All BNSS Sections – Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Complete list of all 531 sections of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 — India’s new criminal procedure code, in force from 1 July 2024, replacing the CrPC, 1973. Click any section below for a detailed explanation.

531 Sections

Short title, extent and commencement

Construction of references

Trial of offences under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and other laws

Classes of Criminal Courts

Territorial divisions

Court of Session

Courts of Judicial Magistrates

Chief Judicial Magistrate and Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, etc

Special Judicial Magistrates

Local Jurisdiction of Judicial Magistrates

Subordination of Judicial Magistrates

Executive Magistrates

Special Executive Magistrates

Local Jurisdiction of Executive Magistrates

Subordination of Executive Magistrates

Public Prosecutors

Assistant Public Prosecutors

Directorate of Prosecution

Courts by which offences are triable

Sentences which High Courts and Sessions Judges may pass

Sentences which Magistrates may pass

Sentence of imprisonment in default of fine

Sentence in cases of conviction of several offences at one trial

Mode of conferring powers

Powers of officers appointed

Withdrawal of powers

Powers of Judges and Magistrates exercisable by their successors-in-office

Powers of superior officers of police

Public when to assist Magistrates and police

Aid to person, other than police officer, executing warrant

Public to give information of certain offences

Duty of officers employed in connection with affairs of a village to make certain report

When police may arrest without warrant

Procedure of arrest and duties of officer making arrest

Designated police officer

Right of arrested person to meet an advocate of his choice during interrogation

Arrest on refusal to give name and residence

Arrest by private person and procedure on such arrest

Arrest by Magistrate

Protection of members of Armed Forces from arrest

Arrest how made

Search of place entered by person sought to be arrested

Pursuit of offenders into other jurisdictions

No unnecessary restraint

Person arrested to be informed of grounds of arrest and of right to bail

Obligation of person making arrest to inform about arrest, etc., to relative or friend

Search of arrested person

Power to seize offensive weapons

Examination of accused by medical practitioner at request of police officer

Examination of person accused of rape by medical practitioner

Examination of arrested person by medical officer

Identification of person arrested

Procedure when police officer deputes subordinate to arrest without warrant

Health and safety of arrested person

Person arrested to be taken before Magistrate or officer in charge of police station

Person arrested not to be detained more than twenty-four hours

Police to report apprehensions

Discharge of person apprehended

Power, on escape, to pursue and retake

Arrest to be made strictly according to Sanhita

Form of summons

Summons how served

Service of summons on corporate bodies, firms, and societies

Service when persons summoned cannot be found

Procedure when service cannot be effected as before provided

Service on Government servant

Service of summons outside local limits

Proof of service in such cases and when serving officer not present

Service of summons on witness

Form of warrant of arrest and duration

Power to direct security to be taken

Warrants to whom directed

Warrant may be directed to any person

Warrant directed to police officer

Notification of substance of warrant

Person arrested to be brought before Court without delay

Where warrant may be executed

Warrant forwarded for execution outside jurisdiction

Warrant directed to police officer for execution outside jurisdiction

Procedure on arrest of person against whom warrant issued

Procedure by Magistrate before whom such person arrested is brought

Proclamation for person absconding

Attachment of property of person absconding

Identification and attachment of property of proclaimed person

Claims and objections to attachment

Release, sale and restoration of attached property

Appeal from order rejecting application for restoration of attached property

Issue of warrant in lieu of, or in addition to, summons

Power to take bond or bail bond for appearance

Arrest on breach of bond or bail bond for appearance

Provisions of this Chapter generally applicable to summons and warrants of arrest

Summons to produce document or other thing

Procedure as to letters

When search-warrant may be issued

Search of place suspected to contain stolen property, forged documents, etc

Power to declare certain publications forfeited and to issue search-warrants for same

