212

;.,- ..roPSIS:
5fi•
Introdu c tion
ft.
Frarnin g of c harges (Sec . 228)
13.
convict ion on p leadin g g u ilty by the accus e d
c.
I

or Plea of gui lty by the accuse d (Sec. 229) I !

.I ''
I D, Date f or prosec ution witnes s (Sec. 230)
j E. Eviden ce for prosec ution (Sec. 231)
I r. Acquit tal (Sec. 232)
G. Enterin g upon defenc e (Sec. 233)
H. Argum ents (Sec. 234)
i
I I. Judgm ent of acquit tal or convic tion (Sec. 235}
I
1 J. Previou s convic tion (Sec. 236} ~
I
I K. Proced ure in cases institu ted under Sectto a
199 (2) (Sec. 237}

t. INTRODUCTION:

l,Before aCourt of
be i::onduc ted in every
!Sec. ·-225)- , ,. . . .
, . . )\ 4'
•...1 . ~· ✓ \i
( .
th When the ac'
e cha
hi~ rge of an o
H,
case H
· e des
e states b
guilt of Y wha
the ac.~...an
 213
The Judg e, after hear ing the Publ ic Pros ecut or's
state men y and the reco rds prod uced by him, / hear s the
subm issio n of the coun sel[ of the accu sed .j Afte r hear ing
both the side s/ if the Judg e ~onsid_ers that ~her e is_ no
suffi cien t grou nd for proc eedi ng with the tnal agai nst
the accu sed, he disc harg es the accu sed after reco rding
reas ons for it. (Sec . 227) J
B. FRA MING OF CHA RGE S: (Sec. 228)

( If the Judg e cons ider s that ther e 1s grou n~ to

pres ume that the accu sed had com mitt ed an offence,
then he look s into the juris dic_tion of the Cou rt and does
eithe r of the fallowing:

a //1f the offen ce i~ n?_~_~~~!~~~~~~f~~bl~ by Court of

Sess ions , then he may tran sfer the caseto
the .
J udic~~~ Mag istra te or othe r· Firs t Cl
Mag istra te and a:·lre(~
77"

' v. Ghanshya m and o

rs., AIR 2020 SC

Wh e t )lcr 1hc c ourt is n .:quin!d to pa s~j H detoi] ed

'lt th e tirnc of frurning of charge!;?
' order '

( For frandng cha rges u/ s 228 of Cr.P.C. the judge

, not required to record detailed reasons. At the stage
JS
f rrarning of charge, the court is not required to hold
0 .
laborate e nquiry• Only prima facic case is to be
an e
seen. )

c. CONVICTIO N ON PLEADING GUILTY BY THE

ACCUSED OR PLEA OF GUILTY BY THE ACCUSED:
(Sec. 229)

If the accused pleads guilty, then the Judge may

convict him in his own discretion. The accused must
- ----------
plead guilty -on his o_w_n_a_n_a_ not through counsel or
pleader.

It is the ·
to Proceed wi
exercised with
Pleading of
 215

E . EVIDENCE FOR PROSECUTION: (Sec . 231)

The Judge proceed7 to take all evidence produced

by the prosecution on a fixed date. Th e Judge may permit
the cross examination of any witness to be deferred
until other witnesses have been examined or recall any
witness for further cross examination. ,

F. ACQUITTAL: (Sec . 2:;2)

After taking the evidence for the prosecutioJ and

examining the accused/ and hearing the prosecutioh /and
the defence / if the Judge considers that there is no
evidence\ that the accused has committe.9-__the offenco/
then the Judge records an order of acquittal .
. '\
,,'j )0
G. ENTERING UPON DEFENCE: (Sec. ~33) •.- . .

