Question

Under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, if a police officer-in-charge determines that an investigation is not warranted because the case lacks sufficient gravity, they are legally obligated to notify the informant of this decision within:

• A. 30 days
• B. 24 hours
• C. 14 days
• D. 7 days

Hint:

Under BNSS Section 173, transparency is key. If the police close a file for lack of gravity, they have exactly 14 days to update the informant!

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Identify the provision.
This is about Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, the new criminal procedure code.

Step 2: Understand the situation.
A police officer-in-charge looks at a case and decides it is not serious enough to investigate. The law does not want the complainant left guessing about what happened.

Step 3: See the duty placed on the police.
When the officer decides not to investigate because the case lacks gravity, he must record his reasons and then tell the informant (the person who reported it) about this decision.

Step 4: Find the time limit.
Section 173 fixes this notice period at 14 days. The informant must be told within 14 days that no investigation will be done.

Step 5: Reject the wrong options.
30 days is too long and does not match the section. 24 hours and 7 days are also not the periods given for this particular notice. Only 14 days fits.

Step 6: State the answer.
The informant must be told within 14 days.
\[ \boxed{\text{14 days}} \]