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Vijay Kumar (Advocate)     24 December 2008

Amendment in Cr.P.C.

Would you kindly enlighten what amendment has been made to Cr PC by Parliament recently within past three days?


Learning

 10 Replies

RAKHI BUDHIRAJA ADVOCATE (LAWYER AT BUDHIRAJA & ASSOCIATES SUPREME COURT OF INDIA)     25 December 2008

I do agree with my friend.

PALNITKAR V.V. (Lawyer)     25 December 2008

The amendment  shown at the site mentioned by Mr. Rohit Chhaba does not relate to Indian Code of Criminal Procedure.

Vijay Kumar (Advocate)     25 December 2008

Mr.Palnitkar is right.

K.C.Suresh (Advocate)     27 December 2008

Hallo Rohit


Is the same amendment you mean as here under:

further to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1989



WHEREAS it is expedient further to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure,


1898 (Act V of 1898), for the purposes hereinafter appearing;


It is hereby enacted as follows:-


1.


Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2008.


(2) It shall come into force at once.


2.


1898 (Act V of 1898), hereinafter referred to as the said Code, in section 426, after subsection


(1), the following new sub-section shall be inserted, namely:-


“(1A) An Appellate Court shall, unless for reasons to be recorded in writing it


otherwise directs, order a convicted person to be released on bail who has been


sentenced-


(a) to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years and whose appeal


has not been decided within a period of six months of his conviction;


(b) to imprisonment for a period exceeding three years but not exceeding


seven years and whose appeal has not been decided within a period of one


year of his conviction; or


(c) to imprisonment for life or imprisonment exceeding seven years and


whose appeal has not been decided within a period of two years of his


conviction.”


2.


in sub-section(1),-


(i) in the first proviso, after the word “years” the words “or any woman”


shall be inserted;


(ii) the second, third and fourth provisos shall be omitted; and


(iii) in the fifth proviso, for the full stop at the end a colon shall be


substituted and thereafter the following provisos shall be added,


namely:-


“Provided further that the Court shall, except where it is of opinion that


the delay in the trial of the accused has been occasioned by an act or


omission of the accused or any other person acting on his behalf, direct


that any person shall be released on bail-


(a) who, being accused of any offence not punishable with death, has


been detained for such offence for a continuous period exceeding


one year or in case of a woman exceeding six months and whose


trail for such offence has not concluded; or


(b) who, being accused of an offence punishable with death, has been


detailed for such offence for a continuous period exceeding two


years and in case of a woman exceeding one year and whose trial


for such offence has not concluded:


Provided further that the provisions of the foregoing proviso shall not


apply to a previously convicted offender for an offence punishable with death or


imprisonment for life or to a person who, in the opinion of the Court, is a


hardened, desperate or dangerous criminal or is involved in an act of terrorism


punishable with death or imprisonment for life.”.


_______________


Short title and commencement.- (1) This Act may be called the Code ofAmendment of Section 426, Act V of 1898.- In the Code, of Criminal Procedure,Amendment of section 497, Act V of 1898.- In the said Code, in section 497,

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS



The trials of accused persons get delayed due to various cause including the


pendency and huge backlog in the courts. With the result that the accused persons


languish in jails for indefinite period whose trails are not concluded. The object of the


proposed Bill is to provide relief to them and grant them bail after two years in case of


offences punishable with death and after two years in case of offences not punishable


with death. This period is further being reduced to one year and six months, respectively,


in case of women accused. Similar amendment is being proposed in section 426 of the


Cr. P.C. if cases get delayed at appellate stage.



MR. FAROOQ H. NAIK



Minister-in-Charge



IS IT THE CORRECT INFORMANTIO. PLEASE VERIFY MY FRIEND AND CLARIFY OR CORRECT.



[ TO BE INTRODUCED IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ]


A


BILL

Vijay Kumar (Advocate)     28 December 2008

I am afraid. This is not a Bill introduced in the Indian Parliament.

Deekshitulu.V.S.R (B.Sc, B.L)     01 March 2010

i THINK THE SITE IS NOT CORRECT.

SURESHKUMAR.S (ADVOCATE)     02 March 2010

Thanks for the source of amended CRPC.

