No formal proof of certain documents
Section 330 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 deals with no formal proof of certain documents. Where any document is filed before any Court by the prosecution or the accused, the particulars of every such document shall be included in a list and the prosecution or the accused or the advocate for the prosecution or the accused, if any, shall be called upon to admit or deny the genuineness of e The Act came into force on 01 Jul 2024.
(1) Where any document is filed before any Court by the prosecution or the accused, the particulars of every such document shall be included in a list and the prosecution or the accused or the advocate for the prosecution or the accused, if any, shall be called upon to admit or deny the genuineness of each such document soon after supply of such documents and in no case later than thirty days after such supply:
Provided that the Court may, in its discretion, relax the time limit with reasons to be recorded in writing:
Provided further that no expert shall be called to appear before the Court unless the report of such expert is disputed by any of the parties to the trial.
(2) The list of documents shall be in such form as the State Government may, by rules, provide.
(3) Where the genuineness of any document is not disputed, such document may be read in evidence in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this Sanhita without proof of the signature of the person by whom it purports to be signed:
Provided that the Court may, in its discretion, require such signature to be proved.
Section 330, The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Act 46 of 2023).
Replaces a provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure
CRPC 294 No formal proof of certain documents Text carried over almost unchanged 95%
Measured by comparing the text of the two provisions, not taken from an official correspondence table — there is no machine-readable one. See both texts side by side before relying on it.
Both regimes are live. The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force. We never redirect one to the other.
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Central Bureau of Investigation vs Sohan Lal Bishnoi
Decided under Code of Criminal Procedure 294, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
The inherent jurisdiction of the High Court under Section 482 CrPC cannot be invoked to interfere with a trial court's discretionary order declining to permit video teleconference examination of a witness in a sessions trial, where the trial court has exercised its discretion judiciously, in good faith, on correct and plausible grounds, and where the witness has merely expressed partial reluctance rather than outright refusal to appear, and where the reasons for non-appearance (professional inconvenience and travel expenses) are not substantial or genuine grounds for dispensing with personal presence of witness, particularly when the trial court has already issued summons multiple times and the witness has not specifically stated inability to visit India for compelling reasons.
On this section: Notice for admission or denial of documents. CBI filed notice under this section for admission of FBI report, which was denied by all accused-respondents.
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Raju Babulal Soni vs The State of Maharashtra
Decided under Code of Criminal Procedure 294, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
When the prosecution refuses to admit or deny the genuineness of documents under Section 294 CrPC in criminal appellate proceedings, and such refusal is formally communicated to the court, no further orders are necessary and the applications seeking such admission must be disposed of.
On this section: Section 294 CrPC provides for admission or denial of genuineness of documents. The court applied this section to determine whether prosecution must admit or deny witness statements. The prosecution's refusal to admit the documents was upheld, and the court found no further orders necessary.
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Questions about Section 330
What have the courts held on Section 330 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita?
Central Bureau of Investigation vs Sohan Lal Bishnoi (22 May 2019) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below, though it was decided under CRPC 294, which this section replaced -- the court never mentioned this Act: Notice for admission or denial of documents. CBI filed notice under this section for admission of FBI report, which was denied by all accused-respondents. Another 1 judgment on this section is set out below. They run from 2016 to 2019.
How do I find court cases under Section 330 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: BNSS 330, section 330 BNSS, section 330 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. People searching for it also type 330 bnss in crpc and bns 330 mutual fund. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 2 reported judgments on this section are set out on this page, beginning with Central Bureau of Investigation vs Sohan Lal Bishnoi (22 May 2019).
What should I read with Section 330 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and has it changed?
It carries forward CrPC 294 (No formal proof of certain documents), so the judgments decided under that provision are the case law on this one.
When did Section 330 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita come into force?
Section 330 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, cited as BNSS 330, came into force on 01 Jul 2024, having been enacted on 25 Dec 2023. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 359. Compounding of offences1355 words
- 187. Procedure when investigation cannot be completed in twenty-four hours1122 words
- 2. Definitions956 words
- 243. Trial for more than one offence930 words
- 35. When police may arrest without warrant881 words
- 480. When bail may be taken in case of non-bailable offence823 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.