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BNS, 2023
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BNSChapter IISection 5
Section5

Commutation of sentence

AI Assist

Summary

The appropriate Government can, without the offender's consent, change any punishment into some other punishment under the applicable commutation rules. If the sentence is death or the offence concerns a Union matter, the Central Government acts; if the offence relates to a State subject (and the sentence was passed in that State), the State Government acts. Commutation can substitute a shorter term, a fine, or another lawful punishment.

Example

Priya is convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for an offence under a State law. The State Government can, without Priya's consent, commute her sentence to a shorter term, impose a fine, or substitute some other permissible punishment under the commutation rules.

Bare Act

Enacted text

The appropriate Government may, without the consent of the offender, commute any punishment under this Sanhita to any other punishment in accordance with section 474 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

Explanations

For the purposes of this section the expression “appropriate Government” means,

  • (a) in cases where the sentence is a sentence of death or is for an offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the Union extends, the Central Government; and

  • (b) in cases where the sentence (whether of death or not) is for an offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the State extends, the Government of the State within which the offender is sentenced.

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II

Chapter II

Of Punishments

In this chapter

  • 4Punishments
  • 5Commutation of sentence
  • 6Fractions of terms of punishment
  • 7Sentence may be (in certain cases of imprisonment) wholly or partly rigorous or simple
  • 8Amount of fine, liability in default of payment of fine, etc
  • 9Limit of punishment of offence made up of several offences
  • 10Punishment of person guilty of one of several offences, the judgment stating that it is doubtful of which
  • 11Solitary confinement
  • 12Limit of solitary confinement
  • 13Enhanced punishment for certain offences after previous conviction
Previous · Section 4PunishmentsNext · Section 6Fractions of terms of punishment