BNSS §342
21 of 1860. when corporation or registered accused. 1]
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Comparison
305. Procedure when corporation or registered society is an accused.—(1) In this section, “corporation” means an incorporated company or other body corporate, and includes a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860).
(2) Where a corporation is the accused person or one of the accused persons in an inquiry or trial, it may appoint a representative for the purpose of the inquiry or trial and such appointment need not be under the seal of the corporation.
(3) Where a representative of a corporation appears, any requirement of this Code that anything shall be done in the presence of the accused or shall be read or stated or explained to the accused, shall be construed as a requirement that thing shall be done in the presence of the representative or read or stated or explained to the representative, and any requirement that the accused shall be examined shall be construed as a requirement that the representative shall be examined.
(4) Where a representative of a corporation does not appear, any such requirement as is referred to in sub-section
(3) shall not apply.
(5) Where a statement in writing purporting to be signed by the managing director of the corporation or by any person (by whatever name called) having, or being one of the persons having the management of the affairs of the corporation to the effect that the person named in the statement has been appointed as the representative of the corporation for the purposes of this section, is filed, the Court shall, unless the contrary is proved, presume that such person has been so appointed.
(6) If a question arises as to whether any person, appearing as the representative of a corporation in an inquiry or trial before a Court is or is not such representative, the question shall be determined by the Court.
342.
(1) In this section, "corporation" means an incorporated company or other body corporate, and includes a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
(2) Where a corporation is the accused person or one of the accused persons in an inquiry or trial, it may appoint a representative for the purpose of the inquiry or trial and such appointment need not be under the seal of the corporation.
(3) Where a representative of a corporation appears, any requirement of this Sanhita that anything shall be done in the presence of the accused or shall be read or stated or explained to the accused, shall be construed as a requirement that that thing shall be done in the presence of the representative or read or stated or explained to the representative, and any requirement that the accused shall be examined shall be construed as a requirement that the representative shall be examined.
(4) Where a representative of a corporation does not appear, any such requirement as is referred to in sub-section
(3) shall not apply. Permission to conduct prosecution. Right of person against whom proceedings are instituted to be defended. Legal aid to accused at State expense in certain cases. Procedure when corporation or registered society is an accused.
(5) Where a statement in writing purporting to be signed by the managing director of the corporation or by any person duly authorised by him (by whatever name called) having, or being one of the persons having the management of the affairs of the corporation to the effect that the person named in the statement has been appointed as the representative of the corporation for the purposes of this section, is filed, the Court shall, unless the contrary is proved, presume that such person has been so appointed.
(6) If a question arises as to whether any person, appearing as the representative of a corporation in an inquiry or trial before a Court is or is not such representative, the question shall be determined by the Court.
What changedAI-inferred
Procedure when corporation or registered society is an accused.
Old position
CrPC 305 is concerned with Procedure when corporation or registered society is an accused. Procedure when corporation or registered society is an accused
New position
BNSS 342 preserves the framework with drafting modernisations as required by the new code. Topic: 21 of 1860. when corporation or registered accused. 1]. In this section, "corporation" means an incorporated company or other body corporate, and includes a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860
BNSS 342 (21 of 1860. when corporation or registered accused. 1]) preserves the framework of CrPC 305. BNSS 342 retains the operative provisions in substantively the same form, with drafting modernisation and structural updates as required by the new code. BNSS 342 text: In this section,...
Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)
BNSS 342 (21 of 1860. when corporation or registered accused. 1]) preserves the framework of CrPC 305. BNSS 342 retains the operative provisions in substantively the same form, with drafting modernisation and structural updates as required by the new code.
BNSS 342 text: In this section, "corporation" means an incorporated company or other body corporate, and includes a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.(2) Where a corporation is the accused person or one of the accused persons in an inquiry or trial, it may appoint a representative for the purpose of the...
Transitional note (repeal & savings)
For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, CrPC 305 continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BNSS 342 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 342 (21 of 1860. when corporation or registered accused. 1]). The relationship is classified as substantively_same — 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 §305 → BNSS §342 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-06-12, https://newlaws.in/bnss/342.
Compiled using AI-assisted tools · Source-linked · Last updated 2026-05-01
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