CrPC 293→BNSS 329

CrPC 293 to BNSS 329: Reports of certain Government scientific experts

Section 293 CrPC (1973) replaced by Section 329 BNSS (2023)

View CrPC Section 293 →View BNSS Section 329 →

CrPC 293 to BNSS 329 at a Glance

Section 293 CrPC (Reports of certain Government scientific experts) is now Section 329 BNSS, in force from 1 July 2024. What changed is set out below.

What Changed From CrPC 293 to BNSS 329?

From 1 July 2024, Section 329 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 replaced Section 293 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, with the same heading. Section 329(1) BNSS reads Sanhita where Section 293(1) CrPC read Code, a rename. Section 329(4)(g) BNSS reads any other scientific expert specified or certified, by notification, by the State Government or the Central Government for this purpose, where Section 293(4)(g) CrPC read any other Government scientific expert specified, by notification, by the Central Government for this purpose. Section 329(2) BNSS, Section 329(3) BNSS and Section 329(4)(a) BNSS to Section 329(4)(f) BNSS are in the same words as Section 293(2) CrPC, Section 293(3) CrPC and Section 293(4)(a) CrPC to Section 293(4)(f) CrPC.

CrPC 293 vs BNSS 329: Comparison Table

AspectCrPC 1973 (repealed)BNSS 2023 (in force)
Section293329
HeadingReports of certain Government scientific expertsSame
Sub-sections4 sub-sectionsSame

CrPC 293 and BNSS 329: Bare Act Text Side by Side

CrPC 1973 (repealed)

Section 293, CrPC 1973

293. Reports of certain Government scientific experts.—(1) Any document purporting to be a report under the hand of a Government scientific expert to whom this section applies, upon any matter or thing duly submitted to him for examination or analysis 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. (2) The Court may, if it thinks fit, summon and examine any such expert as to the subject-matter of his report. (3) Where any such expert is summoned by a Court, and he is unable to attend personally, he may, unless the Court has expressly directed him to appear personally, depute any responsible officer working with him to attend the Court, if such officer is conversant with the facts of the case and can satisfactorily depose in Court on his behalf. (4) This section applies to the following Government scientific experts, namely:— (a) any Chemical Examiner or Assistant Chemical Examiner to Government; (b) the Chief Controller of Explosives; (c) the Director of the Finger Print Bureau; (d) the Director, Haffkeine Institute, Bombay; (e) the Director, Deputy Director or Assistant Director of a Central Forensic Science Laboratory or a State Forensic Science Laboratory; (f) the Serologist to the Government; (g) any other Government scientific expert specified, by notification, by the Central Government for this purpose.
BNSS 2023 (in force)

Section 329, BNSS 2023

329. Reports of certain Government scientific experts.—(1) Any document purporting to be a report under the hand of a Government scientific expert to whom this section applies, upon any matter or thing duly submitted to him for examination or analysis 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. (2) The Court may, if it thinks fit, summon and examine any such expert as to the subject-matter of his report. (3) Where any such expert is summoned by a Court, and he is unable to attend personally, he may, unless the Court has expressly directed him to appear personally, depute any responsible officer working with him to attend the Court, if such officer is conversant with the facts of the case and can satisfactorily depose in Court on his behalf. (4) This section applies to the following Government scientific experts, namely:— (a) any Chemical Examiner or Assistant Chemical Examiner to Government; (b) the Chief Controller of Explosives; (c) the Director of the Finger Print Bureau; (d) the Director, Haffkeine Institute, Bombay; (e) the Director, Deputy Director or Assistant Director of a Central Forensic Science Laboratory or a State Forensic Science Laboratory; (f) the Serologist to the Government; (g) any other scientific expert specified or certified, by notification, by the State Government or the Central Government for this purpose.

When It Applies: CrPC 293 vs BNSS 329

Under CrPC 293
  1. A document purporting to be a report under the hand of a Government scientific expert to whom Section 293 CrPC applies, upon any matter or thing duly submitted for examination or analysis and report in the course of a proceeding under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, may be used as evidence in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under the Code.
  2. Under Section 293(2) CrPC, the Court may, if it thinks fit, summon and examine the Government scientific expert as to the subject-matter of the expert's report.
  3. Under Section 293(3) CrPC, a summoned expert who is unable to attend personally may depute a responsible officer working with the expert to attend the Court, unless the Court has expressly directed the expert to appear personally.
  4. The responsible officer deputed under Section 293(3) CrPC must be conversant with the facts of the case and able to satisfactorily depose in Court on behalf of the summoned expert.
  5. Section 293(4) CrPC names the Government scientific experts to whom Section 293 CrPC applies, being those in Section 293(4)(a) CrPC to Section 293(4)(f) CrPC and any other Government scientific expert specified, by notification, by the Central Government for this purpose under Section 293(4)(g) CrPC.
Under BNSS 329
  1. A document purporting to be a report under the hand of a Government scientific expert to whom Section 329 BNSS applies, upon any matter or thing duly submitted for examination or analysis and report in the course of a proceeding under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, may be used as evidence in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under the Sanhita.
  2. Under Section 329(2) BNSS, the Court may, if it thinks fit, summon and examine the Government scientific expert as to the subject-matter of the expert's report.
  3. Under Section 329(3) BNSS, a summoned expert who is unable to attend personally may depute a responsible officer working with the expert to attend the Court, unless the Court has expressly directed the expert to appear personally.
  4. The responsible officer deputed under Section 329(3) BNSS must be conversant with the facts of the case and able to satisfactorily depose in Court on behalf of the summoned expert.
  5. Section 329(4) BNSS names the Government scientific experts to whom Section 329 BNSS applies, being those in Section 329(4)(a) BNSS to Section 329(4)(f) BNSS and any other scientific expert specified or certified, by notification, by the State Government or the Central Government for this purpose under Section 329(4)(g) BNSS.

What CrPC 293 to BNSS 329 Means in Practice

From 1 July 2024, the provision on reports of Government scientific experts is Section 329 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 in place of Section 293 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Section 329(4)(g) BNSS names any other scientific expert specified or certified, by notification, by the State Government or the Central Government for this purpose.

FAQs: CrPC 293 to BNSS 329

Which sub-sections of Section 293 CrPC are in the same words in Section 329 BNSS?▼

Section 329(2) BNSS and Section 329(3) BNSS are in the same words as Section 293(2) CrPC and Section 293(3) CrPC. Section 329(4)(a) BNSS to Section 329(4)(f) BNSS are in the same words as Section 293(4)(a) CrPC to Section 293(4)(f) CrPC. Section 329(1) BNSS reads Sanhita where Section 293(1) CrPC read Code.

How does Section 329(4)(g) BNSS differ from Section 293(4)(g) CrPC?▼

Section 293(4)(g) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 read any other Government scientific expert specified, by notification, by the Central Government for this purpose. Section 329(4)(g) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 reads any other scientific expert specified or certified, by notification, by the State Government or the Central Government for this purpose.

Where is each sub-section of Section 293 CrPC found in Section 329 BNSS?▼

Section 293(1) CrPC is found in Section 329(1) BNSS, Section 293(2) CrPC in Section 329(2) BNSS, Section 293(3) CrPC in Section 329(3) BNSS and Section 293(4) CrPC in Section 329(4) BNSS, from 1 July 2024.

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: 21 Oct 2026 ·