CHAPTER XXII
TRIAL OF SUMMONS-CASES BY MAGISTRATES
Section 274 BNSS| Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS):
Substance of accusation to be stated.
When in a summons-case the accused appears or is brought before the Magistrate, the particulars of the offence of which he is accused shall be stated to him, and he shall be asked whether he pleads guilty or has any defence to make, but it shall not be necessary to frame a formal charge:
Provided that if the Magistrate considers the accusation as groundless, he shall, after recording reasons in writing, release the accused and such release shall have the effect of discharge.
Section 275 BNSS| Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS):
Conviction on plea of guilty.
If the accused pleads guilty, the Magistrate shall record the plea as nearly as possible in the words used by the accused and may, in his discretion, convict him thereon.
Section 276 BNSS| Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS):
Conviction on plea of guilty in absence of accused in petty cases.
(1) Where a summons has been issued under section 229 and the accused desires to plead guilty to the charge without appearing before the Magistrate, he shall transmit to the Magistrate, by post or by messenger, a letter containing his plea and also the amount of fine specified in the summons.
(2) The Magistrate may, in his discretion, convict the accused in his absence, on his plea of guilty and sentence him to pay the fine specified in the summons, and the amount transmitted by the accused shall be adjusted towards that fine, or where a pleader authorised by the accused in this behalf pleads guilty on behalf of the accused, the Magistrate shall record the plea as nearly as possible in the words used by the pleader and may, in his discretion, convict the accused on such plea and sentence him as aforesaid.
Section 277 BNSS| Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS):
Procedure when not convicted.
(1) If the Magistrate does not convict the accused under section 275 or section 276, the Magistrate shall proceed to hear the prosecution and take all such evidence as may be produced in support of the prosecution, and also to hear the accused and take all such evidence as he produces in his defence.
(2) The Magistrate may, if he thinks fit, on the application of the prosecution or the accused, issue a summons to any witness directing him to attend or to produce any document
or other thing.
(3) The Magistrate may, before summoning any witness on such application, require
that the reasonable expenses of the witness incurred in attending for the purposes of the trial be deposited in Court.
Section 278 BNSS| Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS):
Acquittal or conviction.
(1) If the Magistrate, upon taking the evidence referred to in section 277 and such further evidence, if any, as he may, of his own motion, cause to be produced, finds the accused not guilty, he shall record an order of acquittal.
(2) Where the Magistrate does not proceed in accordance with the provisions of section 364 or section 401, he shall, if he finds the accused guilty, pass sentence upon him according to law.
(3) A Magistrate may, under section 275 or section 278, convict the accused of any offence triable under this Chapter, which from the facts admitted or proved he appears to have committed, whatever may be the nature of the complaint or summons, if the Magistrate
is satisfied that the accused would not be prejudiced thereby.
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Section 279 BNSS| Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), Bare Act:
Non-appearance or death of complainant.
(1) If the summons has been issued on complaint, and on the day appointed for the appearance of the accused, or any day subsequent thereto to which the hearing may be adjourned, the complainant does not appear, the Magistrate shall, after giving thirty days' time to the complainant to be present, notwithstanding anything hereinbefore contained, acquit the accused, unless for some reason he thinks it proper to adjourn the hearing of the case to some other day:
Provided that where the complainant is represented by an advocate or by the officer conducting the prosecution or where the Magistrate is of opinion that the personal attendance of the complainant is not necessary, the Magistrate may, dispense with his attendance and proceed with the case.
(2) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall, so far as may be, apply also to cases where the non-appearance of the complainant is due to his death.
Section 280 BNSS| Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS):
Withdrawal of complaint.
If a complainant, at any time before a final order is passed in any case under this Chapter, satisfies the Magistrate that there are sufficient grounds for permitting him to withdraw his complaint against the accused, or if there be more than one accused, against all or any of them, the Magistrate may permit him to withdraw the same, and shall thereupon acquit the accused against whom the complaint is so withdrawn.
Section 281 BNSS| Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS):
Power to stop proceedings in certain cases.
In any summons-case instituted otherwise than upon complaint, a Magistrate of the first class or, with the previous sanction of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, any other Judicial Magistrate, may, for reasons to be recorded by him, stop the proceedings at any stage without pronouncing any judgment and where such stoppage of proceedings is made after the evidence of the principal witnesses has been recorded, pronounce a judgment of acquittal, and in any other case, release the accused, and such release shall have the effect of discharge.
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Section 282 BNSS| Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS):
Power of Court to convert summonscases into warrant-cases.
When in the course of the trial of a summons-case relating to an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term exceeding six months, it appears to the Magistrate that in the interests of justice, the offence should be tried in accordance with the procedure for the trial of warrant-cases, such Magistrate may proceed to re-hear the case in the manner provided by this Sanhita for the trial of warrant-cases and may re-call any witness who may have been examined.
CHAPTER XXIII
SUMMARY TRIALS
Section 283 BNSS| Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS):
Power to try summarily.
