Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act 1973

Power to issue order in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger -

        Chapter X Maintenance of Public Order and Tranquillity,  According to Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act 1973,

       (1) In cases where, in the opinion of’ a District Magistrate, a Sub-divisional Magistrate or any other Executive Magistrate specially empowered by the State Government in this behalf, there is sufficient ground for proceeding under this section and immediate prevention or speedy remedy is desirable, such Magistrate may, by a written order stating the material fact of the case and served in the manner provided by section 134, direct any person to abstain from a certain act or to take certain order with respect to certain property in his possession or under his management, if such Magistrate considers that such direction is likely to prevent, or tends to prevent, obstruction, annoyance or injury to any person lawfully employed, or danger to human life, health or safety, or a disturbance of the public tranquility, or a riot, or an affray.

       (2) An order under this section may, in cases of’ emergency or in cases where the circumstances do not admit of the serving in due time of a notice upon the person against whom the order is directed, be passed ex-parte.

       (3) An order under this section may be directed to a particular individual, or to persons residing in a particular place or area, or to the public generally when frequenting or visiting a particular place or area.

      (4) No order under this section shall remain in force for more than two months from the making thereof:

      Provided that, if the State Government considers it necessary so to do for preventing danger to human life, health or safety or for preventing a riot or any, affray, it may by notification, direct that an order made by a Magistrate under this section shall remain in force for such further period not exceeding six months from the date on which the order made by the Magistrate would have, but for such order, expired, as it may specify in the said notification.

      (5) Any Magistrate may, either on his own motion or on the application of any person aggrieved, rescind or alter any order made under this section, by himself or any Magistrate subordinate to him or by his predecessor-in-office.

      (6) The State Government may either on its own motion or on the application of any person aggrieved, rescind or alter an order made by it under the proviso to sub-section (4).

     (7) Where an application under subsection (5), or sub-section (6) is received, the Magistrate, or the State Government, as the case may be shall afford to the applicant an early opportunity of appearing before him or it, either in person or by pleader and showing cause against the order, and if the Magistrate or the State Government, as the case may be, rejects the application wholly or in part he or it shall record in writing the reasons for so doing.

Power to prohibit carrying arms in procession or mass drill or mass training with arms (Section 144A) - 

     (1) The District Magistrate may, whenever he considers it necessary so to do for the preservation of public peace or public safety or for the maintenance of public order, by a public notice or by order, prohibit in any area within the local limits of his jurisdiction, the carrying of arms in any procession or the organizing or holding of, or taking part in, any mass drill or mass training with arms in any public place.

     (2) A public notice issued or an order made under this section may be directed to a particular person or to persons belonging to any community, party or organization.

     (3) No public notice issued or an order made under this section shall remain in force for more than three months from the date on which it is issued or made.

     (4) The State Government may, if it considers necessary so to do for the preservation of public peace or public safety or for the maintenance of public order, by notification, direct that a public notice issued or order made by the District Magistrate under this section shall remain in force for such further period not exceeding six months from the date on which such public notice or order was issued or made by the District Magistrate would have, but for such direction, expired, as it may specify in the said notification.

     (5) The State Government may, subject to such control and directions as it may deem fit to impose, by general or special order, delegate its powers under sub-section (4) to the District Magistrate.

Explanation. 

The word "arms" shall have the meaning assigned to it in section 153AA of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).

1. Inserted by the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2005, with effect from a date yet to be notified.

See Also...

Transfer of Criminal Cases and Appeals (Cr.P.C Section 406 to Section 408)

Special powers of High Court or Court of Session regarding bail

Difference between Parole and Probation