1. If the accused is not acquitted, then he- is called

- - - - - - ~._..--··-- - •-• ... -

upon to enter on his defence and ad ;--u_c_e..,

- ·----
supporting evide~ce in his favour. ·

2·. If the accused · ·

,./ the Judge WClb-1

;/
r- 216
r,fE NTS : (Se c. 234 ),. ) . j
J\itGtJ . . .
tl· vVh e n the exa min atio n of th e ,vq_ nc ssc s frJr tlw
l 1ce .5 con1pl ete, the n the pro sec uto r ~ur ns up hi·..
I .
defeI d the acc use d/h is
e an
ple ade r are enti tled to repl y..
c,1S

I-Io wev er, if any poi nt of la\v is rai sed by

the
sed or his ple ade r, the n the pro sec utio n may
, v,:ith
a.cell ...n1ission of the Jud ge, ma ke his sub mis
wePepP sion s \Vit h
d to suc h poi nt of law . )
regar

JUDGMENT OF ACQ UIT TAL OR CON VIC TIO

1. N: (Se c.
; 235)
/i. After hea ring arg um ent s and poi nts of la\v , the
Jud ge
l gives a jud gm ent in the cas e.

2. If the acc use d is con vic ted , the n the jud

ge (un less
he pro cee ds in acc ord anc e wit h the pro visi
oris of
sect ion 360 - ord er to rele ase or pro bat ion of
goo d
con duc t or afte r adm oni tion ) hea rs the acc use
d on
the que stio n of sen ten ce, and the n .pas ses sen
ten ce
on him acc ord ing to law .

;1·.PRE'vious coN V1c T10 11: (Sec:....aN16 j

, Ar the acc us · · ·
°'
and if the
mayJ
ofti
eVi
atid
 217

K. PROC EDUR E IN CASE S INST ITUT ED UNDE R

SECTION 199 (2): (Sec . 2~7 )
1 . A Court of Sessio n, taking cogni zan ce of a n offc:nu.:
u n der sectio n 1 99 (2), tries the case as p er the
p roced ure for the trial of warra n t-case s ins tituted
otherw ise than on a police repor t before a Court of
Magis trate.

Howe ver, only a fter th e Cou rt of Sessi on , for

reaso ns to be record ed , direct s , the prose cution can
exa111inc th e perso n again st whom t h e offenc e 1s
allege d to have been comm itted as its witne ss.

2 . Every trial is h eld in camer a (privately in chambers

and not open for public and others} if either party so
desire s or if the Court thinks fit to do so.

3 . Comp ensat ion to the accus ed:

If the Court disch arges or acqui ts the accus ed
and if it is of opinio n that there was no reaso nable cause
for makin g the accus ation again st the accus ed, then it.
may, by its order of disch arge or acqui ttal, direct the
perso n again st whom the offenc e was allege d to baYC
been comm itted (othe r than the Presi dent;,
Vice- Presi dent or the Gove rnor of a State 9r
Admi nistra tor of a Union territo ry) to show <»1sa1
he shoul d not pay comp ensati on to such

If the Cour t is satisf ied

' .
reaso nable cause for makin g
may, for reaso ns to be record ed..,
compens!.t:if>D not --~~ce ding o
paid by such perso n~--- --
 218

)en
co n1l , 'sal ion awa rde d cnn be rccov,!re d u'.; if it
- c j111po~,cd by u Mag is trat e.
'l !11 1
'l' I C •
1\

'fh e p e r s on who ha s hce n ord ere d to

pay
, , s~ tion n1ay app eal from the ord er to the Hig h Cou
roJll p CI
rt.

When a n ord er for pay men t of com pen sati on to

an
d JJcrs on is mad e , then the com pen sati on nee
reuse d
~ t be p3 id to hi1n t?ef ore the app eal peri od
has elap sed
no ·ran app eal is pre sen ted, befo re the app eal is dec ided
or, 1 .

UNI VER SITY QUE STIO NS FOR REV IEW :

J. Disc uss the pro ced ure for a Ses sion s trial.
2. Des cribe brie fly the pro ced ure to be ado pted for the
trial of a cas e by the Court of Sess ions .
3. Describe the pro ced ure for the trial of a Ses sion s
case befo re the Cou rt of Ses sion s.
4. Explain the pro ced ure und er Criminal Procedu
re
Code for
a trial befo re a Ses sion s Court.
5. Summarise the pro visi ons relating to _
the trial before
a Court of Ses sion .
6- What is the pro ced ure
to be foll owe d in trial befo re
Cou rtof Ses sion ?
7·
Explain the pro ced ure for
I, 8
·: · Explain the pro ced ure
I 9. What are the diffi
of Criminal Proce
a Court of Ses •
 \
\
219

