CrPC 354→BNSS 393

CrPC 354 to BNSS 393: Language and contents of judgment

Section 354 CrPC (1973) replaced by Section 393 BNSS (2023)

View CrPC Section 354 →View BNSS Section 393 →

CrPC 354 to BNSS 393 at a Glance

Section 354 CrPC (Language and contents of judgment) is now Section 393 BNSS, in force from 1 July 2024. What changed is set out below.

What Changed From CrPC 354 to BNSS 393?

Section 354 CrPC is found in Section 393 BNSS from 1 July 2024 under the same heading. Section 393 BNSS has the same sub-sections as Section 354 CrPC. The differences are the word Sanhita for Code, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 for the Indian Penal Code in Section 393(1)(c) BNSS and Section 393(2) BNSS, Section 392 BNSS for Section 353 CrPC in Section 393(1) BNSS, and the renumbered cross-references in Section 393(6) BNSS.

CrPC 354 vs BNSS 393: Comparison Table

AspectCrPC 1973 (repealed)BNSS 2023 (in force)
Section354393
HeadingLanguage and contents of judgmentSame
Sub-sections6 sub-sectionsSame
Cross-referencess.353, s.117, s.125s.392, s.136, s.144

CrPC 354 and BNSS 393: Bare Act Text Side by Side

CrPC 1973 (repealed)

Section 354, CrPC 1973

354. Language and contents of judgment.—(1) Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Code, every judgment referred to in section 353,— (a) shall be written in the language of the Court; (b) shall contain the point or points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision; (c) shall specify the offence (if any) of which, and the section of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) or other law under which, the accused is convicted, and the punishment to which he is sentenced; (d) if it be a judgment of acquittal, shall state the offence of which the accused is acquitted and direct that he be set at liberty. (2) When the conviction is under the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) and it is doubtful under which of two sections, or under which of two parts of the same section, of that Code the offence falls, the Court shall distinctly express the same, and pass judgment in the alternative. (3) When the conviction is for an offence punishable with death or, in the alternative, with imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term of years, the judgment shall state the reasons for the sentence awarded, and, in the case of sentence of death, the special reasons for such sentence. (4) When the conviction is for an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term of one year or more, but the Court imposes a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than three months, it shall record its reasons for awarding such sentence, unless the sentence is one of imprisonment till the rising of the Court or unless the case was tried summarily under the provisions of this Code. (5) When any person is sentenced to death, the sentence shall direct that he be hanged by the neck till he is dead. (6) Every order under section 117 or sub-section (2) of section 138 and every final order made under section 125, section 145 or section 147 shall contain the point or points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision.
BNSS 2023 (in force)

Section 393, BNSS 2023

393. Language and contents of judgment.—(1) Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Sanhita, every judgment referred to in section 392,— (a) shall be written in the language of the Court; (b) shall contain the point or points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision; (c) shall specify the offence (if any) of which, and the section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 or other law under which, the accused is convicted, and the punishment to which he is sentenced; (d) if it be a judgment of acquittal, shall state the offence of which the accused is acquitted and direct that he be set at liberty. (2) When the conviction is under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and it is doubtful under which of two sections, or under which of two parts of the same section, of that Sanhita the offence falls, the Court shall distinctly express the same, and pass judgment in the alternative. (3) When the conviction is for an offence punishable with death or, in the alternative, with imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term of years, the judgment shall state the reasons for the sentence awarded, and, in the case of sentence of death, the special reasons for such sentence. (4) When the conviction is for an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term of one year or more, but the Court imposes a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than three months, it shall record its reasons for awarding such sentence, unless the sentence is one of imprisonment till the rising of the Court or unless the case was tried summarily under the provisions of this Sanhita. (5) When any person is sentenced to death, the sentence shall direct that he be hanged by the neck till he is dead. (6) Every order under section 136 or sub-section (2) of section 157 and every final order made under section 144, section 164 or section 166 shall contain the point or points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision.

