Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
BNSS Section 278
Acquittal or conviction
In one line
BNSS Section 278 deals with acquittal or conviction and replaces CrPC 255.
Bare act text — BNSS 278
278. Acquittal or conviction.
(1) If the Magistrate, upon taking the evidence referred to in section 277 and such further evidence, if any, as he may, of his own motion, cause to be produced, finds the accused not guilty, he shall record an order of acquittal.
(2) Where the Magistrate does not proceed in accordance with the provisions of section 364 or section 401, he shall, if he finds the accused guilty, pass sentence upon him according to law.
(3) A Magistrate may, under section 275 or section 278, convict the accused of any offence triable under this Chapter, which from the facts admitted or proved he appears to have committed, whatever may be the nature of the complaint or summons, if the Magistrate is satisfied that the accused would not be prejudiced thereby.
Frequently asked
What was BNSS Section 278 in the CrPC?
BNSS Section 278 (Acquittal or conviction) replaces Section 255 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. CrPC 255 is now BNSS 278.
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Nearby BNSS sections
- BNSS 273 — Compensation for accusation without reasonable cause
- BNSS 274 — Substance of accusation to be stated
- BNSS 275 — Conviction on plea of guilty
- BNSS 276 — Conviction on plea of guilty in absence of accused in petty cases
- BNSS 277 — Procedure when not convicted
- BNSS 279 — Non-appearance or death of complainant
- BNSS 280 — Withdrawal of complaint
- BNSS 281 — Power to stop proceedings in certain cases
- BNSS 282 — Power of Court to convert summons-cases into warrant-cases
- BNSS 283 — Power to try summarily