Language and contents of judgment
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Summary
Judgments must be written in the language of the court and must state the points for determination, the decision on each point, and the reasons. On conviction the judgment must identify the offence, the section of law and the sentence; on acquittal it must name the offence acquitted and order release. If it is doubtful which of two sections applies the court must say so and decide alternatively. Death sentences require recorded special reasons, and courts must record reasons when imposing very short terms for offences punishable with one year or more, subject to limited exceptions.
Example
Rohan is convicted of murder, an offence punishable with death or life imprisonment. The court’s written judgment sets out the points decided and the reasons, names the exact section and the sentence, and because it imposed death records the special reasons for awarding that sentence.
Bare Act
Enacted text(1) Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Sanhita, every judgment referred to in section 392,-
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(a) shall be written in the language of the Court;
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(b) shall contain the point or points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision;
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(c) shall specify the offence (if any) of which, and the section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 or other law under which, the accused is convicted, and the punishment to which he is sentenced;
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(d) if it be a judgment of acquittal, shall state the offence of which the accused is acquitted and direct that he be set at liberty.
(2) When the conviction is under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and it is doubtful under which of two sections, or under which of two parts of the same section, of that Sanhita the offence falls, the Court shall distinctly express the same, and pass judgment in the alternative.
(3) When the conviction is for an offence punishable with death or, in the alternative, with imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term of years, the judgment shall state the reasons for the sentence awarded, and, in the case of sentence of death, the special reasons for such sentence.
(4) When the conviction is for an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term of one year or more, but the Court imposes a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than three months, it shall record its reasons for awarding such sentence, unless the sentence is one of imprisonment till the rising of the Court or unless the case was tried summarily under the provisions of this Sanhita.
(5) When any person is sentenced to death, the sentence shall direct that he be hanged by the neck till he is dead.
(6) Every order under section 136 or sub-section (2) of section 157 and every final order made under section 144, section 164 or section 166 shall contain the point or points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision.
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