Can anybody give the source of NOTIFICATION by Govt if India in this regard,( whereas the date of notification to come the amendments in force is on 30-12-2009) .Kindly  support the authenticated sources.

Deekshitulu.V.S.R (B.Sc, B.L)     26 March 2010

 

 

 

 

 

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The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2008

 

 

THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2008
[ACT No. 5 OF 2009]*

[7th January, 2009.]


 

An Act further to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

 

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Fifty-ninth Year of the Republic of India as follows:—

 

1. Short title and commencement. — (1) This Act may be called the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2008.

(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint; and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act.

 

2. Amendment of section 2. — In section 2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), after clause (w), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:—

‘(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;’.

 

3. Amendment of section 24. — In section 24 of the principal Act, in sub-section (8), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:—

“Provided that the Court may permit the victim to engage an advocate of his choice to assist the prosecution under this sub-section.”.

 

4. Amendment of section 26. — In section 26 of the principal Act, in clause (a), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:—

“Provided that any offence under section 376 and sections 376A to 376D of the Indian Penal Code shall be tried as far as practicable by a Court presided over by a woman.”.

 

5. Amendment of section 41. — In section 41 of the principal Act, —

(i) in sub-section (1), for clauses (a) and (b), the following clauses shall be substituted, namely:—

“(a) who commits, in the presence of a police officer, a cognizable offence;

(b) against whom a reasonable complaint has been made, or credible information has been received, or a reasonable suspicion exists that he has committed a cognizable offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may be less than seven years or which may extend to seven years whether with or without fine, if the following conditions are satisfied, namely:—

(i) the police officer has reason to believe on the basis of such complaint, information, or suspicion that such person has committed the said offence;

(ii) the police officer is satisfied that such arrest is necessary—

(a) to prevent such person from committing any further offence; or

(b) for proper investigation of the offence; or

(c) to prevent such person from causing the evidence of the offence to disappear or tampering with such evidence in any manner; or

(d) to prevent such person from making any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to the police officer; or

(e) as unless such person is arrested, his presence in the Court whenever required cannot be ensured,
and the police officer shall record while making such arrest, his reasons in writing.

(ba) against whom credible information has been received that he has committed a cognizable offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to more than seven years whether with or without fine or with death sentence and the police officer has reason to believe on the basis of that information that such person has committed the said offence;”;

(ii) for sub-section (2), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:—

“(2) Subject to the provisions of section 42, no person concerned in a non-cognizable offence or against whom a complaint has been made or credible information has been received or reasonable suspicion exists of his having so concerned, shall be arrested except under a warrant or order of a Magistrate.”.

 

6. Insertion of new sections 41A, 41B, 41C and 41D. — After section 41 of the principal Act, the following new sections shall be inserted, namely:—

41 A. Notice of appearance before police officer. — “(1) The police officer may, in all cases where the arrest of a person is not required under the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 41, issue a notice directing the person against whom a reasonable complaint has been made, or credible information has been received, or a reasonable suspicion exists that he has committed a cognizable offence, to appear before him or at such other place as may be specified in the notice.

(2) Where such a notice is issued to any person, it shall be the duty of that person to comply with the terms of the notice.

(3) Where such person complies and continues to comply with the notice, he shall not be arrested in respect of the offence referred to in the notice unless, for reasons to be recorded, the police officer is of the opinion that he ought to be arrested.

(4) Where such person, at any time, fails to comply with the terms of the notice, it shall be lawful for the police officer to arrest him for the offence mentioned in the notice, subject to such orders as may have been passed in this behalf by a competent Court.

41B. Procedure of arrest and duties of officer making arrest. — Every police officer while making an arrest shall—

(a) bear an accurate, visible and clear identification of his name which will facilitate easy identification;

(b) prepare a memorandum of arrest which shall be—

(i) attested by at least one witness, who is a member of the family of the person arrested or a respectable member of the locality where the arrest is made;

(ii) countersigned by the person arrested; and

(c) inform the person arrested, unless the memorandum is attested by a member of his family, that he has a right to have a relative or a friend named by him to be informed of his arrest.

41C. Control room at districts. — (1) The State Government shall establish a police control room—

(a) in every district; and

(b) at State level.

