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  Introduction: Why Can't a Sessions Court Just Start a Trial? A common question among law students and even laypersons is this: If a serious crime like murder occurs, why can’t the highest district-level criminal court—the Court of Session—take up the case immediately? The answer lies in Section 213 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 , which replaced the old Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). This section creates a vital procedural checkpoint that ensures no Sessions Court can directly begin trying an offence unless a Magistrate first reviews and transfers it. In simple terms, Section 213 BNSS defines how a case moves from the Magistrate’s court to the Sessions Court. It represents one of the most important procedural safeguards in Indian criminal law. This article explains the meaning, scope, and importance of Section 213, how it compares with the old CrPC provision, and why it remains central to the functioning of criminal courts. The Core Provision: Wh...

Introduction How does an Indian court handle evidence for a crime that happened in another country, especially when the accused is facing trial in India? This is exactly the challenge addressed by Section 209 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 . This section provides a legal framework that allows Indian courts to receive and use evidence recorded outside India in criminal trials. Section 209 BNSS works closely with Section 208 BNSS , which grants Indian courts the jurisdiction to try offences committed abroad by Indian citizens or affecting India’s interests. Together, these provisions close a long-standing procedural gap—ensuring that justice is not obstructed by geography. This article explains Section 209 BNSS in plain language, explores its link with Section 208, compares it with the older Section 189 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) , and shows how it modernizes India’s criminal procedure to fit a digital and globalized world. What is Section 209...

  1. Introduction: The Puzzle of Jurisdiction in Joint Trials Under Indian criminal procedure, the general rule is simple — a criminal case should ordinarily be tried by a court within whose local limits the offence was committed. This foundational principle, outlined in BNSS Sections 198 to 203 , ensures that the trial takes place where the alleged act occurred. However, real-life criminal cases often defy simplicity. What happens when an accused commits multiple offences in different places? Or when several persons, each from a different location, are part of the same criminal transaction? If the rule of "place of occurrence" is applied strictly, we could end up with multiple trials for the same criminal conduct — a waste of judicial time and a risk of inconsistent verdicts. This is where BNSS Section 204 steps in as a critical provision. It introduces flexibility into the rigid rules of jurisdiction, ensuring that when offences or persons are triable together , the law...

  An analysis of how the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, determines the ‘place of trial’ for offences committed via electronic communication and in cases of bigamy. Introduction: The “Where” of Digital Crime Picture this scenario: you live in Delhi, a scammer based in Kolkata sends you a fraudulent message, and your money lands in a Mumbai bank account. Where should you go to file a case? This question captures one of the most common challenges in modern law enforcement—the problem of jurisdiction in the digital age. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 , which replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC), brings renewed clarity to this question through BNSS  Section 202 . Though it does not define a new crime, it plays a critical procedural role by answering “ where ” a criminal case can be filed, investigated, and tried. In essence, Section 202 BNSS deals with territorial jurisdiction —the geographical limits within which a criminal co...

  Text of Section 199 BNSS When an act is an offence by reason of anything which has been done and of a consequence which has ensued, the offence may be inquired into or tried by a Court within whose local jurisdiction such thing has been done or such consequence has ensued. Introduction and Legal Meaning Section 199 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023 defines the territorial jurisdiction of criminal courts in India when an offence involves multiple locations. This section provides that if an act constitutes an offence due to both the action and its consequence, then the case can be tried either where the act was committed or where its result occurred. This provision is crucial for ensuring smooth functioning of the criminal justice system under the BNSS . It helps remove jurisdictional confusion and ensures that offenders can be tried effectively even if the offence spans different cities, states, or regions. The BNSS Section 199 replaces the correspondin...

  Introduction: Beyond Section 164 – When Does a Dispute Require Attachment? Imagine a village where two neighbors are fighting over a piece of land. Both claim it belongs to them, and the argument has grown so intense that violence seems likely. The local authorities fear that if something is not done quickly, there will be a serious breach of the peace . In such a situation, what can the law do immediately to stop violence and maintain order? This is where Section 165 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) comes into play. The BNSS , which replaces the old Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) , introduces modern procedures for maintaining public peace and order. While Section 164 BNSS deals with how a Magistrate should handle disputes concerning land or water that may lead to violence, Section 165 BNSS gives the Magistrate an emergency power . This power allows the Magistrate to attach the disputed property and, if necessary, appoint a receiver to take care of it unt...