What Is BNSS Section 291?

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 - Section 291: Guidelines for mutually satisfactory disposition.

In working out a mutually satisfactory disposition under clause (a) of sub-section (4) of section 290, the Court shall follow the following procedure, namely:—

• (a) In a case instituted on a police report, the Court shall issue notice to the Public Prosecutor, the police officer who has investigated the case, the accused, and the victim of the case to participate in the meeting to work out a satisfactory disposition of the case:
  • Provided that throughout such process of working out a satisfactory disposition of the case, it shall be the duty of the Court to ensure that the entire process is completed voluntarily by the parties participating in the meeting:
  • Provided further that the accused, if he so desires, may participate in such a meeting with his pleader, if any, engaged in the case;
• (b) In a case instituted otherwise than on a police report, the Court shall issue notice to the accused and the victim of the case to participate in a meeting to work out a satisfactory disposition of the case:
  • Provided that it shall be the duty of the Court to ensure, throughout such process of working out a satisfactory disposition of the case, that it is completed voluntarily by the parties participating in the meeting:
  • Provided further that if the victim of the case or the accused so desires, he may participate in such meeting with his pleader engaged in the case.

Brefe Detail:

Section 291 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, outlines the procedure to be followed by the Court when working towards a mutually satisfactory disposition of a case under section 290. The guidelines provided ensure that the process of settlement is voluntary and fair for all parties involved, including the accused and the victim. In cases initiated through police reports, the Court involves the Public Prosecutor, police officer, accused, and victim, while for non-police report cases, only the accused and victim are directly involved. The Court must oversee the process and ensure that it remains voluntary.

Question & Answers:

Q1: What is the primary focus of Section 291 in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023?

A1: The primary focus of Section 291 is to provide guidelines for the Court to work out a mutually satisfactory disposition in cases where plea bargaining is involved. The process must be voluntary and fair, ensuring that all parties are willing participants.

Q2: Who must the Court issue notices to in a case initiated by a police report?

A2: In a case initiated by a police report, the Court must issue notices to the Public Prosecutor, the police officer who investigated the case, the accused, and the victim.

Q3: What is the role of the pleader in this process?

A3: The accused or the victim may choose to participate in the meeting with their pleader, if they have one, to ensure proper representation and guidance during the disposition process.

Q4: What is the responsibility of the Court during the process of working out a satisfactory disposition?

A4: The Court is responsible for ensuring that the process of working out a satisfactory disposition is completed voluntarily by all the parties involved, including the accused and the victim.

Example:

Example 1:

In a case of theft initiated by a police report, the Court issues notices to the Public Prosecutor, the police officer who investigated the case, the accused, and the victim. During the process, the accused agrees to compensate the victim, and both parties voluntarily agree to the resolution. The Court supervises the process, ensuring that the parties are participating willingly.

Example 2:

In a case of assault where there was no police report, the Court issues notices only to the accused and the victim. They meet in Court with their respective pleaders, and the Court ensures that the resolution, including the victim’s compensation, is agreed to voluntarily by both parties.

Summary:

Section 291 outlines how the Court should handle the process of working out a mutually satisfactory disposition, ensuring the process is fair, voluntary, and just. It applies to both police report and non-police report cases and emphasizes the importance of voluntary participation by the accused and the victim, with the involvement of pleaders where necessary.