When It Applies: CrPC 354 vs BNSS 393

Under CrPC 354
  1. Every judgment referred to in Section 353 CrPC shall be written in the language of the Court and shall contain the point or points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision, except as otherwise expressly provided by the Code, under Section 354(1) CrPC.
  2. A judgment of conviction shall specify the offence, if any, of which the accused is convicted, the section of the Indian Penal Code or other law under which the accused is convicted, and the punishment to which the accused is sentenced, under Section 354(1)(c) CrPC.
  3. A judgment of acquittal shall state the offence of which the accused is acquitted and direct that the accused be set at liberty, under Section 354(1)(d) CrPC.
  4. When the conviction is under the Indian Penal Code and it is doubtful under which of two sections, or under which of two parts of the same section, of that Code the offence falls, the Court shall distinctly express the same and pass judgment in the alternative, under Section 354(2) CrPC.
  5. When the conviction is for an offence punishable with death or, in the alternative, with imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term of years, the judgment shall state the reasons for the sentence awarded, and, in the case of sentence of death, the special reasons for such sentence, under Section 354(3) CrPC.
  6. When any person is sentenced to death, the sentence shall direct that the person be hanged by the neck till he is dead, under Section 354(5) CrPC.
  7. When the conviction is for an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term of one year or more, but the Court imposes a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than three months, the Court shall record its reasons for awarding such sentence, under Section 354(4) CrPC.
  8. Every order under Section 117 CrPC or Section 138(2) CrPC, and every final order made under Section 125 CrPC, Section 145 CrPC or Section 147 CrPC, shall contain the point or points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision, under Section 354(6) CrPC.
Under BNSS 393
  1. Every judgment referred to in Section 392 BNSS shall be written in the language of the Court and shall contain the point or points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision, except as otherwise expressly provided by the Sanhita, under Section 393(1) BNSS.
  2. A judgment of conviction shall specify the offence, if any, of which the accused is convicted, the section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 or other law under which the accused is convicted, and the punishment to which the accused is sentenced, under Section 393(1)(c) BNSS.
  3. A judgment of acquittal shall state the offence of which the accused is acquitted and direct that the accused be set at liberty, under Section 393(1)(d) BNSS.
  4. When the conviction is under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and it is doubtful under which of two sections, or under which of two parts of the same section, of that Sanhita the offence falls, the Court shall distinctly express the same and pass judgment in the alternative, under Section 393(2) BNSS.
  5. When the conviction is for an offence punishable with death or, in the alternative, with imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term of years, the judgment shall state the reasons for the sentence awarded, and, in the case of sentence of death, the special reasons for such sentence, under Section 393(3) BNSS.
  6. When any person is sentenced to death, the sentence shall direct that the person be hanged by the neck till he is dead, under Section 393(5) BNSS.
  7. When the conviction is for an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term of one year or more, but the Court imposes a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than three months, the Court shall record its reasons for awarding such sentence, under Section 393(4) BNSS.
  8. Every order under Section 136 BNSS or Section 157(2) BNSS, and every final order made under Section 144 BNSS, Section 164 BNSS or Section 166 BNSS, shall contain the point or points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision, under Section 393(6) BNSS.

What CrPC 354 to BNSS 393 Means in Practice

From 1 July 2024, the language and contents of a judgment referred to in Section 392 BNSS are found in Section 393 BNSS, which Section 354 CrPC covered for a judgment referred to in Section 353 CrPC. The reasons for a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than three months, which Section 354(4) CrPC required, are found in Section 393(4) BNSS.

FAQs: CrPC 354 to BNSS 393

Is the text of Section 393 BNSS different from Section 354 CrPC?▼

Section 393 BNSS has the same heading as Section 354 CrPC. Its text differs in reading Sanhita for Code, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 for the Indian Penal Code, Section 392 BNSS for Section 353 CrPC, and the renumbered cross-references in Section 393(6) BNSS.

How did the cross-references change from Section 354(6) CrPC to Section 393(6) BNSS?▼

Section 393(6) BNSS refers to Section 136 BNSS and Section 157(2) BNSS where Section 354(6) CrPC referred to Section 117 CrPC and Section 138(2) CrPC. It refers to Section 144 BNSS, Section 164 BNSS and Section 166 BNSS for final orders where Section 354(6) CrPC referred to Section 125 CrPC, Section 145 CrPC and Section 147 CrPC.

Do the sentence of death rules read differently in Section 393 BNSS?▼

Section 393(3) BNSS and Section 393(5) BNSS read the same as Section 354(3) CrPC and Section 354(5) CrPC. They are on the reasons for the sentence awarded, the special reasons for a sentence of death, and the direction that the person be hanged by the neck till he is dead.

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 ·