25. PROCE DURE FOR TRIAL OF WARR ANT .

CASES BY MAGIS TRATE S
(Sec. 238 to 250)
.
(MOST IMPORTANT)

SYNOPS IS:
A. Introdu ction
B. Cases institu ted upon a po lice report
(Sec. 238 to 243)
C. Cases institut ed on private compla int (Cases
institu ted otherw ise than on police report)
(Sec. 244 to 24 7)
D. Differe nce betwee n Acquitt al and Dischar ge
E. Conclu sion of trial (Sec. 248 & 250}

A. INTRODUCTION:
The trial of warrant cases by Magistr ates may be

---
divided under tw.9_he.~dings:

1. Cases institute d upon ~ Police repor.¼:.:

~. __ Cases institute ~ .upon. private ~om~lain1
I

/4
B. CASES INSTIT UTED 11
(Sec. 2a&tr i0) ~ \
l. Supply to the accused:
other~
1n· any .....,.....1 ~
when the
p 220
the c omm ence ment <Jf th,., tri· r~J .
tC ri
._.. t ,. u 'ri ,.
. :iistrll rnust supp ly to t h e a ccuse d of cop~ - ~f r -
:::-1 ='_ trc1te J r: ,=
1.'.Jf1s riforrnation Repo rt, Cha rge s h eet, the st;Jt~I nents
~. r5t I
.,.
' cu ti·on \Vitne ss b e fore th ~ Police ' etc .
ose
,,.r pr
rge of accu sed: (Sec. -239)
ipiscfia .
/ rne
!\1agi str~te exam ine s the accus ed and gives
orttJnity to be heard . If h e consi d ers th at there is
~1 opP nd to convi ct him , he di sch arges the accu
orou sed
:.:> =' ords his reaso ns for such disch arge .
... d rec
:.,•
,,,..
~ ming of charg e: (Sec. 240) -
3. rra •
If the Ma gist rate finds that there is a prima facie
.,~e or if ther e are suffic ient groun ds to punis h him,
~~;n he shall frame a charg e in writin g. The _c harge is
~ead and expla ined to him. It expla ins all the detail s
-ecarding th e offen ce. The accus ed is asked \vhet her
· O
~e pleads guilty .

4. Conviction and plea of guilty : (Sec. 24l} ~. ;. _,

If the accus ed plead s guilty , then the Magis trate

::ay punish him in his own discre tion. The accus ed must
~jmself plead guilty and not throu gh any Plead er or
.\dvocate.
--- --- ---
In State Anti- Corr uptio n Bare .._ B• dera bad v..
Suryaprakasam. · (1999 1;
. It was held
consi der o
:ias to
;t With it and
. subst antiat e
torn....:
""''11tted by •
~ A
WAY WWW~-- -- -- --- -

221

5. Evid ence of pros ecuti on: (StJc. 2•12) .

If the accu sed docs not pkad gui lty, then the
Magi strate fixes a date for the exam ination of witnesses.

J\11 the conce rned witne sses arc exam ined, cr03 ~;
exam ined and re - cxa1 nined on a fixed date . The
Prose cutor can produ ce all evide nce in his favou r. ~ Th~
accus ed must be given an oppo rtuni ty to cross examine
the prose cutio n witne sses thoug h a charg e is not frame d.

On the appl icati on of the pros ecut io n, the

Magi strate issue s a summ ons to the witnc:;;sc~ directing
the1n to atten d or to produ ce any docu ment , etc.,

On the fixed date of heari ng, the Magi strate

proce eds to take all neces sary evide nce ip supp ort of
the prose cution.

How ever, the Mag istra te may perm it the

cross -exam inatio n of any witne ss to be defer red until
any other witne ss or witne sses have been examined.or
recal l any witne ss for furth er cross -exam inatio n.

i. G. Kand ht Bhad ra Shah Vs. State of W.B. AIR 2000

SC 522:
The Supre me Cour t held that, for framing a
the trial Cour t need not pass any order a
reaso ns there fore. ·
Fram ing of charg e itself p
the trial Judg e has formed the
the police repor t and other d
both sides that there is Sl'mua
accused has committed ~
 222
.r llttar Prade sh Vs. Chand rika, 1999 AIR
5tate OJ . '
ii• di 4251:
sc~ .
this case, the respon dent was convic ted und e::-
Jn A p.C (death by rash and neglig ent act) and
304- I· . . .
sec, d to eight years rigoro us 1mp_n sonme nt.
se11tence ..
on appeal to the High Court, the· aggriev ed (convict)
halleng e the findin gs of convic tion record ed by
·d not c
d1 ·aJ court so that he could bargai n on the senten
ce.I
the tn .
The High Court consi dered the barga in and
d the period of senten ce award ed by the Trial
reduce . .
ourt, taking into v1ew also the time al:r~eady spent by
~he respon dent in jail as · under -trial prison er and a
convict.

