Trials before High Courts
Section 474 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 deals with trials before High Courts. When an offence is tried by the High Court otherwise than under section 407, it shall, in the trial of the offence, observe the same procedure as a Court of Session would observe if it were trying the case. 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 Repealed by section 531 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (46 of 2023) with effect from 1 July 2024, but conduct before that date is still charged, tried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.
When an offence is tried by the High Court otherwise than under section 407, it shall, in the trial of the offence, observe the same procedure as a Court of Session would observe if it were trying the case.
Section 474, The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Act 2 of 1974).
Now in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
BNSS 520 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 The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force.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
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 474
What have the courts held on Section 474 of the Code of Criminal Procedure?
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: Application for extension of time to pay fine amount in criminal cases.
How do I find court cases under Section 474 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 474, section 474 CRPC, section 474 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. People searching for it also type 474 crpc in bnss. 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 474 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 407 (Power of High Court to transfer cases and appeals), so none of them can safely be read on its own. For anything done on or after 1 July 2024 the provision to read is BNSS 520 (Trials before High Courts), which replaced it; conduct before that date is still charged, tried and appealed under this section.
When did Section 474 of the Code of Criminal Procedure come into force?
Section 474 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, cited as CRPC 474, 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.