Bar to taking cognizance after lapse of period of limitation
Section 514 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 deals with bar to taking cognizance after lapse of period of limitation. Except as otherwise provided in this Sanhita, no Court shall take cognizance of an offence of the category specified in sub-section (2), after the expiry of the period of limitation. The Act came into force on 01 Jul 2024.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this Sanhita, no Court shall take cognizance of an offence of the category specified in sub-section (2), after the expiry of the period of limitation.
(2) The period of limitation shall be---
(a) six months, if the offence is punishable with fine only;
(b) one year, if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year;
(c) three years, if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term exceeding one year but not exceeding three years.
(3) For the purposes of this section, the period of limitation, in relation to offences which may be tried together, shall be determined with reference to the offence which is punishable with the more severe punishment or, as the case may be, the most severe punishment.
Explanation.—For the purpose of computing the period of limitation, the relevant date shall be the date of filing complaint under section 223 or the date of recording of information under section 173.
Section 514, The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Act 46 of 2023).
Replaces a provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure
CRPC 468 Bar to taking cognizance after lapse of the period of limitation Close, with changes 84%
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 The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force.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.
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
This section refers to
Referred to by 1
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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Sarah Mathew v. Institute of Cardio Vascular Diseases
Decided under Code of Criminal Procedure 468, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Judgment of Main Case order-22.pdf 2013-11-26 (not same-date order-23 ROP). Five-judge Constitution Bench, Crl A 829/2005. For CrPC 468, limitation for taking cognizance runs from the date of filing the complaint / institution of prosecution, not the later date on which the Magistrate actually takes cognizance under s.190; court delay after a timely complaint cannot bar the prosecution. Overrules the Krishna Pillai line. Map 190 (the cognizance event) and 468 (the bar) plus BNSS 210/514.
On this section: Successor of CrPC 468 (mapping.csv close). Limitation-for-cognizance teaching carries to BNSS 514.
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GOVERNMENT OF GUJARAT vs NIKITA K. GADHIYA
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
A court cannot take cognizance of an offence or initiate trial if the complaint is filed after the expiry of the limitation period prescribed under Section 514 of BNSS without a valid explanation for the delay.
On this section: Applied to bar the court from taking cognizance due to time lapse.
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The State of Maharashtra vs VIKAS RAMCHANDRA RASKAR MH12SE5131
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Courts are barred from taking cognizance of any offense punishable with a fine only if the police report or complaint is submitted after the expiration of the statutory six-month limitation period as mandated by Section 514 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
On this section: Statutory limit of six months for taking cognizance of offenses punishable with fine only.
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 514
What have the courts held on Section 514 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita?
Sarah Mathew v. Institute of Cardio Vascular Diseases (26 Nov 2013) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below, though it was decided under CRPC 468, which this section replaced -- the court never mentioned this Act: Successor of CrPC 468 (mapping.csv close). Limitation-for-cognizance teaching carries to BNSS 514. Another 2 judgments on this section are set out below, 1 of them from the Supreme Court. They run from 2013 to 2026.
How do I find court cases under Section 514 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 514, section 514 BNSS, section 514 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. People searching for it also type 514 bnss in crpc and 514 bnss act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 3 reported judgments on this section are set out on this page, beginning with Sarah Mathew v. Institute of Cardio Vascular Diseases (26 Nov 2013).
What should I read with Section 514 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 173 (Information in cognizable cases), section 223 (Examination of complainant), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 1 other provision in this corpus refers back to it. It carries forward CrPC 468 (Bar to taking cognizance after lapse of the period of limitation), so the judgments decided under that provision are the case law on this one.
When did Section 514 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita come into force?
Section 514 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, cited as BNSS 514, 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.