Application to High Court to set aside declaration of forfeiture

Search for persons wrongfully confined

Power to compel restoration of abducted females

Direction, etc., of search-warrants

Persons in charge of closed place to allow search

Disposal of things found in search beyond jurisdiction

Recording of search and seizure through audio video electronic means

Power of police officer to seize certain property

Attachment, forfeiture or restoration of property

Magistrate may direct search in his presence

Power to impound document, etc., produced

Reciprocal arrangements regarding processes

Letter of request to competent authority for investigation in a country or place outside India

Letter of request from a country or place outside India to a Court or an authority for investigation in India

Assistance in securing transfer of persons

Assistance in relation to orders of attachment or forfeiture of property

Identifying unlawfully acquired property

Seizure or attachment of property

Management of properties seized or forfeited under this Chapter

Notice of forfeiture of property

Forfeiture of property in certain cases

Fine in lieu of forfeiture

Certain transfers to be null and void

Procedure in respect of letter of request

Application of this Chapter

Security for keeping peace on conviction

Security for keeping peace in other cases

Security for good behaviour from persons disseminating certain matters

Security for good behaviour from suspected persons

Security for good behaviour from habitual offenders

Order to be made

Procedure in respect of person present in Court

Summons or warrant in case of person not so present

Copy of order to accompany summons or warrant

Power to dispense with personal attendance

Inquiry as to truth of information

Order to give security

Discharge of person informed against

Commencement of period for which security is required

Contents of bond

Power to reject sureties

Imprisonment in default of security

Power to release persons imprisoned for failing to give security

Security for unexpired period of bond

Order for maintenance of wives, children and parents

Alteration in allowance

Enforcement of order of maintenance

Dispersal of assembly by use of civil force

Use of armed forces to disperse assembly

Power of certain armed force officers to disperse assembly

Protection against prosecution for acts done under sections 148, 149 and 150

Conditional order for removal of nuisance

Service or notification of order

Person to whom order is addressed to obey or show cause

Penalty for failure to comply with section 154

Procedure where existence of public right is denied

Procedure where person against whom order is made under section 152 appears to show-cause

Power of Magistrate to direct local investigation and examination of an expert

Power of Magistrate to furnish written instructions, etc

Procedure on order being made absolute and consequences of disobedience

Injunction pending inquiry

Magistrate may prohibit repetition or continuance of public nuisance

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

Procedure where dispute concerning land or water is likely to cause breach of peace

Power to attach subject of dispute and to appoint receiver

Dispute concerning right of use of land or water

Police to prevent cognizable offences

Information of design to commit cognizable offences

Arrest to prevent commission of cognizable offences

Prevention of injury to public property

Persons bound to conform to lawful directions of police

Information in cognizable cases

Information as to non-cognizable cases and investigation of such cases

Police officer’s power to investigate cognizable case

Procedure for investigation

Report how submitted

Power to hold investigation or preliminary inquiry

Police officer’s power to require attendance of witnesses

Examination of witnesses by police

Statements to police and use thereof

No inducement to be offered

Recording of confessions and statements

Medical examination of victim of rape

Search by police officer

When officer in charge of police station may require another to issue search-warrant

Procedure when investigation cannot be completed in twenty-four hours

Report of investigation by subordinate police officer

Release of accused when evidence deficient

Cases to be sent to Magistrate, when evidence is sufficient

Complainant and witnesses not to be required to accompany police officer and not to be subject to restraint

Diary of proceedings in investigation

Report of police officer on completion of investigation

Police to enquire and report on suicide, etc

Power to summon persons

Inquiry by Magistrate into cause of death

Ordinary place of inquiry and trial

Place of inquiry or trial

Offence triable where act is done or consequence ensues

Place of trial where act is an offence by reason of relation to other offence

Place of trial in case of certain offences

Offences committed by means of electronic communications, letters, etc

Offence committed on journey or voyage

Place of trial for offences triable together

Power to order cases to be tried in different sessions divisions

High Court to decide, in case of doubt, district where inquiry or trial shall take place

Power to issue summons or warrant for offence committed beyond local jurisdiction

