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CrPC · Chapter XXV · Provisions as to accused persons of unsound mind

CrPC section 338 in the BNSS

CrPC 338BNSS 377

CrPC section 338, “Procedure where lunatic detained is declared fit to be released”, is now BNSS section 377 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in force from 1 July 2024.

What changed

From CrPC 338 to BNSS 377

Now BNSS section 377, with the same procedure; “lunatic asylum” becomes “public mental health establishment”.

The official text

Old and new, side by side

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 338 Procedure where lunatic detained is declared fit to be released

(1) If such person is detained under the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 330, or section 335, and such Inspector-General or visitors shall certify that, in his or their judgment, he may be released without danger of his doing injury to himself or to any other person, the State Government may thereupon order him to be released, or to be detained in custody, or to be transferred to a public lunatic asylum if he has not been already sent to such an asylum; and, in case it orders him to be transferred to an asylum, may appoint a Commission, consisting of a Judicial and two medical officers.

(2) Such Commission shall make a formal inquiry into the state of mind of such person, take such evidence as is necessary, and shall report to the State Government, which may order his release or detention as it thinks fit.

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 377 Procedure where person of unsound mind detained is declared fit to be released

(1) If a person is detained under the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 369, or section 374, and such Inspector- General or visitors shall certify that, in his or their judgment, he may be released without danger of his doing injury to himself or to any other person, the State Government may thereupon order him to be released, or to be detained in custody, or to be transferred to a public mental health establishment if he has not been already sent to such establishment; and, in case it orders him to be transferred to a public mental health establishment, may appoint a Commission, consisting of a Judicial and two medical officers.

(2) Such Commission shall make a formal inquiry into the state of mind of such person, take such evidence as is necessary, and shall report to the State Government, which may order his release or detention as it thinks fit.

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

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