CRPC §354BNSS §393

Language and contents of judgment

Substantively sameConfidence: mediumStatus: cross checkedconsolidation context(precautionary)
Last updated 2026-05-01 · Input coverage: full

Compiled by AI-assisted tools. Verify current status against official sources. Last updated: 2026-04-28.

Jump to section

Comparison

Old law
CRPC §354
Language and contents of judgment

354. Language and contents of judgment.—(1) Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Code, every judgment referred to in section 353,— (a) shall be written in the language of the Court; (b) shall contain the point or points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision; (c) shall specify the offence (if any) of which, and the section of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) or other law under which, the accused is convicted, and the punishment to which he is sentenced; (d) if it be a judgment of acquittal, shall state the offence of which the accused is acquitted and direct that he be set at liberty.

(2) When the conviction is under the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) and it is doubtful under which of two sections, or under which of two parts of the same section, of that Code the offence falls, the Court shall distinctly express the same, and pass judgment in the alternative.

(3) When the conviction is for an offence punishable with death or, in the alternative, with imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term of years, the judgment shall state the reasons for the sentence awarded, and, in the case of sentence of death, the special reasons for such sentence.

(4) When the conviction is for an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term of one year or more, but the Court imposes a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than three months, it shall record its reasons for awarding such sentence, unless the sentence is one of imprisonment till the rising of the Court or unless the case was tried summarily under the provisions of this Code.

(5) When any person is sentenced to death, the sentence shall direct that he be hanged by the neck till he is dead.

(6) Every order under section 117 or sub-section

(2) of section 138 and every final order made under section 125, section 145 or section 147 shall contain the point or points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision.

New law
BNSS §393
Language and judgment.

393.

(1) Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Sanhita, every judgment referred to in section 392,— (a) shall be written in the language of the Court; (b) shall contain the point or points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision; (c) shall specify the offence (if any) of which, and the section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 or other law under which, the accused is convicted, and the punishment to which he is sentenced; (d) if it be a judgment of acquittal, shall state the offence of which the accused is acquitted and direct that he be set at liberty.

(2) When the conviction is under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and it is doubtful under which of two sections, or under which of two parts of the same section, of that Sanhita the offence falls, the Court shall distinctly express the same, and pass judgment in the alternative.

(3) When the conviction is for an offence punishable with death or, in the alternative, with imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term of years, the judgment shall state the reasons for the sentence awarded, and, in the case of sentence of death, the special reasons for such sentence.

(4) When the conviction is for an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term of one year or more, but the Court imposes a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than three months, it shall record its reasons for awarding such sentence, unless the sentence is one of imprisonment till the rising of the Court or unless the case was tried summarily under the provisions of this Sanhita.

(5) When any person is sentenced to death, the sentence shall direct that he be hanged by the neck till he is dead.

(6) Every order under section 136 or sub-section

(2) of section 157 and every final order made under section 144, section 164 or section 166 shall contain the point or points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision.

What changedAI-inferred

Language and contents of judgment — BNSS 393 mandates uploading of judgment on website within 7 days.

Old position

CrPC 354 is concerned with Language and contents of judgment. Language and contents of judgment

New position

BNSS 393 modifies the framework. Topic: Language and judgment.. Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Sanhita, every judgment referred to in section 392,

BNSS 393 modifies CrPC 354. Language and contents of judgment — BNSS 393 mandates uploading of judgment on website within 7 days. BNSS 393 text: Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Sanhita, every judgment referred to in section 392,— (a) shall be written in the language of the Court;...

Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)

BNSS 393 carries forward CrPC 354's framework for the language and contents of judgment character-identically. Sub-section (1)(a) (language-of-Court rule), (b) (point-decision-reasons requirement), and (c) (offence-section reference, updated from IPC to BNS) are preserved. The cross-reference at the head of (1) is updated from CrPC s.353 to BNSS s.392. The intra-corpus renumber/remap does not alter the operative requirements for judgment writing.

Transitional note (repeal & savings)

For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, CrPC 354 continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BNSS 393 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 393 (Language and judgment.). The relationship is classified as modified — see the change-note above for the textual delta.

Sources

Cite this page

Newlaws.in, CRPC §354 → BNSS §393 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-06-12, https://newlaws.in/crpc/354.

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.