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BNSS, 2023
Start Practicing
BNSSChapter XXVISection 339
Section339

Permission to conduct prosecution

AI Assist

Summary

A Magistrate hearing a case may allow a person to conduct the prosecution, but not a police officer below the rank of inspector. Only the Advocate-General, Government Advocate, Public Prosecutor or Assistant Public Prosecutor can prosecute without the Magistrate's permission. A permitted person may conduct the prosecution personally or through an advocate, and a police officer who investigated the offence cannot act as prosecutor.

Example

Priya files an FIR and asks the Magistrate to allow Aditya, a family friend, to conduct the prosecution. The Magistrate permits Aditya because he is not a police officer; the sub-inspector who investigated cannot conduct the prosecution. Aditya may prosecute in person or by instructing an advocate.

Bare Act

Enacted text

(1) Any Magistrate inquiring into or trying a case may permit the prosecution to be conducted by any person other than a police officer below the rank of inspector; but no person, other than the Advocate-General or Government Advocate or a Public Prosecutor or Assistant Public Prosecutor, shall be entitled to do so without such permission:

Provided that no police officer shall be permitted to conduct the prosecution if he has taken part in the investigation into the offence with respect to which the accused is being prosecuted.

(2) Any person conducting the prosecution may do so personally or by an advocate.

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XXVI

Chapter XXVI

General Provisions as to Inquiries and Trials

In this chapter

  • 337Person once convicted or acquitted not to be tried for same offence
  • 338Appearance by Public Prosecutors
  • 339Permission to conduct prosecution
  • 340Right of person against whom proceedings are instituted to be defended
  • 341Legal aid to accused at State expense in certain cases
  • 342Procedure when corporation or registered society is an accused
  • 343Tender of pardon to accomplice
  • 344Power to direct tender of pardon
  • 345Trial of person not complying with conditions of pardon
  • 346Power to postpone or adjourn proceedings
  • 347Local inspection
  • 348Power to summon material witness, or examine person present
  • 349Power of Magistrate to order person to give specimen signatures or handwriting, etc
  • 350Expenses of Complainants and witnesses
  • 351Power to Examine accused
  • 352Oral arguments and memorandum of arguments
  • 353Accused person to be competent witness
  • 354No influence to be used to induce disclosure
  • 355Provision for inquiries and trial being held in absence of accused in certain cases
  • 356Inquiry, trial or judgment in absentia of proclaimed offender
  • 357Procedure where accused does not understand proceedings
  • 358Power to Proceed against other persons appearing to be guilty of offence
  • 359Compounding of offences
  • 360Withdrawal from prosecution
  • 361Procedure in cases which Magistrate cannot dispose of
  • 362Procedure when after commencement of inquiry or trial, Magistrate finds case should be committed
  • 363Trial of persons previously convicted of offences against coinage, stamp-law or property
  • 364Procedure when Magistrate cannot pass sentence sufficiently severe
  • 365Conviction or commitment on evidence partly recorded by one Magistrate and partly by another
  • 366Court to be open
Previous · Section 338Appearance by Public ProsecutorsNext · Section 340Right of person against whom proceedings are instituted to be defended