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BNSS, 2023
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BNSSChapter XXVISection 341
Section341

Legal aid to accused at State expense in certain cases

AI Assist

Summary

If an accused in a trial or appeal has no advocate and cannot afford one, the Court will appoint an advocate to defend them at the expense of the State. The High Court may, with State Government approval, make rules on selecting these advocates, facilities, and fees. The State Government can extend these provisions to other classes of trials by notification.

Example

Priya faces trial in a Sessions Court and appears without a lawyer and no money to hire one. The Court finds she cannot afford counsel and assigns a State-paid advocate to defend her at public expense.

Bare Act

Enacted text

(1) Where, in a trial or appeal before a Court, the accused is not represented by an advocate, and where it appears to the Court that the accused has not sufficient means to engage an advocate, the Court shall assign an advocate for his defence at the expense of the State.

(2) The High Court may, with the previous approval of the State Government, make rules providing for-

  • (a) the mode of selecting advocates for defence under sub-section (1);

  • (b) the facilities to be allowed to such advocates by the Courts;

  • (c) the fees payable to such advocates by the Government, and generally, for carrying out the purposes of sub-section (1).

(3) The State Government may, by notification, direct that, as from such date as may be specified in the notification, the provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2) shall apply in relation to any class of trials before other Courts in the State as they apply in relation to trials before Courts of Session.

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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 340Right of person against whom proceedings are instituted to be defendedNext · Section 342Procedure when corporation or registered society is an accused