What was BNSS 348 in the CrPC?

BNSS 348: earlier CrPC 311

Section 348 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 replaces Section 311 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. BNSS 348 deals with power to summon material witness, or examine person present. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita came into force on 1 July 2024. Both texts are set out below, side by side, with the changed words marked.

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita

BNSS 348 was CrPC 311.

Power to summon material witness, or examine person present.

Carried over

96% of the old wording kept

Old · CrPC 1973 · Ch. XXIV

s. 311

Power to summon material witness, or examine person present

Any Court may, at any stage of any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this Code, summon any person as a witness, or examine any person in attendance, though not summoned as a witness, or recall and re-examine any person already examined; and the Court shall summon and examine or recall and re-examine any such person if his evidence appears to it to be essential to the just decision of the case.

Text from the official India Code PDF

New · BNSS 2023 · Ch. XXVI

s. 348

Power to summon material witness, or examine person present.

Any Court may, at any stage of any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this Sanhita, summon any person as a witness, or examine any person in attendance, though not summoned as a witness, or re-call and re-examine any person already examined; and the Court shall summon and examine or re-call and re-examine any such person if his evidence appears to it to be essential to the just decision of the case.

Text from India Code