Section 23: Powers and duties of police officers in respect of certain mentally ill persons

Q: What does Section 23 of The Mental Health Act, 1987 (TMHA) deal with?

Section 23 TMHA pertains to "Powers and duties of police officers in respect of certain mentally ill persons". It is part of the The Mental Health Act, 1987, a legislation enacted by the Parliament of India. Section 23 of The Mental Health Act, 1987 (TMHA) governs powers and duties of police officers in respect of certain mentally ill persons. As verified on 22 May 2026.

Q: Is Section 23 TMHA still in force?

Yes, Section 23 of the The Mental Health Act, 1987 is currently in force across the Republic of India.

Q: What is धारा 23 TMHA?

धारा 23 TMHA is the Devanagari Hindi reference for Section 23 of the The Mental Health Act, 1987. Section 23 of The Mental Health Act, 1987 (TMHA) governs powers and duties of police officers in respect of certain mentally ill persons. As verified on 22 May 2026.

Q: What is Dhara 23 TMHA?

Dhara 23 TMHA is the Roman Hindi reference for Section 23 of the The Mental Health Act, 1987. "Dhara" means "Section" in Hindi. Section 23 of The Mental Health Act, 1987 (TMHA) governs powers and duties of police officers in respect of certain mentally ill persons. As verified on 22 May 2026.

Q: How to cite Section 23 of The Mental Health Act, 1987?

Cite as: "Section 23, The Mental Health Act, 1987 (TMHA)" in legal briefs. For academic writing, use the BlueBook format: The Mental Health Act, 1987, 1987, § 23 (India).

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(1)

Every officer in charge of a police station,

(2)

No person taken into protection under sub-section (1) shall be detained by the police without being informed, as soon as may be, of the grounds for taking him into such protection, or where, in the opinion of the officer taking the person into protection, such person is not capable of understanding those grounds, without his relatives or friends, if any, being informed of such grounds.

(3)

Every person who is taken into protection and detained under this section shall be produced before the nearest Magistrate within a period of twenty-four hours of taking him into such protection excluding the time necessary for the journey from the place where he was taken into such protection to the Court of the Magistrate and shall not be detained beyond the said period without the authority of the Magistrate.