This order of the High Court was set aside by the

Supreme Court on the fallow ing p_o ints:

► According to Sec. 32_0 of Cr.P.C ., compo unding of

certain offenc es was possib le but the conce pt of
negotiated settlem ent is not possib le.·
. .
► Negotiated settlem ents canno t be enco this
will short circuit
serious offence

;. By pleadi ng
Punishme:g.t
appeal o:r~
. out Wlie: ·.~
of th•: ·
,. e·re
the ·s~n
------ ----""!'...,;:-----~--- . . .-; ~ /1
223
6. Evidence for defence: (Sec. 243)
1. After the evidence of the prosecution, the accuse
is called upon to produce his defence and othe~
· evidence . If the accused puts in any writte
statement, the Magistrate files it with the record. n

11. If the accused applies to the Magistrate to issue any

process for compelling the attendance of any witness
for the purpose of examination or cross-examination
or the production of any document or other thing,'
then the Magistrate issues such process, unless it
is made for the purpose of vexation or delay or for
defeating the ends of justice.

iii. The Magistrate may, before summoning any witness,

require that the reasonable expenses incurred by
the witness in attending for the trial be deposited in
Court.

C. CASES INSTITUTED ON PRIVATE COMPLAINT

(CASES INSTITUTED OTHERWISE THAN ON POLICE
REPORT) (Sec. 2~4 to 247)

1. Evidence for prosecution: (Sa.-·244} :.~. . ':.... -.

When a case is instituted otherwise than on a
Police report (by--p~ivate- complail!t);" the· accused is
brought before the Magistrate Court. The Magistrate
hears the .prosecution and takes all evidence in •
of prosecution.

He issues summo
appear before the Co
before the Court.
pu

cc: rltl r e ,vlt cre acc use d is not di!C cha rg~d :
• rro 2; f.-1
.)•
,src,
Jf tlH'
;\1 ~1g 1!:- tr;1t c 1s of the op11~!nn th it tL· ;,· -~,.
. t l, u nd s that the offe nce \ \ ·, 1s < ,,a1: :.1tt•
, · 0 cn ,~10 · ,!
~-:• 11 cd t hen h e fran H'S a ch:nt~C in ,.,.·rit i ~1< Ti :,·
I,, ,1C(ll ~ • j
~•·' . , c:l<l :-111< cxpl a1nc d to t h e .1cc u"t·d
' ..,1f!C JS 1
',l•· t:

The ~H'<'ll~ l'd i!; ~l!-. k r cl whe th<'r he p!c.1d :, ~uil ty .

. ccu .... cd plea ds i~ui1t~·. then he c .111 con \·1ct hun in
1fthl'• l .
·I •:; ()\\ ' 11 ,11·sc
'
1ct ion . If the accu scJ dews not qk,u l ~:u1ltv.
.
1 t ( •
• •· ·occc ding s tak e plac e as in case s in-. tit uted on
:bl' pl
Polin' repo rt .

The acc use d 1s requ ired to stat e whe ther ht·

\\i~hcs to cros s-ex a1ni nc any of the witn esse
s for the
;'~osccution who se evid ence has been take n.

1f he so wish es, the witn esse s nam ed by him arc

~cCJ!led and they are subj ect to cros s-ex ami nati on
and
re-examination.

