BNSS Section 71 – Service of Summons on Witness
Introduction Summons are an indispensable component of criminal procedure. They constitute formal directions issued by a court requiring an individual to appear before it on a specific date and time. While summons may be directed to an accused, a witness, or even a party in possession of documents relevant to adjudication, the efficacy of the justice system rests heavily upon the prompt and proper service of summons to witnesses. Witness testimony frequently determines the outcome of criminal trials, and delays in their appearance often prolong proceedings unnecessarily. With the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) replacing the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) , Parliament has sought to modernise procedural law. Section 71 of the BNSS specifically addresses the Service of summons on witness , providing courts with broader powers and technologically updated mechanisms to ensure that summons reach their intended recipients without delay. This provision symbolises t...