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Sanhita—
(a) any Chief Judicial Magistrate;
(b) Magistrate of the first class,
shall try in a summary way all or any of the following offences:—
(i) theft, under section 303, section 305 or section 306 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 where the value of the property stolen does not exceed twenty thousand rupees;
(ii) receiving or retaining stolen property, under section 317 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, where the value of the property does not exceed twenty thousand rupees;
(iii) assisting in the concealment or disposal of stolen property under section 317 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, where the value of such property does not exceed twenty thousand rupees;
(iv) offences under section 332 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023;
(v) insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace, under section 352, and criminal intimidation, under section 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023;
(vi) abetment of any of the foregoing offences;
(vii) an attempt to commit any of the foregoing offences, when such
attempt is an offence;
(viii) any offence constituted by an act in respect of which a complaint may be made under section 20 of the Cattle-trespass Act, 1871.
(2) The Magistrate may, after giving the accused a reasonable opportunity of being heard, for reasons to be recorded in writing, try in a summary way all or any of the offences not punishable with death or imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term exceeding three years.
Provided that no appeal shall lie against the decision of a Magistrate to try a case in a summary way under this sub-section.
(3) When, in the course of a summary trial it appears to the Magistrate that the nature of the case is such that it is undesirable to try it summarily, the Magistrate shall re-call any witnesses who may have been examined and proceed to re-hear the case in the manner provided by this Sanhita.
Section 284 BNSS| Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS):
Summary trial by Magistrate of second class.
The High Court may confer on any Magistrate invested with the powers of a Magistrate of the second class power to try summarily any offence which is punishable only with fine or with imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months with or without fine, and any abetment of or attempt to commit any such offence.
Section 285 BNSS| Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS):
Procedure for summary trials.
(1) In trials under this Chapter, the procedure specified in this Sanhita for the trial of summons-case shall be followed except as hereinafter mentioned.
(2) No sentence of imprisonment for a term exceeding three months shall be passed in the case of any conviction under this Chapter.
Section 286 BNSS| Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS):
Record in summary trials.
In every case tried summarily, the Magistrate shall enter, in such form as the State Government may direct, the following particulars, namely:—
(a) the serial number of the case;
(b) the date of the commission of the offence;
(c) the date of the report or complaint;
(d) the name of the complainant (if any);
(e) the name, parentage and residence of the accused;
(f) the offence complained of and the offence (if any) proved, and in cases coming under clause (ii), clause (iii) or clause (iv) of sub-section (1) of section 283, the value of the property in respect of which the offence has been committed;
(g) the plea of the accused and his examination (if any);
(h) the finding; (i) the sentence or other final order;
(j) the date on which proceedings terminated.
Section 287 BNSS| Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS):
Judgement in cases tried summarily.
In every case tried summarily in which the accused does not plead guilty, the Magistrate shall record the substance of the evidence and a judgment containing a brief statement of the reasons for the finding.
Section 288 BNSS| Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS):
Language of record and judgment.
(1) Every such record and judgment shall be written in the language of the Court.
(2) The High Court may authorise any Magistrate empowered to try offences summarily to prepare the aforesaid record or judgment or both by means of an officer appointed in this behalf by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, and the record or judgment so prepared shall be signed by such Magistrate.
CHAPTER XXIV
PLEA BARGAINING
Section 289 BNSS| Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS):
Application of Chapter.
(1) This Chapter shall apply in respect of an accused against whom—
(a) the report has been forwarded by the officer in charge of the police station under section 193 alleging therein that an offence appears to have been committed by him other than an offence for which the punishment of death or of imprisonment for life or of imprisonment for a term exceeding seven years has been provided under the
law for the time being in force; or
(b) a Magistrate has taken cognizance of an offence on complaint, other than an offence for which the punishment of death or of imprisonment for life or of imprisonment for a term exceeding seven years, has been provided under the law for the time being
in force, and after examining complainant and witnesses under section 223, issued the process under section 227, but does not apply where such offence affects the socio-economic condition of the country or has been committed against a woman, or a child below the age of fourteen years.
(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the Central Government shall, by notification, determine the offences under the law for the time being in force which shall be the offences
affecting the socio-economic condition of the country.
Section 290 BNSS| Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS):
Application for plea bargaining.
(1) A person accused of an offence may file an application for plea bargaining within a period of thirty days from the date of framing of charge in the Court in which such offence is pending for trial.
(2) The application under sub-section (1) shall contain a brief description of the case relating to which the application is filed including the offence to which the case relates and shall be accompanied by an affidavit sworn by the accused stating therein that he has voluntarily preferred, after understanding the nature and extent of punishment provided under the law for the offence, the plea bargaining in his case and that he has not previously been convicted by a Court in a similar case.
(3) After receiving the application under sub-section (1), the Court shall issue notice to the Public Prosecutor or the complainant of the case and to the accused to appear on the date fixed for the case.
(4) When the Public Prosecutor or the complainant of the case and the accused appear on the date fixed under sub-section (3), the Court shall examine the accused in camera, where the other party in the case shall not be present, to satisfy itself that the
accused has filed the application voluntarily and where—
(a) the Court is satisfied that the application has been filed by the accused voluntarily, it shall provide time, not exceeding sixty days, to the Public Prosecutor or the complainant of the case and the accused to work out a mutually satisfactory disposition of the case which may include giving to the victim by the accused the compensation and other expenses during the case and thereafter fix the date for further hearing of the case;
(b) the Court finds that the application has been filed involuntarily by the accused or he has previously been convicted by a Court in a case in which he had been charged with the same offence, it shall proceed further in accordance with the provisions of this Sanhita from the stage such application has been filed under sub-section (1).
BNSS Section 274,275,276,277,278,279,280,281,282,283,284,285,286,287,288,289,290 BNSS
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