(2) The State Government shall cause to be displayed on the notice board kept outside the control rooms at every district, the names and addresses of the persons arrested and the name and designation of the police officers who made the arrests.

(3) The control room at the Police Headquarters at the State level shall collect from time to time, details about the persons arrested, nature of the offence with which they are charged and maintain a database for the information of the general public.

41D. Right of arrested person to meet an advocate of his choice during interrogation. — When any person is arrested and interrogated by the police, he shall be entitled to meet an advocate of his choice during interrogation, though not throughout interrogation.”.

 

7. Amendment of section 46. — In section 46 of the principal Act. in sub-section (1), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:—

“Provided that where a woman is to be arrested, unless the circumstances indicate to the contrary, her submission to custody on an oral intimation of arrest shall be presumed and, unless the circumstances otherwise require or unless the police officer is a female, the police officer shall not touch the person of the woman for making her arrest.”.

 

8. Substitution of new section for section 54. — For section 54 of the principal Act, the following section shall be substituted, namely:—

“54. Examination of arrested person by medical officer. — (7) When any person is arrested, he shall be examined by a medical officer in the service of Central or State Government, and in case the medical officer is not available, by a registered medical practitioner soon after the arrest is made:
Provided that where the arrested person is a female, the examination of the body shall be made only by or under the supervision of a female medical officer, and in case the female medical officer is not available, by a female registered medical practitioner.

(2) The medical officer or a registered medical practitioner so examining the arrested person shall prepare the record of such examination, mentioning therein any injuries or marks of violence upon the person arrested, and the approximate time when such injuries or marks may have been inflicted.

(3) Where an examination is made under sub-section (1), a copy of the report of such examination shall be furnished by the medical officer or registered medical practitioner, as the case may be, to the arrested person or the person nominated by such arrested person.”.

 

9. Insertion of new section 55A. — After section 55 of the principal Act, the following section shall be inserted, namely:—

“55A. Health and safety of arrested person. — It shall be the duty of the person having the custody of an accused to take reasonable care of the health and safety of the accused.”.

 

10. Insertion of new section 60A. — After section 60 of the principal Act, the following section shall be inserted, namely:—

“60A. Arrest to be made strictly according to the Code. — No arrest shall be made except in accordance with the provisions of this Code or any other law for the time being in force providing for arrest.”.

 

11. Amendment of section 157. — In section 157 of the principal Act, in sub-section (7), after the proviso, the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:—

“Provided further that in relation to an offence of rape, the recording of statement of the victim shall be conducted at the residence of the victim or in the place of her choice and as far as practicable by a woman police officer in the presence of her parents or guardian or near relatives or social worker of the locality.”.

 

12. Amendment of section 161. — In section 161 of the principal Act, in sub-section (3), the following provisos shall be inserted, namely:—

“Provided that statement made under this sub-section may also be recorded by audio-video electronic means.”.

 

13. Amendment of section 164. — In section 164 of the principal Act, in sub-section (7), for the proviso, the following provisos shall be substituted, namely:—

“Provided that any confession or statement made under this sub-section may also be recorded by audio-video electronic means in the presence of the advocate of the person accused of an offence:
Provided further that no confession shall be recorded by a police officer on whom any power of a Magistrate has been conferred under any law for the time being in force.”.

 

14. Amendment of section 167. — In section 167 of the principal Act, in sub-section (2),—

(a) in the proviso,—

(i) for clause (b), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:—

“(b) no Magistrate shall authorise detention of the accused in custody of the police under this section unless the accused is produced before him in person for the first time and subsequently every time till the accused remains in the custody of the police, but the Magistrate may extend further detention in judicial custody on production of the accused either in person or through the medium of electronic video linkage;”;

(ii) for Explanation II, the following Explanation shall be substituted, namely:—

“Explanation II. — If any question arises whether an accused person was produced before the Magistrate as required under clause (b), the production of the accused person may be proved by his signature on the order authorising detention or by the order certified by the Magistrate as to production of the accused person through the medium of electronic video linkage, as the case may be.”;

(b) after the proviso, the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:—

“Provided further that in case of a woman under eighteen years of age, the detention shall be authorised to be in the custody of a remand home or recognised social institution.”.