Offence committed outside India

Receipt of evidence relating to offences committed outside India

Cognizance of offences by Magistrate

Transfer on application of accused

Making over of cases to Magistrates

Cognizance of offences by Court of Session

Additional Sessions Judges to try cases made over to them

Prosecution for contempt of lawful authority of public servants, for offences against public justice and for offences relating to documents given in evidence

Procedure for witnesses in case of threatening, etc

Prosecution for offences against State and for criminal conspiracy to commit such offence

Prosecution of Judges and public servants

Prosecution for offences against marriage

Prosecution of offences under section 85 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Cognizance of offence

Prosecution for defamation

Examination of complainant

Procedure by Magistrate not competent to take cognizance of case

Postponement of issue of process

Dismissal of complaint

Issue of process

Magistrate may dispense with personal attendance of accused

Special summons in cases of petty offence

Supply to accused of copy of police report and other documents

Supply of copies of statements and documents to accused in other cases triable by Court of Session

Commitment of case to Court of Session when offence is triable exclusively by it

Procedure to be followed when there is a complaint case and police investigation in respect of same offence

Contents of charge

Particulars as to time, place and person

When manner of committing offence must be stated

Words in charge taken in sense of law under which offence is punishable

Effect of errors

Court may alter charge

Recall of witnesses when charge altered

Separate charges for distinct offences

Offences of same kind within year may be charged together

Trial for more than one offence

Where it is doubtful what offence has been committed

When offence proved included in offence charged

What persons may be charged jointly

Withdrawal of remaining charges on conviction on one of several charges

Trial to be conducted by Public Prosecutor

Opening case for prosecution

Framing of charge

Conviction on plea of guilty

Date for prosecution evidence

Evidence for prosecution

Entering upon defence

Judgment of acquittal or conviction

Previous conviction

Procedure in cases instituted under sub-section (2) of section 222

Compliance with section 230

When accused shall be discharged

Framing of charge

Conviction on plea of guilty

Evidence for prosecution

Evidence for defence

Evidence for prosecution

When accused shall be discharged

Procedure where accused is not discharged

Evidence for defence

Acquittal or conviction

Absence of complainant

Compensation for accusation without reasonable cause

Substance of accusation to be stated

Conviction on plea of guilty

Conviction on plea of guilty in absence of accused in petty cases

Procedure when not convicted

Acquittal or conviction

Non-appearance or death of complainant

Withdrawal of complaint

Power to stop proceedings in certain cases

Power of Court to convert summons-cases into warrant-cases

Power to try summarily

Summary trial by Magistrate of second class

Procedure for summary trials

Record in summary trials

Judgment in cases tried summarily

Language of record and judgment

Application of Chapter

Application for plea bargaining

Guidelines for mutually satisfactory disposition

Report of mutually satisfactory disposition to be submitted before Court

Disposal of case

Judgment of Court

Finality of judgment

Power of Court in plea bargaining

Period of detention undergone by accused to be set off against sentence of imprisonment

Statements of accused not to be used

Non-application of Chapter

Power to require attendance of prisoners

Power of State Government or Central Government to exclude certain persons from operation of section 302

Officer in charge of prison to abstain from carrying out order in certain contingencies

Prisoner to be brought to Court in custody

Power to issue commission for examination of witness in prison

Language of Courts

Evidence to be taken in presence of accused

Record in summons-cases and inquiries

Record in warrant-cases

Record in trial before Court of Session

Language of record of evidence

Procedure in regard to such evidence when completed

Interpretation of evidence to accused or his advocate

Remarks respecting demeanour of witness

Record of examination of accused

Interpreter to be bound to interpret truthfully

Record in High Court

When attendance of witness may be dispensed with and commission issued

Commission to whom to be issued

Execution of commissions

Parties may examine witnesses

Return of commission

Adjournment of proceeding

Execution of foreign commissions

Deposition of medical witness

Identification report of Magistrate

Evidence of officers of Mint

Reports of certain Government scientific experts

No formal proof of certain documents

Affidavit in proof of conduct of public servants

Evidence of formal character on affidavit

Authorities before whom affidavits may be sworn

Previous conviction or acquittal how proved

Record of evidence in absence of accused

Evidence of public servants, experts, police officers in certain cases

Person once convicted or acquitted not to be tried for same offence

Appearance by Public Prosecutors

Permission to conduct prosecution

Right of person against whom proceedings are instituted to be defended

Legal aid to accused at State expense in certain cases

Procedure when corporation or registered society is an accused

Tender of pardon to accomplice

Power to direct tender of pardon

Trial of person not complying with conditions of pardon

Power to postpone or adjourn proceedings

Local inspection

Power to summon material witness, or examine person present

Power of Magistrate to order person to give specimen signatures or handwriting, etc

