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BNSS, 2023
Start Practicing
BNSSChapter XXVIISection 378
Section378

Delivery of person of unsound mind to care of relative or friend

AI Assist

Summary

A relative or friend may apply to the State Government to have a person detained as of unsound mind delivered into their custody if they give satisfactory security. The custodian must take proper care, prevent harm, and produce the person for inspections and when required before the Magistrate or Court. If the detained person is an accused whose trial was postponed, an inspecting officer’s certificate that he can make his defence makes the Court call the custodian to produce him and proceed with the trial; that certificate is evidence.

Example

Priya applies to the State Government to take custody of her brother who was detained as of unsound mind, gives security, and promises to care for him and produce him for inspections. Later the inspecting officer certifies he can make his defence, so the Magistrate orders Priya to bring him to Court and the trial proceeds; the officer’s certificate is accepted as evidence.

Bare Act

Enacted text

(1) Whenever any relative or friend of any person detained under the provisions of section 369 or section 374 desires that he shall be delivered to his care and custody, the State Government may, upon the application of such relative or friend and on his giving security to the satisfaction of such State Government, that the person delivered shall-

  • (a) be properly taken care of and prevented from doing injury to himself or to any other person;

  • (b) be produced for the inspection of such officer, and at such times and places, as the State Government may direct;

  • (c) in the case of a person detained under sub-section (2) of section 369, be produced when required before such Magistrate or Court, order such person to be delivered to such relative or friend.

(2) If the person so delivered is accused of any offence, the trial of which has been postponed by reason of his being of unsound mind and incapable of making his defence, and the inspecting officer referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (1), certifies at any time to the Magistrate or Court that such person is capable of making his defence, such Magistrate or Court shall call upon the relative or friend to whom such accused was delivered to produce him before the Magistrate or Court; and, upon such production the Magistrate or Court shall proceed in accordance with the provisions of section 371, and the certificate of the inspecting officer shall be receivable as evidence.

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XXVII

Chapter XXVII

Provisions as to Accused Persons of Unsound Mind

In this chapter

  • 367Procedure in case of accused being person of unsound mind
  • 368Procedure in case of person of unsound mind tried before Court
  • 369Release of person of unsound mind pending investigation or trial
  • 370Resumption of inquiry or trial
  • 371Procedure on accused appearing before Magistrate or Court
  • 372When accused appears to have been of sound mind
  • 373Judgment of acquittal on ground of unsoundness of mind
  • 374Person acquitted on ground of unsoundness of mind to be detained in safe custody
  • 375Power of State Government to empower officer in charge to discharge
  • 376Procedure where prisoner of unsound mind is reported capable of making his defence
  • 377Procedure where person of unsound mind detained is declared fit to be released
  • 378Delivery of person of unsound mind to care of relative or friend
Previous · Section 377Procedure where person of unsound mind detained is declared fit to be releasedNext · Section 379Procedure in cases mentioned in section 215