Exclusion of date on which Court is closed
Section 517 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 deals with exclusion of date on which Court is closed. Where the period of limitation expires on a day when the Court is closed, the Court may take cognizance on the day on which the Court reopens. The Act came into force on 01 Jul 2024.
Where the period of limitation expires on a day when the Court is closed, the Court may take cognizance on the day on which the Court reopens.
Explanation.---A Court shall be deemed to be closed on any day within the meaning of this section, if, during its normal working hours, it remains closed on that day.
Section 517, The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Act 46 of 2023).
Replaces a provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure
CRPC 471 Exclusion of date on which Court is closed Text carried over almost unchanged 100%
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 The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force.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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Somesh Shokeen vs State Govt. of Nct of Delhi
Decided under Code of Criminal Procedure 471, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
The period of limitation prescribed under Section 468 CrPC for taking cognizance of certain offences applies to the date of filing the complaint or institution of prosecution/criminal proceedings, and not to the date when the court or Magistrate takes cognizance. A complaint filed within the period of limitation cannot be rendered infructuous or defeated by delay in court proceedings beyond the control of the complainant, as this would violate the principle 'actus curiae neminem gravabit' (an act of the court shall prejudice no man). The limitation period commences from the date of the offence or the date when the offence is detected, as specified in Section 469 CrPC, and the court's act of taking cognizance is not subject to a separate limitation period.
On this section: Provides for exclusion of period of limitation in certain cases.
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 517
What have the courts held on Section 517 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita?
Somesh Shokeen vs State Govt. of Nct of Delhi (02 May 2014) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below, though it was decided under CRPC 471, which this section replaced -- the court never mentioned this Act: Provides for exclusion of period of limitation in certain cases.
How do I find court cases under Section 517 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 517, section 517 BNSS, section 517 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 Somesh Shokeen vs State Govt. of Nct of Delhi (02 May 2014).
What should I read with Section 517 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and has it changed?
It carries forward CrPC 471 (Exclusion of date on which Court is closed), so the judgments decided under that provision are the case law on this one.
When did Section 517 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita come into force?
Section 517 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, cited as BNSS 517, 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.