Expenses of complainants and witnesses

Power to examine accused

Oral arguments and memorandum of arguments

Accused person to be competent witness

No influence to be used to induce disclosure

Provision for inquiries and trial being held in absence of accused in certain cases

Inquiry, trial or judgment in absentia of proclaimed offender

Procedure where accused does not understand proceedings

Power to proceed against other persons appearing to be guilty of offence

Compounding of offences

Withdrawal from prosecution

Procedure in cases which Magistrate cannot dispose of

Procedure when after commencement of inquiry or trial, Magistrate finds case should be committed

Trial of persons previously convicted of offences against coinage, stamp-law or property

Procedure when Magistrate cannot pass sentence sufficiently severe

Conviction or commitment on evidence partly recorded by one Magistrate and partly by another

Court to be open

Procedure in case of accused being person of unsound mind

Procedure in case of person of unsound mind tried before Court

Release of person of unsound mind pending investigation or trial

Resumption of inquiry or trial

Procedure on accused appearing before Magistrate or Court

When accused appears to have been of sound mind

Judgment of acquittal on ground of unsoundness of mind

Person acquitted on ground of unsoundness of mind to be detained in safe custody

Power of State Government to empower officer in charge to discharge

Procedure where prisoner of unsound mind is reported capable of making his defence

Procedure where person of unsound mind detained is declared fit to be released

Delivery of person of unsound mind to care of relative or friend

Procedure in cases mentioned in section 215

Power to order costs

Procedure of Magistrate taking cognizance

Summary procedure for trial for giving false evidence

Procedure in certain cases of contempt

Procedure where Court considers that case should not be dealt with under section 384

When Registrar or Sub-Registrar to be deemed a Civil Court

Discharge of offender on submission of apology

Imprisonment or committal of person refusing to answer or produce document

Summary procedure for punishment for non-attendance by a witness in obedience to summons

Appeals from convictions under sections 383, 384, 388 and 389

Certain Judges and Magistrates not to try certain offences when committed before themselves

Language and contents of judgment

Order for notifying address of previously convicted offender

Order to pay compensation

Victim compensation scheme

Treatment of victims

Witness protection scheme

Compensation to persons groundlessly arrested

Order to pay costs in non-cognizable cases

Order to release on probation of good conduct or after admonition

Special reasons to be recorded in certain cases

Court not to alter judgment

Copy of judgment to be given to accused and other persons

Judgment when to be translated

Court of Session to send copy of finding and sentence to District Magistrate

Sentence of death to be submitted by Court of Session for confirmation

Power to direct further inquiry to be made or additional evidence to be taken

Power of High Court to confirm sentence or annul conviction

Confirmation or new sentence to be signed by two Judges

Procedure in case of difference of opinion

Procedure in cases submitted to High Court for confirmation

No appeal to lie unless otherwise provided

Appeal from orders requiring security or refusal to accept or rejecting surety for keeping peace or good behavior

