No formal proof of certain documents
Section 294 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 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, as the case may be, or the pleader for the prosecution or the accused, if any, shall be called upon to admit or deny The Act came into force on 01 Apr 1974. Repealed by section 531 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (46 of 2023) with effect from 1 July 2024, but conduct before that date is still charged, tried and appealed under it.
(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, as the case may be, or the pleader for the prosecution or the accused, if any, shall be called upon to admit or deny the genuineness of each such document.
(2) The list of documents shall be in such form as may be prescribed by the State Government.
(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 Code without proof of the signature of the person to whom it purports to be signed:
Provided that the Court may, in its discretion, require such signature to be proved.
Section 294, The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Act 2 of 1974).
Now in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
BNSS 330 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 The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force.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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Raju Babulal Soni vs The State of Maharashtra
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.
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Central Bureau of Investigation vs Sohan Lal Bishnoi
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.
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.
Judgments citing this section
These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.
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… It corresponds with [Section 510](https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1953529/) of the repealed Code of Criminal Procedure. It enumerates the category of documents, proof of which is not necessary unless the Court itself thinks it necessary. [Section 294](https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1953529/) makes dispensation of formal proof dependent on the accused or the prosecutor, not disputing the genuineness of the documents sought to be used against them. Such contemplated dispensation is not restricted to any class or category of documents as under [section …
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… has been instituted by the appellant under Section 374 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, to assail the judgment of conviction and order of sentence pronounced by the trial Court. During pendency of instant appeal, the appellant preferred an application bearing No.3806/2008 under Section 391 read with Section 294 Cr.P.C. for taking additional documents on record. In the said application, it was prayed that the photocopies of the Log Book dated 25.03.2005 of the vehicles of Station House Officer and Superintendent of Police and the Daily Diary Report bearing Nos.1307, 1308, 1309, 1314, 1318, 1810 and 1811 respectively and …
Questions about Section 294
What have the courts held on Section 294 of the Code of Criminal Procedure?
Raju Babulal Soni vs The State of Maharashtra (30 Aug 2016) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: 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. Another 1 judgment on this section is set out below. They run from 2016 to 2019.
How do I find court cases under Section 294 of the Code of Criminal Procedure?
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: CRPC 294, section 294 CRPC, section 294 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. People searching for it also type crpc 294 in bnss and crpc 294 b. 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 Raju Babulal Soni vs The State of Maharashtra (30 Aug 2016).
What should I read with Section 294 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and has it changed?
For anything done on or after 1 July 2024 the provision to read is BNSS 330 (No formal proof of certain documents), which replaced it; conduct before that date is still charged, tried and appealed under this section.
When did Section 294 of the Code of Criminal Procedure come into force?
Section 294 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, cited as CRPC 294, came into force on 01 Apr 1974, having been enacted on 25 Jan 1974. It is no longer in force.
Other sections of this Act
- 320. Compounding of offences1554 words
- 167. Procedure when investigation cannot be completed in twenty four hours1005 words
- 220. Trial for more than one offence962 words
- 360. Order to release on probation of good conduct or after admonition804 words
- 2. Definitions799 words
- 198. Prosecution for offences against marriage774 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. Recovered from the consolidated text published by India Code (item 330a1099-77ad-4a2e-b22a-769b33398f9e). This page is not a substitute for legal advice.