 

15. Amendment of section 172. — In section 172 of the principal Act, after sub-section (1), the following sub-sections shall be inserted, namely:—

“(1A) The statements of witnesses recorded during the course of investigation under section 161 shall be inserted in the case diary.

(1B) The diary referred to in sub-section (1) shall be a volume and duly paginated.”.

 

16. Amendment of section 173. — In section 173 of the principal Act,—

(a) after sub-section (7), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:—

“(1A) The investigation in relation to rape of a child may be completed within three months from the date on which the information was recorded by the officer in charge of the police station.”;

(b) in sub-section (2), after clause (g), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:—

“(h) whether the report of medical examination of the woman has been attached where investigation relates to an offence under section 376, 376A, 376B, 376C or 376D of the Indian Penal Code.”.

 

17. Insertion of new section 195A. — After section 195 of the principal Act, the following section shall be inserted, namely:—

“195A. Procedure for witnesses in case of threatening, etc. — A witness or any other person may file a complaint in relation to an offence under section 195A of the Indian Penal Code.”.

 

18. Amendment of section 198. — In section 198 of the principal Act, in sub-section (6), for the words “fifteen years of age”, the words “eighteen years of age” shall be substituted.

 

19. Amendment of section 242. — In section 242 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:—

“Provided that the Magistrate shall supply in advance to the accused, the statement of witnesses recorded during investigation by the police.”.

 

20. Amendment of section 275. — In section 275 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:—

“Provided that evidence of a witness under this sub-section may also be recorded by audio-video electronic means in the presence of the advocate of the person accused of the offence.”.

 

21. Amendment of section 309. — In section 309 of the principal Act, —

(a) in sub-section (1), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:—

“Provided that when the inquiry or trial relates to an offence under sections 376 to 376D of the Indian Penal Code, the inquiry or trial shall, as far as possible, be completed within a period of two months from the date of commencement of the examination of witnesses.”;

(b) in sub-section (2), after the third proviso and before Explanation 1, the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:—

“Provided also that—
(a) no adjournment shall be granted at the request of a party, except where the circumstances are beyond the control of that party;

(b) the fact that the pleader of a party is engaged in another Court, shall not be a ground for adjournment;

(c) where a witness is present in Court but a party or his pleader is not present or the party or his pleader though present in Court, is not ready to examine or cross-examine the witness, the Court may, if thinks fit, record the statement of the witness and pass such orders as it thinks fit dispensing with the examination-in-chief or cross-examination of the witness, as the case may be.”.

 

22. Amendment of section 313. — In section 313 of the principal Act, after sub-section (4), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:—

“(5) The Court may take help of Prosecutor and Defence Counsel in preparing relevant questions which are to be put to the accused and the Court may permit filing of written statement by the accused as sufficient compliance of this section.”.

 

23. Amendment of section 320. — In section 320 of the principal Act,—

(i) in sub-section (1), for the TABLE, the following TABLE shall be substituted, namely:—

 

"TABLE

 

Offence

Section of the Indian Penal Code applicable

Person by whom offence may be compounded

1

2

3

Uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person.

298

The person whose religious feelings are intended to be wounded.

Voluntarily causing hurt.

323

The person to whom the hurt is caused.

Voluntarily causing hurt on provocation.

334

Ditto.

Voluntarily causing grievous hurt on grave and sudden provocation.

335

The person to whom the hurt is caused.

Wrongfully restraining or confining any person.

341

The person restrained or confined.

 

342

 

Wrongfully confining a person for three days or more

343

The person confined.

Wrongfully confining a person for ten days or more.

344

Ditto.

Wrongfully confining a person in secret.

346

Ditto.

Assault or use of criminal force.

352, 355, 358

The person assaulted or to whom criminal force is used.

Theft.

379

The owner of the property stolen.

Dishonest misappropriation of property.

403

The owner of the property misappropriated.

Criminal breach of trust by a carrier, wharfinger, etc.

407

The owner of the property in respect of which the breach of trust has been committed.

Dishonestly receiving stolen property knowing it to be stolen.

411

The owner of the property stolen.

Assisting in the concealment or disposal of stolen property, knowing it to be stolen.

414

Ditto.

Cheating.

417

The person cheated.

Cheating by personation.

419

Ditto.

Fraudulent removal or concealment of property, etc., to prevent distribution among creditors.