Similarly, the evid ence of any remaining witnc11ea

:or the pros ecut ion are nex t taken and the , ~ alllo
subject to cros s-e, mml aetJ Ga ·- -

4. Evidence /o

1.· The ac
:-is defence
,s th
. e same
 _ ON or TH II\L : (St 'c·. 24 8 In 2,;ot
..... l- ,._
, .11~
- 1
l l ,,
! l ,- Co n1.p tcf ion : (S~ c . 2• 8)
( -.:;idttri 1 0
•
·- 11·• '--ll ,l t f ... 1·1 1,,.1 , tl•r
, , . > ,, I - ,('. , ' , l• - , . '
) ' ' I I • • , . • . < •
• It

I '
....
i '
• •
i1t tl1 c ;J <
( \ •
• .
, f Ct
... .
}' (•
, ,
' ( r , l
·: •• • • ; '
~•,i,1
·,
tl,1 • ll ,l ' -1 }11'• t lv·1 r,,
, ,r

{ J r. .- r- • ... ~
4 l • ,. '- - •

Af ter he ari ng the ac cu se d

-1•rn
J '
,, ]1 e l) ('l .'.. <" ( .. ' • ~• c~ 11 t C n C (' U
r- l"' l ,_, ... .. , ... . .a ...._
1..1 ()
. ·-
' .i. l' ...J. 1-1
j • \.
l t · '-· ' ) ,. 1
• \ ' •' ••
a

If the ~1 ccu sed 1s ch .Jr ge d ,,·ith

pr evi ou s con ,·1 ct1 on
.::d 1f the ac. -cu scd do es no t ad n1 it
it, the n the ~,a~~1str~1tc
··.::r t:1kc e\·i de nc c in res pe ct of
the pr evi ou s con vic tio n.

2. Ab sen ce of co mp lai na nt : (Se c. -,

~f '1j , ... · ·
If the co 1n pla ina nt is ab sen t
. '·
on the he ar ing da te,
-: the cas e of no n co gn isa ble / co mp
ou nd ab le off en ce,
~:e Ma gis tra te ma y dis ch ar ge the
accuaed before the
::::1:-ge has be en fra me d.

l Corn.pen.satfoft Jt ,r
cciU$e: (Seo•... ..,

lf the Ma gis tra te

grou nd for
&&M Ul,ll ll
t!-,tn he rnay _ .,
\l,h ~ .
Y he sho uJd
 227

b. If the Mag is trate is sati sfi ed th at the a ccus atio n is

with out any reas onab le grou nd , then he may make
an orde r for com pens ation not exce edin g the amount
of fine fixed for the offence to th e accu sed.

c. In defa ult of paym ent of com pen sat~on, the accused

shal l unde rgo imp riso nme nt for a term not exceeding
30 days .

d . If the imp riso ned accu sed pays the fine amo unt, then
the imp riso nme nt gets term inat ed.

e . The pers on · dire cted to pay com pens atio n shall not
be exem pted from any Civil or Crim inal liability.

f. Appeal may lie from orde r for com pens atio n exceed.mi
Rs. l 00 /- awa rded by a Mag istra te.

g. Whe n an orde r for pay men t of c~mpensati9q

accu sed pers on is mad e in a case whi
~pp eal und er the abo v~ s ··
com pen sati on shal l not be p •
peri od for pres enta tion of
if an app eal is pres ente d.,
deci ded .
 229

26 . 'JjR IA L OF SU M M ON S CA SE S
BY M AG IS TR AT ES
(S ec . 2 51 ~o 25 9)
. ' I ,' ,
I

(M OS T IMPORTANT)

SY NO PS IS:
A. St at em en t of ac cu sa tio n an d
Co nv ict io n of
ac cu se d on hi s pl ea of gu ilt y (S
ec . 25 1 to 253)
B. Ma gis tra te 's po we r of ac qu itt al
or co nv ict io n
of th e ac cu se d (S ec . 25 4 & 25 5)
C. Pr oc ed ur e of tri al in ca se of
de at h or non-
ap pe ar an ce of th e co mp la in an
t (S ec . 25 6}
D. W ith dr aw al of co mp la in t (Sec.
25 7)
E. Po we r to sto p pr oc ee di ng in
ce rta in ca se s
(Sec. 25 8)
F. Po we r of Co ur t to co nv er t su mm
on s-c as es int o
wa rr an t ca se s (S ec . 25 9)
G. Di ffe re nc e be tw ee n tri al Q/ Su m
m a~ cCIN
W ar ra nt ca se

