below the rank of sub‑inspector command an assembly to disperse under Section 148(1)?

  1. A.Yes, a sub‑inspector may command even if the officer in charge is present.
  2. B.Only with written permission from the Executive Magistrate.
  3. C.Only if the officer in charge is absent.✓ correct
  4. D.Only if the assembly exceeds ten persons.

Why: Section 148(1) allows "any police officer, not below the rank of a sub‑inspector" to command only "in the absence of such officer in charge". Hence a sub‑inspector’s power is conditional on the officer in charge being absent.

Read Section 148 — Dispersal of assembly by use of civil force →

Q4 · medium · BNSS S.148

According to Section 148(2), in which situation may an Executive Magistrate or the authorised police officer proceed to disperse an assembly by force without first issuing a command?

  1. A.When the assembly consists of fewer than five persons.
  2. B.Only after obtaining approval from a higher authority.
  3. C.When the armed forces request assistance.
  4. D.When, without being commanded, the assembly conducts itself so as to show a determination not to disperse.✓ correct

Why: Section 148(2) permits dispersal by force if "without being so commanded, it conducts itself in such a manner as to show a determination not to disperse." Thus force may be used in that specific uncommanded circumstance.

Read Section 148 — Dispersal of assembly by use of civil force →

Q5 · hard · BNSS S.148

Who may be required to assist in dispersing an assembly under Section 148(2)?

  1. A.Any person except an officer or member of the armed forces acting as such.✓ correct
  2. B.A serving officer of the armed forces acting in their official capacity.
  3. C.Only police officers of rank sub‑inspector or above.
  4. D.Only Executive Magistrates and police officers.

Why: Section 148(2) states the officer "may require the assistance of any person, not being an officer or member of the armed forces and acting as such" for dispersal. Therefore assistance may be required from any person except officers or members of the armed forces acting in that role.

Read Section 148 — Dispersal of assembly by use of civil force →

95 more questions on Maintenance Of Public Order And Tranquillity

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Questions are AI-generated from the legal text, machine-verified against the provision, and editorially reviewable. Education, not legal advice.