421

The creditors who are affected thereby.

Fraudulently preventing from being made available for his creditors a debt or demand due to the offender.

422

Ditto.

Fraudulent execution of deed of transfer containing false statement of consideration.

423

The person affected thereby.

Fraudulent removal or concealment of property.

424

Ditto.

Mischief, when the only loss or damage caused is loss or damage to a private person.

426, 427

The person to whom the loss or damage is caused.

Mischief by killing or maiming animal.

428

The owner of the animal

Mischief by killing or maiming cattle, etc.

429

The owner of the cattle or animal.

Mischief by injury to works of irrigation by wrongfully diverting water when the only loss or damage caused is loss or damage to private person.

430

The person to whom the loss or damage is caused.

Criminal trespass.

447

The person in possession of the property trespassed upon.

House-trespass.

448

Ditto.

House-trespass to commit an offence (other than theft) punishable with imprisonment.

451

The person in possession of the house trespassed upon.

Using a false trade or property mark.

482

The person to whom loss or injury is caused by such use.

Counterfeiting a trade or property mark used by another.

483

Ditto.

Knowingly selling, or exposing or possessing for sale or for manufacturing purpose, goods marked with a counterfeit property mark.

486

Ditto.

Criminal breach of contract of service.

491

The person with whom the offender has contracted.

Adultery.

497

The husband of the woman.

Enticing or taking away or detaining with criminal intent a married woman.

498

The husband of the woman and the woman

Defamation, except such cases as are specified against section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) in column 1 of the Table under sub-section (2).

500

The person defamed.

Printing or engraving matter,

501

Ditto.

Sale of printed or engraved substance containing defamatory matter, knowing it to contain such matter.

502

Ditto.

Insult intended to provoke a breach of the peace.

504

The person insulted.

Criminal intimidation.

506

The person intimidated.

Inducing person to believe himself an object of divine displeasure.

508

The person induced.”;

 

(ii) in sub-section (2), for the TABLE the following TABLE shall be substituted, namely:—

 

"TABLE

Offence

Section of the Indian Penal Code applicable

Person by whom offence may be compounded

 

1

2

3

Causing miscarriage.

312

The woman to whom miscarriage is caused.

Voluntarily causing grievous hurt.

325

The person to whom hurt is caused.

Causing hurt by doing an act so rashly and negligently as to safety of others.

337

Ditto.

Causing grievous hurt by doing an act so rashly and negligently as to endanger human life or the personal safety of others.

338

Ditto.

Assault or criminal force in attempting wrongfully to confine a person.

357

The person assaulted or to whom the force was used.

Theft, by clerk or servant of property in possession of master.

381

The owner of the property stolen.

Criminal breach of trust

406

The owner of property in respect of which breach of trust has been committed.

Criminal breach of trust by a clerk or servant.

408

The owner of the property in respect of which the breach of trust has been committed.

Cheating a person whose interest the offender was bound, either by law or by legal contract, to protect.

418

The person cheated.

Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property or the making, alteration or destruction of a valualble security.

420

Cheating and dishonestly inducing

Marrying again during the life-time of a husband or wife.

494

The husband or wife of the person so marrying.

Defamation against the President or the Vice-President or the Governor of a State or the Administrator of a Union territory or a Minister in respect of his public functions when instituted upon a complaint made by the Public Prosecutor.

500

The person defamed.

Uttering words or sounds or making gestures or exhibiting any object intending to insult the modesty of a woman or intruding upon the privacy of a woman.

509

The woman whom it was intended to insult or whose privacy was intruded upon.”;

 

(iii) for sub-section (3), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:—

“(3) When an offence is compoundable under this section, the abetment of such offence or an attempt to commit such offence (when such attempt is itself an offence) or where the accused is liable under section 34 or 149 of the Indian Penal Code may be compounded in like manner.”.

 

24. Amendment of section 327. — In section 327 of the principle Act,—

(a) in sub-section (2), after the proviso, the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:—

“Provided further that in camera trial shall be conducted as far as practicable by a woman Judge or Magistrate.”;

(b) in sub-section (3), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:—

“Provided that the ban on printing or publication of trial proceedings in relation to an offence of rape may be lifted, subject to maintaining confidentiality of name and address of the parties.”.

