CrPC 292→BNSS 328

CrPC 292 to BNSS 328: Evidence of officers of the Mint

Section 292 CrPC (1973) replaced by Section 328 BNSS (2023)

View CrPC Section 292 →View BNSS Section 328 →

CrPC 292 to BNSS 328 at a Glance

Section 292 CrPC (Evidence of officers of the Mint) is now Section 328 BNSS, in force from 1 July 2024. What changed is set out below.

What Changed From CrPC 292 to BNSS 328?

From 1 July 2024, Section 328 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 replaced Section 292 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Section 328(1) BNSS reads a gazetted officer of any Mint where Section 292(1) CrPC read any such officer of any Mint, and reads this Sanhita where Section 292(1) CrPC read this Code. Section 328(3) BNSS refers to sections 129 and 130 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 where Section 292(3) CrPC referred to sections 123 and 124 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. Section 328(1) BNSS and Section 328(3) BNSS do not contain the words as the case may be that Section 292(1) CrPC and Section 292(3) CrPC contain. Section 328(2) BNSS has the same text as Section 292(2) CrPC.

CrPC 292 vs BNSS 328: Comparison Table

AspectCrPC 1973 (repealed)BNSS 2023 (in force)
Section292328
HeadingEvidence of officers of the MintEvidence of officers of Mint
Sub-sections3 sub-sectionsSame

CrPC 292 and BNSS 328: Bare Act Text Side by Side

CrPC 1973 (repealed)

Section 292, CrPC 1973

292. Evidence of officers of the Mint.—(1) Any document purporting to be a report under the hand of any such officer of any Mint or of any Note Printing Press or of any Security Printing Press (including the officer of the Controller of Stamps and Stationery) or of any Forensic Department or Division of Forensic Science Laboratory or any Government Examiner of Questioned Documents or any State Examiner of Questioned Documents, as the case may be, as the Central Government may, by notification, specify in this behalf, upon any matter or thing duly submitted to him for examination and report in the course of any proceeding under this Code, may be used as evidence in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this Code, although such officer is not called as a witness. (2) The Court may, if it thinks fit, summon and examine any such officer as to the subject-matter of his report: Provided that no such officer shall be summoned to produce any records on which the report is based. (3) Without prejudice to the provisions of sections 123 and 124 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872), no such officer shall, except with the permission of the General Manager or any officer in charge of any Mint or of any Note Printing Press or of any Security Printing Press or of any Forensic Department or any officer in charge of the Forensic Science Laboratory or of the Government Examiner of Questioned Documents Organisation or of the State Examiner of Questioned Documents Organisation, as the case may be, be permitted— (a) to give any evidence derived from any unpublished official records on which the report is based; or (b) to disclose the nature or particulars of any test applied by him in the course of the examination of the matter or thing.
BNSS 2023 (in force)

Section 328, BNSS 2023

328. Evidence of officers of Mint.—(1) Any document purporting to be a report under the hand of a gazetted officer of any Mint or of any Note Printing Press or of any Security Printing Press (including the officer of the Controller of Stamps and Stationery) or of any Forensic Department or Division of Forensic Science Laboratory or any Government Examiner of Questioned Documents or any State Examiner of Questioned Documents as the Central Government may, by notification, specify in this behalf, upon any matter or thing duly submitted to him for examination and report in the course of any proceeding under this Sanhita, may be used as evidence in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this Sanhita, although such officer is not called as a witness. (2) The Court may, if it thinks fit, summon and examine any such officer as to the subject-matter of his report: Provided that no such officer shall be summoned to produce any records on which the report is based. (3) Without prejudice to the provisions of sections 129 and 130 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, no such officer shall, except with the permission of the General Manager or any officer in charge of any Mint or of any Note Printing Press or of any Security Printing Press or of any Forensic Department or any officer in charge of the Forensic Science Laboratory or of the Government Examiner of Questioned Documents Organisation or of the State Examiner of Questioned Documents Organisation be permitted— (a) to give any evidence derived from any unpublished official records on which the report is based; or (b) to disclose the nature or particulars of any test applied by him in the course of the examination of the matter or thing.

