22 days left — Registration closes 2026-10-31.

CrPC · Chapter XXIII · Evidence in inquiries and trials

CrPC section 286 in the BNSS

CrPC 286BNSS 321

CrPC section 286, “Execution of commissions”, is now BNSS section 321 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in force from 1 July 2024.

What changed

From CrPC 286 to BNSS 321

Now BNSS section 321, with the same rules; references to Metropolitan Magistrates are dropped.

The official text

Old and new, side by side

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 286 Execution of commissions

Upon receipt of the commission, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, or Chief Judicial Magistrate or such Metropolitan or Judicial Magistrate as he may appoint in this behalf, shall summon the witness before him or proceed to the place where the witness is, and shall take down his evidence in the same manner, and may for this purpose exercise the same powers, as in trials or warrant-cases under this Code.

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 321 Execution of commissions

Upon receipt of the commission, the Chief Judicial Magistrate or such Magistrate as he may appoint in this behalf, shall summon the witness before him or proceed to the place where the witness is, and shall take down his evidence in the same manner, and may for this purpose exercise the same powers, as in trials of warrant-cases under this Sanhita.

The texts are India Code’s. The amendment markers and footnotes of the official print are left out, so the old section reads as it stood when it was repealed; State amendments are not shown. The PDFs linked below carry the full history.

Old law or new?

Which one applies to a case

The BNSS repealed the CrPC from 1 July 2024 (section 531(1)). Any appeal, application, trial, inquiry or investigation pending immediately before that date is disposed of under the CrPC as it then stood, as if the BNSS had not come into force (section 531(2)(a)). Anything not pending on that date follows the BNSS.

Sources

Prepare with CLATcoach, free

A free account gives you a full mock, a past paper for every exam, the daily questions, twelve Legal GK headings and a report on where you stand.

Create a free account