BNSS §2
In this Sanhita, unless the context otherwise requires, (a) "audio-video electronic means".
Jump to section
Comparison
2. Definitions.—In this Code, unless the context otherwise requires,— (a) “bailable offence” means an offence which is shown as bailable in the First Schedule, or which is made bailable by any other law for the time being in force; and “non-bailable offence” means any other offence; (b) “charge” includes any head of charge when the charge contains more heads than one; (c) “cognizable offence” means an offence for which, and “cognizable case” means a case in which, a police officer may, in accordance with the First Schedule or under any other law for the time being in force, arrest without warrant; (d) “complaint” means any allegation made orally or in writing to a Magistrate, with a view to his taking action under this Code, that some person, whether known or unknown, has committed an 1. The words “except the State of Jammu and Kashmir” omitted by Act 34 of 2019, s. 95 and the Fifth Schedule (w.e.f. 31- offence, but does not include a police report. Explanation.—A report made by a police officer in a case which discloses, after investigation, the commission of a non-cognizable offence shall be deemed to be a complaint; and the police officer by whom such report is made shall be deemed to be the complainant; (e) “High Court” means,— (i) in relation to any State, the High Court for that State; (ii) in relation to a Union territory to which the jurisdiction of the High Court for a State has been extended by law, that High Court; (iii) in relation to any other Union territory, the highest Court of criminal appeal for that territory other than the Supreme Court of India; (f) “India” means the territories to which this Code extends; (g) “inquiry” means every inquiry, other than a trial, conducted under this Code by a Magistrate or Court; (h) “investigation” includes all the proceedings under this Code for the collection of evidence conducted by a police officer or by any person (other than a Magistrate) who is authorised by a Magistrate in this behalf; (i) “judicial proceeding” includes any proceeding in the course of which evidence is or may be legally taken on oath; (j) “local jurisdiction”, in relation to a Court or Magistrate, means the local area within which the Court or Magistrate may exercise all or any of its or his powers under this Code 1[and such local area may comprise the whole of the State, or any part of the State, as the State Government may, by notification, specify]; (k) “metropolitan area” means the area declared, or deemed to be declared, under section 8, to be a metropolitan area; (l) “non-cognizable offence” means an offence for which, and “non-cognizable case” means a case in which, a police officer has no authority to arrest without warrant; (m) “notification” means a notification published in the Official Gazette; (n) “offence” means any act or omission made punishable by any law for the time being in force and includes any act in respect of which a complaint may be made under section 20 of the Cattle- trespass Act, 1871 (1 of 1871); (o) “officer in charge of a police station” includes, when the officer in charge of the police station is absent from the station-house or unable from illness or other cause to perform his duties, the police officer present at the station-house who is next in rank to such officer and is above the rank of constable or, when the State Government so directs, any other police officer so present; (p) “place” includes a house, building, tent, vehicle and vessel; (q) “pleader”, when used with reference to any proceeding in any Court, means a person authorised by or under any law for the time being in force, to practise in such Court, and includes any other person appointed with the permission of the Court to act in such proceeding; (r) “police report” means a report forwarded by a police officer to a Magistrate under sub-section
(2) of section 173; (s) “police station” means any post or place declared generally or specially by the State Government, to be a police station, and includes any local area specified by the State Government in this behalf; 1. Ins. by Act 45 of 1978, s. 2 (w.e.f. 18-12-1978). (t) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Code; (u) “Public Prosecutor” means any person appointed under section 24, and includes any person acting under the directions of a Public Prosecutor; (v) “sub-division” means a sub-division of a district; (w) “summons-case” means a case relating to an offence, and not being a warrant-case; 1[(wa) “victim” means a person who has suffered any loss or injury caused by reason of the act or omission for which the accused person has been charged and the expression “victim” includes his or her guardian or legal heir;] (x) “warrant-case” means a case relating to an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term exceeding two years; (y) words and expressions used herein and not defined but defined in the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) have the meanings respectively assigned to them in that Code. STATE AMENDMENT Haryana In section 2, for the words “State of Haryana”, the words “Union territory of Chandigarh” shall be substituted. [Vide Notification No. GSR929(E) dated 16th December, 2019.]
2.
