Trials before High Courts
Section 520 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 deals with trials before High Courts. When an offence is tried by the High Court otherwise than under section 447, it shall, in the trial of the offence, observe the same procedure as a Court of Sessions would observe if it were trying the case. The Act came into force on 01 Jul 2024.
When an offence is tried by the High Court otherwise than under section 447, it shall, in the trial of the offence, observe the same procedure as a Court of Sessions would observe if it were trying the case.
Section 520, The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Act 46 of 2023).
Replaces a provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure
CRPC 474 Trials before High Courts Text carried over almost unchanged 96%
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 The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force.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
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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C. Gangadhar Murthy vs Janatha Seva CO Operative Bank LTD
Decided under Code of Criminal Procedure 474, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
The High Court, exercising its inherent powers under Section 482 CrPC, can extend the time for depositing fine amount in criminal cases when the petitioner demonstrates willingness and ability to pay and when the Sessions Judge's rejection of such extension appears to be without sufficient justification. The Court may intervene to grant reasonable extensions to ensure that procedural technicalities do not defeat the substantive rights of the accused.
On this section: Application for extension of time to pay fine amount in criminal 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 520
What have the courts held on Section 520 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita?
C. Gangadhar Murthy vs Janatha Seva CO Operative Bank LTD (25 Sep 2023) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below, though it was decided under CRPC 474, which this section replaced -- the court never mentioned this Act: Application for extension of time to pay fine amount in criminal cases.
How do I find court cases under Section 520 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 520, section 520 BNSS, section 520 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 C. Gangadhar Murthy vs Janatha Seva CO Operative Bank LTD (25 Sep 2023).
What should I read with Section 520 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 447 (Power of High Court to transfer cases and appeals), so none of them can safely be read on its own. It carries forward CrPC 474 (Trials before High Courts), so the judgments decided under that provision are the case law on this one.
When did Section 520 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita come into force?
Section 520 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, cited as BNSS 520, 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.