What Is BNSS Section 262?

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 - Section 262: When Accused Shall Be Discharged

(1) The accused may prefer an application for discharge within a period of sixty days from the date of framing of charges.

(2) If, upon considering the police report and the documents sent with it under section 293 and making such examination, if any, of the accused as the Magistrate thinks necessary and after giving the prosecution and the accused an opportunity of being heard, the Magistrate considers the charge against the accused to be groundless, he shall discharge the accused, and record his reasons for so doing.

Brief Detail

This section outlines the procedure for discharging an accused individual in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. It specifies that the accused can apply for discharge within sixty days of the charges being framed. After reviewing the police report, relevant documents, and hearing from both the prosecution and the accused, the Magistrate can discharge the accused if the charges are deemed groundless.

Question & Answers

What is the time frame for the accused to apply for discharge?

The accused may prefer an application for discharge within a period of sixty days from the date of framing of charges.

What does the Magistrate need to consider before discharging the accused?

The Magistrate must consider the police report, the documents sent under section 293, and any necessary examination of the accused, as well as provide an opportunity for both the prosecution and the accused to be heard.

What happens if the Magistrate finds the charge groundless?

If the Magistrate considers the charge to be groundless, he shall discharge the accused and record his reasons for the decision.

Example

• Example 1: An accused person charged with a minor offense applies for discharge within sixty days of the charge being framed. After reviewing the evidence and hearing from both sides, the Magistrate finds the charge to be groundless and discharges the accused.
• Example 2: In a case of fraud, the accused submits an application for discharge. The Magistrate evaluates the police report and hears arguments from both the prosecution and the defense before determining that the charges are not substantiated, leading to the accused's discharge.

Summary

Section 262 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 outlines the conditions under which an accused can be discharged from a case. It allows the accused to apply for discharge within sixty days of charge framing and requires the Magistrate to review the case comprehensively before discharging the accused if the charges are found to be groundless.