(1) In this Sanhita, unless the context otherwise requires,— (a) "audio-video electronic means" shall include use of any communication device for the purposes of video conferencing, recording of processes of identification, search and seizure or evidence, transmission of electronic communication and for such other purposes and by such other means as the State Government may, by rules provide; (b) "bail" means release of a person accused of or suspected of commission of an offence from the custody of law upon certain conditions imposed by an officer or Court on execution by such person of a bond or a bail bond; (c) "bailable offence" means an offence which is shown as bailable in the First Schedule, or which is made bailable by any other law for the time being in force; and "non-bailable offence" means any other offence; (d) "bail bond" means an undertaking for release with surety; (e) "bond" means a personal bond or an undertaking for release without surety; (f) "charge" includes any head of charge when the charge contains more heads than one; (g) "cognizable offence" means an offence for which, and "cognizable case" means a case in which, a police officer may, in accordance with the First Schedule or under any other law for the time being in force, arrest without warrant; (h) "complaint" means any allegation made orally or in writing to a Magistrate, with a view to his taking action under this Sanhita, that some person, whether known or unknown, has committed an offence, but does not include a police report. Explanation.—A report made by a police officer in a case which discloses, after investigation, the commission of a non-cognizable offence shall be deemed to be a complaint; and the police officer by whom such report is made shall be deemed to be the complainant; (i) "electronic communication" means the communication of any written, verbal, pictorial information or video content transmitted or transferred (whether from one person to another or from one device to another or from a person to a device or from a device to a person) by means of an electronic device including a telephone, mobile phone, or other wireless telecommunication device, or a computer, or audio-video player or camera or any other electronic device or electronic form as may be specified by notification, by the Central Government; (j) "High Court" means,— (i) in relation to any State, the High Court for that State; (ii) in relation to a Union territory to which the jurisdiction of the High Court for a State has been extended by law, that High Court; (iii) in relation to any other Union territory, the highest Court of criminal appeal for that territory other than the Supreme Court of India; (k) "inquiry" means every inquiry, other than a trial, conducted under this Sanhita by a Magistrate or Court; (l) "investigation" includes all the proceedings under this Sanhita for the collection of evidence conducted by a police officer or by any person (other than a Magistrate) who is authorised by a Magistrate in this behalf. Explanation.—Where any of the provisions of a special Act are inconsistent with the provisions of this Sanhita, the provisions of the special Act shall prevail; (m) "judicial proceeding" includes any proceeding in the course of which evidence is or may be legally taken on oath; (n) "local jurisdiction", in relation to a Court or Magistrate, means the local area within which the Court or Magistrate may exercise all or any of its or his powers under this Sanhita and such local area may comprise the whole of the State, or any part of the State, as the State Government may, by notification, specify; (o) "non-cognizable offence" means an offence for which, and "non-cognizable case" means a case in which, a police officer has no authority to arrest without warrant; (p) "notification" means a notification published in the Official Gazette; (q) "offence" means any act or omission made punishable by any law for the time being in force and includes any act in respect of which a complaint may be made under section 20 of the Cattle Trespass Act, 1871; (r) "officer in charge of a police station" includes, when the officer in charge of the police station is absent from the station-house or unable from illness or other cause to perform his duties, the police officer present at the station-house who is next in rank to such officer and is above the rank of constable or, when the State Government so directs, any other police officer so present; (s) "place" includes a house, building, tent, vehicle and vessel; (t) "police report" means a report forwarded by a police officer to a Magistrate under sub-section
(3) of section 193; (u) "police station" means any post or place declared generally or specially by the State Government, to be a police station, and includes any local area specified by the State Government in this behalf; (v) "Public Prosecutor" means any person appointed under section 18, and includes any person acting under the directions of a Public Prosecutor; (w) "sub-division" means a sub-division of a district; (x) "summons-case" means a case relating to an offence, and not being a warrant-case; (y) "victim" means a person who has suffered any loss or injury caused by reason of the act or omission of the accused person and includes the guardian or legal heir of such victim; (z) "warrant-case" means a case relating to an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term exceeding two years.
(2) Words and expressions used herein and not defined but defined in the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in that Act and Sanhita.
What changedAI-inferred
Definitions — BNSS 2 expanded with electronic-record definitions and "audio-video electronic means" definition.
Old position
CrPC 2 is concerned with Definitions. Definitions
New position
BNSS 2 modifies the framework. Topic: In this Sanhita, unless the context otherwise requires, (a) "audio-video electronic means".. In this Sanhita, unless the context otherwise requires,
BNSS 2 modifies CrPC 2. Definitions — BNSS 2 expanded with electronic-record definitions and "audio-video electronic means" definition. BNSS 2 text: In this Sanhita, unless the context otherwise requires,— (a) "audio-video electronic means" shall include use of any communication device for the...
Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)
BNSS 2 expands the CrPC 2 definition list. The visible additions include a new definition of audio-video electronic means covering video conferencing, recording of identification, search and seizure or evidence, and transmission of electronic communication, and an express definition of bail as the release of an accused person on conditions. CrPC 2 had no express definition of bail and inferred bailability through the First Schedule. The full BNSS 2 definition list is not entirely visible in this extract; carried-forward definitions including bailable offence, charge, cognizable offence and complaint are partially visible.
Transitional note (repeal & savings)
For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, CrPC 2 continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BNSS 2 applies. The transition is governed by the repeal-and-savings clause in the new code (BNS 358 / BNSS 531 / BSA 170 as the case may be); pending proceedings under the old code carry forward unaffected.
Frequently asked
BNSS 2 (In this Sanhita, unless the context otherwise requires, (a) "audio-video electronic means".). The relationship is classified as modified — see the change-note above for the textual delta.
Sources
- India Code — Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
- Gazette of India — Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Cite this page
Newlaws.in, CRPC §2 → BNSS §2 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-06-14, https://newlaws.in/bnss/2.
Compiled using AI-assisted tools · Source-linked · Last updated 2026-05-01
Not legal advice. Verify against the bare act and consult a qualified advocate for any specific matter.