 

25. Amendment of section 328. In section 328 of the principal Act,—

(a) after sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:—

“(1A) If the civil surgeon finds the accused to be of unsound mind, he shall refer such person to a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist for care, treatment and prognosis of the condition and the psychiatrist or clinical psychologist, as the case may be, shall inform the Magistrate whether the accused is suffering from unsoundness of mind or mental retardation:

Provided that if the accused is aggrieved by the information given by the psychiatric or clinical psychologist, as the case may be, to the Magistrate, he may prefer an appeal before the Medical Board which shall consist of—

(a) head of psychiatry unit in the nearest government hospital; and

(b) a faculty member in psychiatry in the nearest medical college.”;

(b) for sub-section (3), the following sub-sections shall be substituted, namely:—

“(3) If such Magistrate is informed that the person referred to in sub-section (1A) is a person of unsound mind, the Magistrate shall further determine whether the unsoundness of mind renders the accused incapable of entering defence and if the accused is found so incapable, the Magistrate shall record a finding to that effect, and shall examine the record of evidence produced by the prosecution and after hearing the advocate of the accused but without questioning the accused, if he finds that no prima facie case is made out against the accused, he shall, instead of postponing the enquiry, discharge the accused and deal with him in the manner provided under section 330:

Provided that if the Magistrate finds that a prima facie case is made out against the accused in respect of whom a finding of unsoundness of mind is arrived at, he shall postpone the proceeding for such period, as in the opinion of the psychiatrist or clinical psychologist, is required for the treatment of the accused, and order the accused to be dealt with as provided under section 330.

(4) If such Magistrate is informed that the person referred to in sub­section (1A) is a person with mental retardation, the Magistrate shall further determine whether the mental retardation renders the accused incapable of entering defence, and if the accused is found so incapable, the Magistrate shall order closure of the inquiry and deal with the accused in the manner provided under section 330.”.

 

26. Amendment of section 329. — In section 329 of the principal Act, —

(a) after sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:—

“(1A) If during trial, the Magistrate or Court of Sessions finds the accused to be of unsound mind, he or it shall refer such person to a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist for care and treatment, and the psychiatrist or clinical psychologist, as the case may be shall report to the Magistrate or Court whether the accused is suffering from unsoundness of mind:
Provided that if the accused is aggrieved by the information given by the psychiatric or clinical psychologist, as the case may be, to the Magistrate, he may prefer an appeal before the Medical Board which shall consist of—

(a) head of psychiatry unit in the nearest government hospital; and

(b) a faculty member in psychiatry in the nearest medical college.”;

(b) for sub-section (2), the following sub-sections shall be substituted, namely:—

“(2) If such Magistrate or Court is informed that the person referred to in sub-section (1A) is a person of unsound mind, the Magistrate or Court shall further determine whether unsoundness of mind renders the accused incapable of entering defence and if the accused is found so incapable, the Magistrate or Court shall record a finding to that effect and shall examine the record of evidence produced by the prosecution and after hearing the advocate of the accused but without questioning the accused, if the Magistrate or Court finds that no prima facie case is made out against the accused, he or it shall, instead of postponing the trial, discharge the accused and deal with him in the manner provided under section 330:

Provided that if the Magistrate or Court finds that a prima facie case is made out against the accused in respect of whom a finding of unsoundness of mind is arrived at, he shall postpone the trial for such period, as in the opinion of the psychiatrist or clinical psychologist, is required for the treatment of the accused.

(3) If the Magistrate or Court finds that a prima facie case is made out against the accused and he is incapable of entering defence by reason of mental retardation, he or it shall not hold the trial and order the accused to be dealt with in accordance with section 330.”.

 

27. Substitution of new section for section 330. — For section 330 of the principal Act, the following section shall be substituted, namely:—

“330. Release of person of unsound mind pending investigation or trial. — (1) Whenever a person if found under section 328 or section 329 to be incapable of entering defence by reason of unsoundness of mind or mental retardation, the Magistrate or Court, as the case may be shall, whether the case is one in which bail may be taken or not, order release of such person on bail:

Provided that the accused is suffering from unsoundness of mind or mental retardation which does not mandate in-patient treatment and a friend or relative undertakes to obtain regular out-patient psychiatric treatment from the nearest medical facility and to prevent from doing injury to himself or to any other person.

