Greater Kashmir: Srinagar: Monday, 1St June
2026.
Response says no provision in BNS or BNSS prohibits visitors from carrying phones; no circular or notification issued imposing such restriction
Police has clarified that there is no specific legal provision under
the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) or the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
(BNSS) that prohibits visitors from carrying mobile phones inside Police
Stations.
The clarification came in response to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by advocate Nitin Bakhshi, a resident of Upper Barnai, Jammu, seeking information regarding restrictions on the use or carrying of mobile phones by visitors in police stations.
In a reply issued by the Public Information Officer (PIO), District Police Office (DPO) Jammu, vide communication No. RTI/131/2026 dated May 26, 2026, the police said that information had been sought from all Zonal Superintendents of Police in District Jammu before furnishing the response.
The RTI reply categorically states, “There is no specific section in BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) or BNSS (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita) that explicitly says visitors are not allowed to carry mobile phones inside a police station.” The police further informed the applicant that no notification, circular, order or other official instruction exists under which visitors are barred from carrying mobile phones into police stations.
The response assumes significance as visitors to Police Stations in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere in the country are often asked by police personnel to deposit mobile phones before entering certain areas of police establishments, citing security or administrative reasons. However, the RTI reply indicates that no specific statutory provision or district-level order authorising a blanket prohibition exists in District Jammu.
The communication also informed the applicant that if he is dissatisfied with the reply, he may file an appeal under Section 19(1) of the Right to Information Act before the First Appellate Authority, District Police Office Jammu, within 30 days of the issuance of the response. The First Appellate Authority in the matter is Anna Sinha, who is presently serving as Superintendent of Police (Headquarters), Jammu. The RTI application was received by the police on May 25, 2026, and the response was issued the following day after obtaining inputs from the concerned police officers.
Response says no provision in BNS or BNSS prohibits visitors from carrying phones; no circular or notification issued imposing such restriction
 |
| No law bars visitors from carrying mobiles inside police stations: Police’s RTI reply Photograph: (For Representation) |
The clarification came in response to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by advocate Nitin Bakhshi, a resident of Upper Barnai, Jammu, seeking information regarding restrictions on the use or carrying of mobile phones by visitors in police stations.
In a reply issued by the Public Information Officer (PIO), District Police Office (DPO) Jammu, vide communication No. RTI/131/2026 dated May 26, 2026, the police said that information had been sought from all Zonal Superintendents of Police in District Jammu before furnishing the response.
The RTI reply categorically states, “There is no specific section in BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) or BNSS (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita) that explicitly says visitors are not allowed to carry mobile phones inside a police station.” The police further informed the applicant that no notification, circular, order or other official instruction exists under which visitors are barred from carrying mobile phones into police stations.
The response assumes significance as visitors to Police Stations in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere in the country are often asked by police personnel to deposit mobile phones before entering certain areas of police establishments, citing security or administrative reasons. However, the RTI reply indicates that no specific statutory provision or district-level order authorising a blanket prohibition exists in District Jammu.
The communication also informed the applicant that if he is dissatisfied with the reply, he may file an appeal under Section 19(1) of the Right to Information Act before the First Appellate Authority, District Police Office Jammu, within 30 days of the issuance of the response. The First Appellate Authority in the matter is Anna Sinha, who is presently serving as Superintendent of Police (Headquarters), Jammu. The RTI application was received by the police on May 25, 2026, and the response was issued the following day after obtaining inputs from the concerned police officers.
.JPG)
.JPG)
