Bharat’s BHARATIYA NAGARIK SURAKSHA SANHITA (PART 1) by Dr. Reena Kansal

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

(Act No. 46 of 2023)

Remarkable Changes under BNSS (Chapter wise)                                                                      

Rationale of Criminal Justice System                                                                                            

1.       Background of criminal law

2.       Chronology of criminal justice system

3.       Drawbacks of criminal justice system

4.       Composition of BNSS

5.       Time line for BNSS

6.       Statement of Objects and Reasons of BNSS

7.       Overview of BNSS vis-à-vis Code 1973

8.       Object of Criminal Trial

9.       Stakeholders and Functionaries in the Criminal Justice Administration

10.    Concept of Fair and Speedy Trial

11.    Effect of Delay in Criminal Trial

12.    Justice Delayed is Justice Denied

13.    Concept of Adversarial System

14.    Human Rights during Criminal Investigations

Chapter I

Preliminary

1.       Short title, extent and commencement                                                                                

2.       Definitions                                                                                                                                 

(1)(a)    "audio-video electronic means"                                                                               

(1)(b)    "bail"                                                                                                                             

(1)(d)    "bail bond"                                                                                                                   

(1)(e)    "bond"                                                                                                                          

(1)(c)    "bailable offence"                                                                                                      

(1)(f)     "charge"                                                                                                                        

(1)(g)    "cognizable offence"                                                                                                 

(1)(o)    "non-cognizable offence"                                                                                         

(1)(h)    "complaint"                                                                                                                 

(1)(j)     "High Court"                                                                                                                

(1)(k)    "inquiry"                                                                                                                       

(1)(l)     "investigation"                                                                                                             

(1)(m)   "judicial proceeding"                                                                                                  

(1)(n)    "local jurisdiction"                                                                                                      

(1)(p)    "notification"                                                                                                               

(1)(q)    "offence"                                                                                                                      

(1)(r)     "officer in charge of a police station"                                                                     

(1)(s)     "place"                                                                                                                          

(1)(t)     "police report"                                                                                                             

(1)(u)    "police station"                                                                                                            

(1)(v)    "Public Prosecutor"                                                                                                     

(1)(w)   "sub-division"                                                                                                              

(1)(x)    "summons-case"                                                                                                         

(1)(z)     "warrant-case"                                                                                                            

(1)(y)    "victim"                                                                                                                        

3.       Construction of references                                                                                                     

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

5.       Saving                                                                                                                                        

Chapter II

Constitution of Criminal Courts and Offices

6.       Classes of Criminal Courts                                                                                                     

7.       Territorial divisions                                                                                                                  

8.       Court of Session                                                                                                                       

9.       Courts of Judicial Magistrates                                                                                               

10.    Chief Judicial Magistrate and Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, etc.                     

11.    Special Judicial Magistrates                                                                                                   

12.    Local Jurisdiction of Judicial Magistrates                                                                           

13.    Subordination of Judicial Magistrates                                                                                 

14.    Executive Magistrates                                                                                                             

15.    Special Executive Magistrates                                                                                               

16.    Local Jurisdiction of Executive Magistrates                                                                       

17.    Subordination of Executive Magistrates                                                                             

18.    Public Prosecutors                                                                                                                    

19.    Assistant Public Prosecutors                                                                                                   

20.    Directorate of Prosecution                                                                                                      

Chapter III

Power of Courts

21.    Courts by Which offences are triable                                                                                   

22.    Sentences which High Courts and Sessions Judges may pass                                         

23.    Sentences which Magistrates may pass                                                                               

24.    Sentence of Imprisonment in default of fine                                                                     

25.    Sentence in cases of conviction of several offences at one trial                                     

26.    Mode of conferring powers                                                                                                    

27.    Powers of officers appointed                                                                                                 

28.    Withdrawal of powers                                                                                                             

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

Chapter IV

Powers of Superior Officers of Police and Aid to
the Magistrates and the Police

30.    Powers of superior officers of police                                                                                    

31.    Public when to assist Magistrates and police                                                                      

32.    Aid to person, other than police officer, executing warrant                                             

33.    Public to give information of certain offences                                                                   

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

Chapter V

Arrest of Persons

35.    When police may arrest without warrant                                                                            

36.    Procedure of arrest and duties of officer making arrest                                                   

37.    Designated Police Officer                                                                                                       

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

39.    Arrest on refusal to give name and residence                                                                     

40.    Arrest by private person and procedure on such arrest                                                     

41.    Arrest by Magistrate                                                                                                                

42.    Protection of members of Armed Forces from arrest                                                        

43.    Arrest how made                                                                                                                      

44.    Search of place entered by person sought to be arrested                                                 

45.    Pursuit of offenders into other jurisdictions                                                                        

46.    No unnecessary restraint                                                                                                        

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

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

49.    Search of arrested person                                                                                                       

50.    Power to seize offensive weapons                                                                                        

51.    Examination of accused by medical practitioner at request of police officer             

52.    Examination of person accused of rape by medical practitioner                                   

53.    Examination of arrested person by medical officer                                                          

54.    Identification of person arrested                                                                                           

55.    Procedure when police officer deputes subordinate to arrest without warrant             

56.    Health and safety of arrested person                                                                                   

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

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

59.    Police to report apprehensions                                                                                               

60.    Discharge of person apprehended                                                                                        

61.    Power, on escape, to pursue and retake                                                                               

62.    Arrest to be made strictly according to Sanhita                                                                 

Chapter VI

Processes to Compel Appearance

A.—Summons

63.    Form of summons                                                                                                                   

64.    Summons how served                                                                                                             

65.    Service of summons on corporate bodies, firms, and societies                                       

66.    Service when persons summoned cannot be found                                                          

67.    Procedure when service cannot be effected as before provided