Appeals from convictions

No appeal in certain cases when accused pleads guilty

No appeal in petty cases

Appeal by State Government against sentence

Appeal in case of acquittal

Appeal against conviction by High Court in certain cases

Special right of appeal in certain cases

Appeal to Court of Session how heard

Petition of appeal

Procedure when appellant in jail

Summary dismissal of appeal

Procedure for hearing appeals not dismissed summarily

Powers of Appellate Court

Judgments of subordinate Appellate Court

Order of High Court on appeal to be certified to lower Court

Suspension of sentence pending appeal; release of appellant on bail

Arrest of accused in appeal from acquittal

Appellate Court may take further evidence or direct it to be taken

Procedure where Judges of Court of appeal are equally divided

Finality of judgments and orders on appeal

Abatement of appeals

Reference to High Court

Disposal of case according to decision of High Court

Calling for records to exercise powers of revision

Power to order inquiry

Sessions Judge’s powers of revision

Power of Additional Sessions Judge

High Court’s powers of revision

Power of High Court to withdraw or transfer revision cases

Option of Court to hear parties

High Court’s order to be certified to lower Court

Power of Supreme Court to transfer cases and appeals

Power of High Court to transfer cases and appeals

Power of Sessions Judge to transfer cases and appeals

Withdrawal of cases and appeals by Sessions Judges

Withdrawal of cases by Judicial Magistrates

Making over or withdrawal of cases by Executive Magistrates

Reasons to be recorded

Execution of order passed under section 409

Execution of sentence of death passed by High Court

Postponement of execution of sentence of death in case of appeal to Supreme Court

Commutation of sentence of death on pregnant woman

Power to appoint place of imprisonment

Execution of sentence of imprisonment

Direction of warrant for execution

Warrant with whom to be lodged

Warrant for levy of fine

Effect of such warrant

Warrant for levy of fine issued by a Court in any territory to which this Sanhita does not extend

Suspension of execution of sentence of imprisonment

Who may issue warrant

Sentence on escaped convict when to take effect

Sentence on offender already sentenced for another offence

Period of detention undergone by accused to be set off against sentence of imprisonment

Return of warrant on execution of sentence

Money ordered to be paid recoverable as a fine

Mercy petition in death sentence cases

Power to suspend or remit sentences

Power to commute sentence

Restriction on powers of remission or commutation in certain cases

Concurrent power of Central Government in case of death sentences

State Government to act after concurrence with Central Government in certain cases

In what cases bail to be taken

Maximum period for which under-trial prisoner can be detained

When bail may be taken in case of non-bailable offence

Bail to require accused to appear before next Appellate Court

Direction for grant of bail to person apprehending arrest

Special powers of High Court or Court of Session regarding bail

Amount of bond and reduction thereof

Bond of accused and sureties

Declaration by sureties

Discharge from custody

Power to order sufficient bail when that first taken is insufficient

Discharge of sureties

Deposit instead of recognizance

Procedure when bond has been forfeited

Cancellation of bond and bail bond

Procedure in case of insolvency or death of surety or when a bond is forfeited

Bond required from child

Appeal from orders under section 491

Power to direct levy of amount due on certain recognizances

Order for custody and disposal of property pending trial in certain cases

Order for disposal of property at conclusion of trial

Payment to innocent purchaser of money found on accused

Appeal against orders under section 498 or section 499

Destruction of libellous and other matter

Power to restore possession of immovable property

Procedure by police upon seizure of property

Procedure where no claimant appears within six months

Power to sell perishable property

Irregularities which do not vitiate proceedings

Irregularities which vitiate proceedings

Proceedings in wrong place

Non-compliance with provisions of section 183 or section 316

Effect of omission to frame, or absence of, or error in, charge

Finding or sentence when reversible by reason of error, omission or irregularity

Defect or error not to make attachment unlawful

Bar to taking cognizance after lapse of period of limitation

Commencement of period of limitation

Exclusion of time in certain cases

Exclusion of date on which Court is closed

Continuing offence

Extension of period of limitation in certain cases

Trials before High Courts

Delivery to commanding officers of persons liable to be tried by Court-martial

Power of High Court to make rules

Power to alter functions allocated to Executive Magistrate in certain cases

Cases in which Judge or Magistrate is personally interested

Practising advocate not to sit as Magistrate in certain Courts

Public servant concerned in sale not to purchase or bid for property

Saving of inherent powers of High Court

Duty of High Court to exercise continuous superintendence over Courts

Trial and proceedings to be held in electronic mode

Repeal and savings

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