Section 243 BNSS: Trial for more than one offence (Formerly Section 220 CrPC)

Section 243 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023: Trial for more than one offence

Official Bare Act Text

Override / Mandate Mens Rea (Intent) Actus Reus (Conduct) Punishment Limitation Monetary

(1) If, in one series of acts so connected together as to form the same transaction, more offences than one are committed by the same person, he may be charged with, and tried at one trial for, every such offence.

(2) When a person charged with one or more offences of criminal breach of trust or dishonest misappropriation of property as provided in sub-section (2) of section 235 or in sub-section (1) of section 242, is accused of committing, for the purpose of facilitating or concealing the commission of that offence or those offences, one or more offences of falsification of accounts, he may be charged with, and tried at one trial for, every such offence.

(3) If the acts alleged constitute an offence falling within two or more separate definitions of any law in force for the time being by which offences are defined or punished, the person accused of them may be charged with, and tried at one trial for, each of such offences.

(4) If several acts, of which one or more than one would by itself or themselves constitute an offence, constitute when combined a different offence, the person accused of them may be charged with, and tried at one trial for the offence constituted by such acts when combined, and for any offence constituted by any one, or more, of such acts.

(5) Nothing contained in this section shall affect section 9 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Illustrations

to sub-section (1)

(a) A rescues B, a person in lawful custody, and in so doing causes grievous hurt to C, a constable in whose custody B was. A may be charged with, and convicted of, offences under sub-section (2) of section 121 and section 263 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

(b) A commits house-breaking by day with intent to commit rape, and commits, in the house so entered, rape with B's wife. A may be separately charged with, and convicted of, offences under section 64 and sub-section (3) of section 331 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

(c) A has in his possession several seals, knowing them to be counterfeit and intending to use them for the purpose of committing several forgeries punishable under section 337 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. A may be separately charged with, and convicted of, the possession of each seal under sub-section (2) of section 341 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

(d) With intent to cause injury to B, A institutes a criminal proceeding against him, knowing that there is no just or lawful ground for such proceeding, and also falsely accuses B of having committed an offence, knowing that there is no just or lawful ground for such charge. A may be separately charged with, and convicted of, two offences under section 248 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

(e) A, with intent to cause injury to B, falsely accuses him of having committed an offence, knowing that there is no just or lawful ground for such charge. On the trial, A gives false evidence against B, intending thereby to cause B to be convicted of a capital offence. A may be separately charged with, and convicted of, offences under sections 230 and 248 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

(f) A, with six others, commits the offences of rioting, grievous hurt and assaulting a public servant endeavouring in the discharge of his duty as such to suppress the riot. A may be separately charged with, and convicted of, offences under sub-section (2) of section 117, sub-section (2) of section 191 and section 195 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

(g) A threatens B, C and D at the same time with injury to their persons with intent to cause alarm to them. A may be separately charged with, and convicted of, each of the three offences under sub-sections (2) and (3) of section 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The separate charges referred to in illustrations (a) to (h), respectively, may be tried at the same time. Illustrations to sub-section (3)

(i) A wrongfully strikes B with a cane. A may be separately charged with, and convicted of, offences under sub-section (2) of section 115 and section 131 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

(j) Several stolen sacks of corn are made over to A and B, who knew they are stolen property, for the purpose of concealing them. A and B thereupon voluntarily assist each other to conceal the sacks at the bottom of a grain-pit. A and B may be separately charged with, and convicted of, offences under sub-sections (2) and (5) of section 317 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

(k) A exposes her child with the knowledge that she is thereby likely to cause its death. The child dies in consequence of such exposure. A may be separately charged with, and convicted of, offences under sections 93 and 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

(l) A dishonestly uses a forged document as genuine evidence, in order to convict B, a public servant, of an offence under section 201 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. A may be separately charged with, and convicted of, offences under section 233 and sub-section (2) of section 340 (read with section 337) of that Sanhita. Illustration to sub-section (4)

(m) A commits robbery on B, and in doing so voluntarily causes hurt to him. A may be separately charged with, and convicted of, offences under sub-section (2) of section 115 and sub-sections (2) and (4) of section 309 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 243

Section 243 regulates the trial for more than one offence, providing that if in one series of acts so connected together as to form the same transaction, more offences than one are committed by the same person, they may be charged with and tried at one trial for every such offence (replacing Section 220 CrPC).

Same Transaction Test: A series of acts connected by proximity of time, unity of place, unity of purpose, and continuity of action.
Multiple Offences Committed: Committed in the course of that single transaction (e.g., house-breaking, robbery, grievous hurt, and arson).
Comprehensive Single Trial: All offences may be charged and tried together in a single consolidated proceeding.

Key Landmark Precedents:

State of A.P. v. Cheemalapati Ganeswara Rao AIR 1963 SC 1850: The Supreme Court settled that 'same transaction' implies continuity of action and community of purpose; whether acts form the same transaction is a question of fact depending on proximity and intent.
Nasib Singh v. State of Punjab (2022) 2 SCC 89: The Supreme Court affirmed that trying all offences arising out of a single continuous criminal episode together prevents contradictory findings and judicial fragmentation.
Purushottamdas Dalmia v. State of West Bengal AIR 1961 SC 1589: Held that conspiracy and the substantive offences committed in pursuance thereof form part of the same transaction.

Courtroom Practice & Strategic Litigation Guidance:

Invoke the 'same transaction' test under *Cheemalapati Ganeswara Rao*: If an altercation begins on a road, continues into a house, and ends in vehicle damage, all offences (Sections 115, 333, 324 BNS) arise from one transaction and should be tried together under Section 243.