· A. ST AT EM EN T OF ACCUSA,..O
R
AC CU SE D ON m s PLEA OJ
'
1. ST AT EM EN T OF ·S UB ST AII CS
OP
W he n a Su m m on s C$
· M ag ist ra te, th e ac cu se d· is
pa rti cu lar s of th e · offence
•
by th e M ag ist ra te. Th e
pl ea ds gu ilt y or has ~Y-
it is no t ne ce ssm;x 14
 ·r10N ON l'J,I:A 01-· GUILTY: (Sec. 252) -
CONVI( , .
z. l
1>k:1cl:; 11,ulltv , tlwn }w 1·.· •j l·1·r :l,, , l,,' ( I
,. t I }(' ·t<·<.·tiscd
. ~ • ,. J

II , ·,·tn1tc ~1ftcr n:cordi11g tlH· T<',t'. . (JJJ', f<Jr . , , •

1 1
11cl\:l!,·~ . · •.i

'1\'
l.
t •
t
·l1J1]Cll .
11\!Jll~

CONVICTION ON PLEA OF GUILTY IN ABSENCE 01· ACCUSED

3. ·rTY CASES: (Sec. 253) ~ · '
IN' PE
If sumn1o ns has been issued to the accu ~:c d in
'lscs then the accused mav p lead guiltv bv ~
-cttY c.,_. ' .., · ···
l' ~r and by post or messenger, send his plea and ~bo
Jette ount of fine spec1'fi1ed 1n
. t h e sun11nons.
thC n 111

The Magistrate convicts the accused in his absence

011
such plea of guilty and sentence him to pay fine and
adjust the amount seni: to the fine.

s. MAGISTRATE'S POWER OF ACQUITTAL OR

,
... - -
CONVICTION OF THE ACCUSED: (Sec .. 2546.255) - . . .
.
-4 .,,. !
1. PROCEDURE WHEN NOT CONVICTED: (Sec. :aNJ .~~ . ' . '
1. If the accused does not plead the guilty, then the
Magistrate must proceed to hear the prosecution-and
take all evidence in support of the p~tion. and
also to hear the ·accuaed Cln4 d ePldem,e la
support of his d

ii. The Magistrate.

or the accuse
directing him
/"\
j" I '
u,,,l'he ~.1 .
j .1.v ag1a
reasonab
attend·ing
 231
2. MA GIS TRA TE' S POWER OF ACQ
UITTAL OR CONVJCT1011 Op
THE ACCUSED: (Se c. 2 5 5 )

1. Aft er tak ing evi den ce fro m bo th the

sid es , if the
tia gis tra te fin ds the acc use d no t gu
ilty , the n he
rec ord s an ord er of acq uit tal .

11. \Vhen the magis tra te doe s no t pro cee d

as pe r Sec.32S
(a :Magistrate can no t pa ss a sev er e
sen ten ce than
empow ere d) or as per Sec .36 0. (or der
to rel eas e on
pro bat ion of good con du ct or aft er adm
oni tio n) and if
he find s the acc use d gui lty , the n he con
vic ts him by
pas sin g a sen ten ce.

An acq uit tal of the acc use d _wi tho ut

ex ~n ing
the com pla ina nt an d his wi tne sse s is
illegal. If the·
compla int by the com pla ina nt is fou nd
to be malicious
aga ins t the acc use d, the n the Ma gis
tra te can direct
th e com pla ina nt to pay com pen sat ion
to the accused.

C. PR OC ED UR E OF TR IAL IN CA SE
01 ' D
NON-APPEARANCE OF TH E CO---....,.Y
w.a..,.
1. If the sum mo ns hav e bee n is
the com pla int , an d·-on the
cas e or on the sub seq ue nt
co mp lai na nt wi tho ut ex cuse,
att end ing the Co urt , the n the
the acc use d.

ii. If the com ·

the Magis
atten d
the
 232

a ppeara nce of the co1npl ainant is du e to

11011
t ]1C
f
iii • I. deat h , th e n th e Magis trate can dismi ss the
• }11 S
Ia.int at a n)7 sta ge .
co111P
the
--
compl aint ts dismis sed , for defa ul t of
onee
la inant's a ppear ance, the accuse d canno t b e
co111P
. d on the s a me facts for the same offenc e in any
trle .
court.

