Section 23:
Duties of police-officers.
It shall be the duty of every police-officer promptly to obey and
execute all orders and warrants lawfully issued to him by any competent authority; to collect and
communicate intelligence affecting the public peace; to prevent the commission of offences and public
nuisances; to detect and bring offenders to justice and to apprehend all persons whom he is legally
authorized to apprehend, and for whose apprehension sufficient ground exists; and it shall be lawful
for every police-officer, for any of the purposes mentioned in this section, without a warrant, to enter
and inspect any drinking-shop, gaming-house or other place of resort of loose and disorderly
characters. STATE AMENDMENT
Orissa.-- Insertion of new section 23-A.--In the Police Act, 1861, after section 23, the following new
section shall be inserted, namely:--
23-A. Power in relation to cognizable offences in a running train.--Without prejudice to the
provisions contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), a Sub-Inspector of police,
posted to the mobile out-post of the Government Railway Police, shall, while performing duty in a
running train, exercise the powers of the officer-in-charge of the local Government Railway Policestation
for the purposes of investigation into cognizable offences committed in a running train and
when so exercising such powers, shall be deemed to be the officer-in-charge of such police-station
discharging the functions of such officer within the limits of that Police-station.
[Vide the Orissa Act 21 of 1986, s. 2]