(2) If the case is one in which, in the opinion of the Magistrate or Court, as the case may be, bail cannot be granted or if an appropriate undertaking is not given, he or it shall order the accused to be kept in such a place where regular psychiatric treatment can be provided, and shall report the action taken to the State Government:
Provided that no order for the detention of the accused in a lunatic asylum shall be made otherwise than in accordance with such rules as the State Government may have made under the Mental Health Act, 1987.

(3) Whenever a person is found under section 328 or section 329 to be incapable of entering defence by reason of unsoundness of mind or mental retardation, the Magistrate or Court, as the case may be, shall keeping in view the nature of the act committed and the extent of unsoundness of mind or mental retardation, further determine if the release of the accused can be ordered:

Provided that—

(a) if on the basis of medical opinion or opinion of a specialist, the Magistrate or Court, as the case may be, decide to order discharge of the accused, as provided under section 328 or section 329, such release may be ordered, if sufficient security is given that the accused shall be prevented from doing injury to himself or to any other person;

(b) if the Magistrate or Court, as the case may be, is of opinion that discharge of the accused cannot be ordered, the transfer of the accused to a residential facility for persons of unsound mind or mental retardation may be ordered wherein the accused may be provided care and appropriate education and training.”.

 

28. Insertion of new section 357A. — After section 357 of the principal Act, the following section shall be inserted, namely:—

“357A. Victim compensation scheme. (7) Every State Government in co-ordination with the Central Government shall prepare a scheme for providing funds for the purpose of compensation to the victim or his dependents who have suffered loss or injury as a result of the crime and who, require rehabilitation.

(2) Whenever a recommendation is made by the Court for compensation, the District Legal Service Authority or the State Legal Service Authority, as the case may be, shall decide the quantum of compensation to be awarded under the scheme referred to in sub-section (1).

(3) If the trial Court, at the conclusion of the trial, is satisfied, that the compensation awarded under section 357 is not adequate for such rehabilitation, or where the cases end in acquittal or discharge and the victim has to be rehabilitated, it may make recommendation for compensation.

(4) Where the offender is not traced or identified, but the victim is identified, and where no trial takes place, the victim or his dependents may make an application to the State or the District Legal Services Authority for award of compensation.

(5) On receipt of such recommendations or on the application under sub-section (4), the State or the District Legal Services Authority shall, after due enquiry award adequate compensation by completing the enquiry within two months.

(6) The State or the District Legal Services Authority, as the case may be, to alleviate the suffering of the victim, may order for immediate first-aid facility or medical benefits to be made available free of cost on the certificate of the police officer not below the rank of the officer in charge of the police station or a Magistrate of the area concerned, or any other interim relief as the appropriate authority deems fit.”.

 

29. Amendment of section 372. — In section 372 of the principal Act, the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:—

“Provided that the victim shall have a right to prefer an appeal against any order passed by the Court acquitting the accused or convicting for a lesser offence or imposing inadequate compensation, and such appeal shall He to the Court to which an appeal ordinarily lies against the order of conviction of such Court.”.

 

30. Amendment of section 416. — In section 416 of the principal Act, the words “order the execution of the sentence to be postponed, and may, if it thinks fit” shall be omitted.

 

31. Insertion of new section 437A. — After section 437 of the principal Act, the following section shall be inserted, namely:—

“437A. Bail to require accused to appear before next appellate Court. — (1) Before conclusion of the trial and before disposal of the appeal, the Court trying the offence or the Appellate Court, as the case may be, shall require the accused to execute bail bonds with sureties, to appear before the higher Court as and when such Court issues notice in respect of any appeal or petition filed against the judgment of the respective Court and such bail bonds shall be in force for six months.

(2) If such accused fails to appear, the bond stand forfeited and the procedure under section 446 shall apply.”.

 

32. Amendment of Form 45. — In the Second Schedule to the principal Act, in Form No. 45, after the figures “437”, the figures and letter “437A” shall be inserted.


[*] Received the assent of the President on 7th January, 2009, Act Published in Gaz. Of India 9-1-2009, Pt.II.S.1 Ext.P.1 (No.6).

 

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