WITHDRAWAL OF COMPLAINT: (Sec. 25'1l · . · \.

D, .
Genera lly, a compl aint made agains t an accuse d
t be withdr awn by the compl ainant . Howev er, if
can no
the M o
aaistra te is satisfi ed during the trial, that there
.
are sufficient groun ds for the compl ainant to withdr aw
his compla int, then he may allow it.

Thereu pon, he acquit s the accuse d agains t whom

the compl aint is withd rawn . .The withd rawal of
complaint is permi ssible only in cases other than a
case on a Police report .

E. --PqWER TO STOP PROCBBDIKG llf CBRTA llf f'.AIIBS:

· (Sec. 258) . ._ · \

In summ ons case

complaint, a First C
~anction of Chief Ju
agistrate for reaso
Proceedings of the
PronoUn . .
'Uch cing the
releaae
 233

F. POWER OF COURT TO CONVERT SUMMo?fa

CASES INTO WARRANT CASES: (Sec. 259)

In the course of the trial of a summons-case rel;ti

.h . . ng
to an offenc_e _punishable \v1t 1m~nsonment exc_eeding
si..~ months, if 1t appears to the Magistrate that the offence
should be tried as per the procedure for the trial of warrant
cases, then such Magistrate may proceed to re-hear the
case as of the trial of warrant-cases and may recall an
witness who may have been examined. y

G. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRIAL OF SUMMONS CASI

AND WARRANT CASE:
SUMMONS CASE WARRANT _CASE

1. The punishment for 1. The punishment for

summons case does warrant case exceeds
not exceed two years. two yean
imprisonment ·
life impriso
death

2. Conviction may be
based on the plea of
guilty by the accused.

3. ·T he summons c
opens with the plea
guilty of the a"""'1.1~
denial of alleipi11111

4. No 14
be Jra111111111-:i
 234

cc u s ed 1nay be 5. The acc use d can be

5. 'fJ1e \ t e d for oth er
oJ1Vl conv icte d only for the
c , th a n the one
offences . offence char ged by the
. osed 111 the accu sed.
d1SC 1
J
non s case .
5t1!11

The nccusc d can cros s 6. The acc use d can

6. . the
exam in e cros s exa min e the
prosec utin g witn ess pros ecut ion witn esse s
only onc e. {Sing le twice {i) Before char ge
opportunity rule) (ii) After Charge (Double
Opp ortu nity (rul e)
Sometimes, the accu sed
1s give n a thir d
oppo rtun ity also.

UNIVERSITY QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW:

I. State the dist inct ion between Summons case

procedure and Warrants case procedure.
·; 2. Discuss in detail the trial ofa Summons azse before
'I

the Magistrate.
'
1 3. Distinguish between Warrant CUI and SlfanmGftl
case.
, 4· Explain
;: 5. Disru.ss
I
,!
i
;I 6•
I.
11

"
 27 . SUM MA RY TRI ALS
(Sec . 2G0 lo 265 )

(MOST IMPO RTA NT)

SYNOPSIS:

A. Intr odu ctio n

B. Cas es of Sum mar y tria l (Sec. 260 & 261)
i C. Proc edur e of Sum mar y tria l (Sec . 262 )
D. Par ticu lars to be ente red (Sec. 263 )
Ii E. Jud gme nt in Sum mar y tria l (Sec . 264}
\! F. Lan gua ge of reco rd and judg men t (Sec. 265}
\~-=====================================-
A. INTR ODU CTIO N:

'Summary trial ' mea ns a 'spe edy trial'. 1he trill

has got the sam e proc ~dur e pres crib ed for ·S\ifflw-111
and War rant case s.

