Local inspection
Section 347 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 deals with local inspection. Any Judge or Magistrate may, at any stage of any inquiry, trial or other proceeding, after due notice to the parties, visit and inspect any place in which an offence is alleged to have been committed, or any other place which it is in his opinion necessary to view for the purpose of properly appreci The Act came into force on 01 Jul 2024.
(1) Any Judge or Magistrate may, at any stage of any inquiry, trial or other proceeding, after due notice to the parties, visit and inspect any place in which an offence is alleged to have been committed, or any other place which it is in his opinion necessary to view for the purpose of properly appreciating the evidence given at such inquiry or trial, and shall without unnecessary delay record a memorandum of any relevant facts observed at such inspection.
(2) Such memorandum shall form part of the record of the case and if the prosecutor, complainant or accused or any other party to the case, so desires, a copy of the memorandum shall be furnished to him free of cost.
Section 347, The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Act 46 of 2023).
Replaces a provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure
CRPC 310 Local inspection Text carried over almost unchanged 99%
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 The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force.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.
-
Ramesh Gupta vs State of U.p.
Decided under Code of Criminal Procedure 310, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Local inspection under Section 310 Cr.P.C. is permissible only when the court is satisfied that such inspection is necessary for properly appreciating evidence in inquiry or trial. At the pre-charge stage of criminal proceedings, when the applicant has not cooperated with the court and charges have not yet been framed, local inspection is not appropriate. The applicant has adequate alternative remedies through cross-examination of prosecution witnesses and presentation of defence evidence at the appropriate stage.
On this section: Local inspection - Court analyzed when local inspection becomes necessary for properly appreciating evidence in inquiry or trial
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 347
What have the courts held on Section 347 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita?
Ramesh Gupta vs State of U.p. (13 Aug 2021) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below, though it was decided under CRPC 310, which this section replaced -- the court never mentioned this Act: Local inspection - Court analyzed when local inspection becomes necessary for properly appreciating evidence in inquiry or trial.
How do I find court cases under Section 347 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 347, section 347 BNSS, section 347 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Ramesh Gupta vs State of U.p. (13 Aug 2021).
What should I read with Section 347 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and has it changed?
It carries forward CrPC 310 (Local inspection), so the judgments decided under that provision are the case law on this one.
When did Section 347 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita come into force?
Section 347 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, cited as BNSS 347, 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 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.