What Is BNSS Section 282?

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 - Section 282: Power of Court to convert summons-cases 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.

Brief Detail

Section 282 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, grants the Magistrate the power to convert a summons-case into a warrant-case under certain conditions. If during the trial of a summons-case, the Magistrate determines that the case should be tried following the procedure for warrant-cases (especially for offences punishable with imprisonment for more than six months), the Magistrate can re-hear the case according to the relevant procedures and may re-call any witnesses previously examined.

Question & Answers

Q1: When can a Magistrate convert a summons-case into a warrant-case?

A1: A Magistrate can convert a summons-case into a warrant-case if, during the trial, it appears that the offence should be tried according to the procedure for warrant-cases, especially for offences punishable with imprisonment for more than six months.

Q2: What is the procedure followed when converting a summons-case into a warrant-case?

A2: The Magistrate will re-hear the case in the manner provided by this Sanhita for the trial of warrant-cases. This includes the possibility of recalling any witnesses who were previously examined.

Q3: Does this power apply to all offences?

A3: No, this power specifically applies to offences that are punishable with imprisonment for a term exceeding six months.

Q4: Can the Magistrate recall witnesses in a converted case?

A4: Yes, the Magistrate has the authority to recall any witness who may have been previously examined when converting a summons-case into a warrant-case.

Example

Example 1:

During the trial of a summons-case, the Magistrate discovers that the offence is punishable with imprisonment for more than six months. The Magistrate decides that the case should be tried as a warrant-case and re-hears the case following the procedure for warrant-cases. The Magistrate may also recall any witnesses that were previously examined during the summons-case trial.

Example 2:

A Magistrate is hearing a summons-case where the accused is charged with a serious offence punishable by more than six months in jail. In the interest of justice, the Magistrate converts the case into a warrant-case and begins a fresh trial with the proper procedure, including re-examining the witnesses.

Summary

Section 282 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, allows a Magistrate to convert a summons-case into a warrant-case if the offence involves imprisonment for more than six months and if it is in the interest of justice. The case will then be tried according to the procedures for warrant-cases, and the Magistrate can re-call any witnesses who were previously examined.