· --.
evidence and ---·- -- -· -
But the form al and elab orat e
writ ing a full 1 ~ J
I.GUlo4 ,AI

required. So a summary trial ia

respect of recording of

However,
sum mar y trial s ·
recording o

ti
in
 23 6
./ ,•
OF SU MM AR Y TR IA L: (Se c. 26
cJ\SE S 0 & 26 1)
e, Ch ief Ju di ci al M ag ist ra te, M
AnY etr op oli tan
_ t e O r F 1. rs t ~ 1a s s M a g 1. s
·st ta tr ate s p e c i a 11 \."
~~~g i d b y th e Hi gh Co ur t ma y try · J
ow ere . . the fal low ing
e~1P s urn rna r1l y:
offeoces
ffe nc es no t pu ni sh ab le wi th
1· i~p ris
·de ath or life
on me nt or im pr iso nm en t ex cee din
g tw o ye ars .

Theft wh ere the va lue of the pro pe

2. rty do es no t ex cee d
Rs. 2,0 00 /-.

3. Re cei vin g sto len pr op ert y wh ere the va lue do es no t

exceed Rs .2, 00 0/- .

4. As sis tin g in th e co nc ea lm
en t/ dis po sa l of sto len
pro per ty wh ere the va lue do es no t
ex cee d Rs .2, 00 0 /-.

5. Of fen ces un de r Se cti on 45

4 I.P .C (lu rki ng ' ho us e
tre spa ss or ho us e br ea kin g in or de
r to co mm it off en ce '
pu nis ha ble wi th im pr iso nm en
t) ~~d 45 6 1.P .C
(Pu nis hm en t fo r: lu rk in g ho us e
treapa.sa ~ houtte
bre aki ng by ~g h~

6· Ins ult wi
(Sec. 50 4

8. Attern
9,
 23 7

In the cou rse , of sum ma ry tria l, if the

Ma .
thi nk s tha t the cas e can no t be tne. gistra.t
d sum ma rily e
he can recall any wi tne ss and · pro cee d . , the
wi th regular . n
. tria1
Su mm ary tria l is ap pli cab le t o sim
ple offe
Hence only a 11tt. 1e ev1'd . d
enc e 1s nee e d . The H'1gh Co nces.
may aut ho ris e a Se con d Cla ss Jud ici
. . al Magistrate al\lrt
to try ca ses su mm ari ly, off en ce so
s for wh ich th
im pri son me nt does no t exceed six mo
nth s. (Sec. 3'1)\
. .,\
·•-
C. PROC~DURE 014' SUMMARY TR .. f f.__
IAL: (Sec. 26 2•-·\ :Q
The pro ced ure is sim ila r to the tria l
of summons
case. The sen ten ce by the Magistrate
sho uld not exceed
thr ee mo nth s im pri son me nt. A forma
l cha rge need not
be framed for beginning a sum ma ry
trial.

A Magistrate is com pet ent to get

a bo nd executed
by the convicted to kee p the peace.
In Summary trials,
compensation can be awarded.
✓-
D. PARTICULARS TO BE ENTERE
D: (Sec.
ln all su mm ary tri als , the M
en ter the -

1. Se ria l nu mb er o( the
2. The dat e of the co
3. The da te of the
4.
,
5. The nam e, p
I

,.9:',·· Th. e. offence

'¥ ~e o
 238

r11e Ple .a. of the a ccu sed and his exa min atio n .
=· The fin d'n a : the i\l a gist rate .
i ~
J.
,1 rte ~c:en
. tenc e or fina l ord er pas sed by the 1\1a cist rate
t:> •
• u• date of term ina tion o f pro cee din os
, l. The o ·
~
•

JUD Gr.I ENT IN SUl \'llI AR~ TRI AL: (Sec . 264 )
£.
The ~la gis trat e _mu s t _ rec ord the sub stan ce
of
..:jen ce and a jud gm ent con tain ing a brie f
stat eme nt
:~· the rea son s f or his find ing . \Vh en evi den
ce is
~~ nerf ectly reco rde d , the acc use d may go for app
..... .. J. eal or
__,,ta-~ing the evid enc e .
• ¥

The i\1ag istr ate is not bou nd to reco rd _all min

ute
~Jint s of the \\·it nes ses' dep osit ion but only a
gen era l
s".l'Jstanc e of it.

F. LAN GUA GE OF REC OR D AND JUD GM ENT

: (Sec . 265 )
The j udg men t mu st be wri tten in the lang uag
e of
:he Cou r t. The Hig h Cou rt ma y aut hor ise the Mag
istr ate
2....;.d get his jud gem ent reco rde d by
the offi cer of Cou rt.
:iow ever , the jud gem ent mu st be sig ned
~
by the
_l ,,ag1s•
trat e.

1.

fora sum
2.
---~~ Writesho