What Is BNSS Section 418?

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 - Section 418: Appeal by the State Government against sentence.

(1) Save as otherwise provided in sub-section (2), the State Government may, in any case of conviction on a trial held by any Court other than a High Court, direct the Public Prosecutor to present an appeal against the sentence on the ground of its inadequacy—

• (a) to the Court of Session, if the sentence is passed by the Magistrate; and
• (b) to the High Court, if the sentence is passed by any other Court.

(2) If such conviction is in a case in which the offence has been investigated by any agency empowered to make investigation into an offence under any Central Act other than this Sanhita, the Central Government may also direct the Public Prosecutor to present an appeal against the sentence on the ground of its inadequacy—

• (a) to the Court of Session, if the sentence is passed by the Magistrate; and
• (b) to the High Court, if the sentence is passed by any other Court.

(3) When an appeal has been filed against the sentence on the ground of its inadequacy, the Court of Session or, as the case may be, the High Court shall not enhance the sentence except after giving to the accused a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against such enhancement and while showing cause, the accused may plead for his acquittal or for the reduction of the sentence.

(4) When an appeal has been filed against a sentence passed under section 64, section 66, section 67, section 68, section 70 or section 71 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the appeal shall be disposed of within a period of six months from the date of filing of such appeal.

Brefe Detail

This section outlines the procedure for appealing sentences deemed inadequate by the State Government and the Central Government under certain circumstances. It specifies which courts the Public Prosecutor may appeal to, the requirements for notifying the accused, and the timeframe for disposing of appeals related to specific sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Question & Answers

Q1: Who can direct an appeal against a sentence?

A1: The State Government or the Central Government can direct the Public Prosecutor to appeal against a sentence.

Q2: To which courts can appeals be directed based on the sentencing court?

A2: Appeals can be directed to the Court of Session if the sentence is passed by a Magistrate, and to the High Court if the sentence is passed by any other court.

Q3: What must the court provide before enhancing a sentence after an appeal?

A3: The court must provide the accused with a reasonable opportunity to show cause against the enhancement.

Q4: What is the timeframe for disposing of appeals under specific sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?

A4: Appeals must be disposed of within six months from the date of filing.

Example

• If a Magistrate imposes a sentence deemed too lenient, the State Government can instruct the Public Prosecutor to appeal to the Court of Session.
• In cases investigated by a Central agency, the Central Government may also direct an appeal against a sentence to the High Court.
• When appealing, the accused is given the chance to argue for their acquittal or a reduced sentence before any enhancement occurs.
• An appeal against a sentence under section 66 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita must be resolved within six months.

Summary

Section 418 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, allows for appeals against inadequate sentences by the State or Central Government. It outlines the specific courts for appeal, the necessary procedures for notifying the accused, and mandates a six-month timeframe for resolving certain appeals.