When It Applies: CrPC 292 vs BNSS 328

Under CrPC 292
  1. Under Section 292(1) CrPC, any document purporting to be a report under the hand of any such officer of any Mint, any Note Printing Press, any Security Printing Press, including the officer of the Controller of Stamps and Stationery, any Forensic Department or Division of Forensic Science Laboratory, any Government Examiner of Questioned Documents or any State Examiner of Questioned Documents, as the case may be, as the Central Government may, by notification, specify in this behalf.
  2. Under Section 292(1) CrPC, the report, upon any matter or thing duly submitted to the officer for examination and report in the course of any proceeding under the Code, may be used as evidence in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under the Code, although such officer is not called as a witness.
  3. Under Section 292(2) CrPC, the Court may, if it thinks fit, summon and examine any such officer as to the subject-matter of the report.
  4. The proviso to Section 292(2) CrPC says no such officer shall be summoned to produce any records on which the report is based.
  5. Under Section 292(3) CrPC, without prejudice to sections 123 and 124 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, no such officer shall, except with the permission of the General Manager or any officer in charge named in Section 292(3) CrPC, be permitted to give the evidence or make the disclosure described in Section 292(3)(a) CrPC and Section 292(3)(b) CrPC.
  6. Under Section 292(3)(a) CrPC, the evidence is any evidence derived from any unpublished official records on which the report is based.
  7. Under Section 292(3)(b) CrPC, the disclosure is the nature or particulars of any test applied by the officer in the course of the examination of the matter or thing.
Under BNSS 328
  1. Under Section 328(1) BNSS, any document purporting to be a report under the hand of a gazetted officer of any Mint, any Note Printing Press, any Security Printing Press, including the officer of the Controller of Stamps and Stationery, any Forensic Department or Division of Forensic Science Laboratory, any Government Examiner of Questioned Documents or any State Examiner of Questioned Documents as the Central Government may, by notification, specify in this behalf.
  2. Under Section 328(1) BNSS, the report, upon any matter or thing duly submitted to the officer for examination and report in the course of any proceeding under the Sanhita, may be used as evidence in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under the Sanhita, although such officer is not called as a witness.
  3. Under Section 328(2) BNSS, the Court may, if it thinks fit, summon and examine any such officer as to the subject-matter of the report.
  4. The proviso to Section 328(2) BNSS says no such officer shall be summoned to produce any records on which the report is based.
  5. Under Section 328(3) BNSS, without prejudice to sections 129 and 130 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, no such officer shall, except with the permission of the General Manager or any officer in charge named in Section 328(3) BNSS, be permitted to give the evidence or make the disclosure described in Section 328(3)(a) BNSS and Section 328(3)(b) BNSS.
  6. Under Section 328(3)(a) BNSS, the evidence is any evidence derived from any unpublished official records on which the report is based.
  7. Under Section 328(3)(b) BNSS, the disclosure is the nature or particulars of any test applied by the officer in the course of the examination of the matter or thing.

What CrPC 292 to BNSS 328 Means in Practice

Under Section 328(1) BNSS, a document purporting to be a report under the hand of a gazetted officer of any Mint or of any other body named in Section 328(1) BNSS may be used as evidence in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under the Sanhita, although such officer is not called as a witness. Section 292(1) CrPC named any such officer of any Mint.

FAQs: CrPC 292 to BNSS 328

Which BNSS section replaced Section 292 CrPC from 1 July 2024?▼

From 1 July 2024, Section 328 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 replaced Section 292 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

Which officer does Section 328(1) BNSS name for a Mint?▼

Section 328(1) BNSS names a gazetted officer of any Mint. Section 292(1) CrPC named any such officer of any Mint.

Which Act does Section 328(3) BNSS name for the sections it applies without prejudice to?▼

Section 328(3) BNSS names sections 129 and 130 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023. Section 292(3) CrPC named sections 123 and 124 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.

Disclaimer: This comparison is for informational purposes only. The new criminal laws came into effect on 1 July 2024. Consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 26 Oct 2026 ·