Absence of complainant
Full Text
When the proceedings have been instituted upon complaint, and on any day fixed for the hearing of the case, the complainant is absent, and the offence may be lawfully compounded or is not a cognizable offence, the Magistrate may after giving thirty days’ time to the complainant to be present, in his discretion, notwithstanding anything hereinbefore contained, at any time before the charge has been framed, discharge the accused.
Plain English Summary
Provides for the discharge of the accused if the complainant is absent in non-cognizable or compoundable warrant cases, after a mandatory 30-day notice.
Key Legal Elements
- Specific to complaint-based warrant cases
- Applies when the complainant is absent on the hearing date
- Offence must be compoundable OR non-cognizable
- NEW: Magistrate must give 30 days time to the complainant to be present
- Magistrate has discretion to discharge the accused before charges are framed
Practical Note
A key reform in BNSS is the 30-day grace period for the complainant. In CrPC, the Magistrate could discharge the accused immediately upon the complainant's absence. Now, the Magistrate must wait 30 days to ensure the complainant has a fair chance to explain their absence.
हिंदी पाठ
जब कार्यवाही परिवाद (complaint) पर संस्थित की गई है, और मामले की सुनवाई के लिए नियत किसी भी दिन, परिवादी (complainant) अनुपस्थित रहता है, और अपराध विधिपूर्वक शमनीय (compounded) हो सकता है या संज्ञेय अपराध नहीं है, तो मजिस्ट्रेट परिवादी को उपस्थित होने के लिए तीस दिन का समय देने के बाद, अपने विवेक से, इसमें पहले अंतर्विष्ट किसी भी बात के बावजूद, आरोप तय किए जाने से पहले किसी भी समय, अभियुक्त को उन्मोचित (discharge) कर सकता है।