CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973
BHARATIYA NAGARIK SURAKSHA SANHITA, 2023
354. Language and contents of judgment
393. Language and contents of judgment
changed or removed in old law
changed or added in new law
Similar wording stays plain; only differences are highlighted.
CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973
354. Language and contents of judgment.—(1) Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Code, every
judgment referred to in section 353,—
(a) shall be written in the language of the Court;
(b) shall contain the point or points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision;
(c) shall specify the offence (if any) of which, and the section of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) or
other law under which, the accused is convicted, and the punishment to which he is sentenced;
(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 Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) and it is doubtful under which of two
sections, or under which of two parts of the same section, of that Code 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 Code.
(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 117 or sub-section (2) of section 138 and every final order made under section
125, section 145 or section 147 shall contain the point or points for determination, the decision thereon and the
reasons for the decision.
Legacy / repealed by BNSS India Code — CrPC 1973
BHARATIYA NAGARIK SURAKSHA SANHITA, 2023
393. Language and contents of judgment.—(1) Except as otherwise expressly provided by this
Sanhita, every judgment referred to in section 392,—
(a) shall be written in the language of the Court;
(b) shall contain the point or points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the
decision;
(c) shall specify the offence (if any) of which, and the section of the Bharatiya Nyaya
Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023) or other law under which, the accused is convicted, and the punishment to
which he is sentenced;
(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 (45 of 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.
Current law India Code — BNSS 2023