What Is BNSS Section 242?

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 - Section 242: Offences of same kind within year may be charged togethe

(1) When a person is accused of more offences than one of the same kind committed within the space of twelve months from the first to the last of such offences, whether in respect of the same person or not, he may be charged with, and tried at one trial for, any number of them not exceeding five.

(2) Offences are of the same kind when they are punishable with the same amount of punishment under the same section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 or of any special or local law:

Provided that, for the purposes of this section, an offence punishable under section 301 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 shall be deemed to be an offence of the same kind as an offence punishable under section 303 of the said Sanhita, and that an offence punishable under any section of the said Sanhita, or of any special or local law, shall be deemed to be an offence of the same kind as an attempt to commit such offence, when such an attempt is an offence.

Brefe Detail

This section allows a person accused of multiple offences of the same kind, committed within a year, to be charged and tried together. The offences must be punishable under the same law and section, and the total number of charges cannot exceed five.

Question & Answers

What does Section 242 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita state?

It states that a person can be charged with and tried for multiple offences of the same kind committed within twelve months, not exceeding five charges.

What criteria determine if offences are of the same kind?

Offences are of the same kind if they are punishable under the same section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita or any special/local law with the same amount of punishment.

Can an attempt to commit an offence be charged together with the actual offence?

Yes, an attempt to commit an offence is considered the same kind if it is an offence.

Is there a limit to the number of offences that can be charged together?

Yes, the number of offences charged together cannot exceed five.

Example

1. A person is accused of theft on three separate occasions within a year. They can be charged and tried together for all three thefts, provided they do not exceed five charges in total.

2. If a person commits two acts of cheating within a year, both can be charged together since they fall under the same section of the law with the same punishment.

Summary

Section 242 allows for efficiency in the legal process by enabling the charging and trial of multiple offences of the same kind committed within a year in a single trial, thereby streamlining judicial proceedings.