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Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 251. Substance of accusation to be stated

When in a summons-case the accused appears or is brought before the Magistrate, the particulars of the offence of which he is accused shall be stated to him, and he shall be asked whether he pleads guilty or has any defence to make, but it shall not be necessary to frame a formal charge.

Source: IndiaCode Portal, Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. Text: IndiaCode Portal (Chandigarh copy). Open on India Code Check against the official text before relying on it.

Replaced by

The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Section 274. Substance of accusation to be stated.
When in a summons-case the accused appears or is brought before the Magistrate, the particulars of the offence of which he is accused shall be stated to him, and he shall be asked whether he pleads guilty or has any defence to make, but it shall not be necessary to frame a formal charge: Provided that if the Magistrate considers the accusation as groundless, he shall, after recording reasons in writing, release the accused and such release shall have the effect of discharge.

Pair from: BPR&D correspondence tables (bprd.mha.gov.in; A. K. Yadav, CAPT Bhopal)

Cases citing this section

Cited in 1076 documents

Source: Order and office-report PDFs whose text cites the section, read by rule (document_citations); each case through its orders and office reports that carry the PDF

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