CrPC 468→BNSS 514

CrPC 468 to BNSS 514: Bar to taking cognizance after lapse of the period of limitation

Section 468 CrPC (1973) replaced by Section 514 BNSS (2023)

View CrPC Section 468 →View BNSS Section 514 →

CrPC 468 to BNSS 514 at a Glance

Section 468 CrPC (Bar to taking cognizance after lapse of the period of limitation) is now Section 514 BNSS, in force from 1 July 2024. What changed is set out below.

What Changed From CrPC 468 to BNSS 514?

From 1 July 2024, Section 468 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 is found in Section 514 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The renumbering and the wording update in Section 514(1) BNSS omitting elsewhere and replacing reference to the Code with the Sanhita are changes of form. The rules in Section 514(2) BNSS and Section 514(3) BNSS are unchanged. Section 514 BNSS adds a new Explanation with no source in Section 468 CrPC, fixing the relevant date for computing limitation as the date of filing a complaint under Section 223 BNSS or recording information under Section 173 BNSS.

CrPC 468 vs BNSS 514: Comparison Table

AspectCrPC 1973 (repealed)BNSS 2023 (in force)
Section468514
HeadingBar to taking cognizance after lapse of the period of limitationBar to taking cognizance after lapse of period of limitation
Sub-sections3 sub-sectionsSame

CrPC 468 and BNSS 514: Bare Act Text Side by Side

CrPC 1973 (repealed)

Section 468, CrPC 1973

468. Bar to taking cognizance after lapse of the period of limitation.—(1) Except as otherwise provided elsewhere in this Code, no Court shall take cognizance of an offence of the category specified in sub-section (2), after the expiry of the period of limitation. (2) The period of limitation shall be— (a) six months, if the offence is punishable with fine only; (b) one year, if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year; (c) three years, if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term exceeding one year but not exceeding three years. (3) For the purposes of this section, the period of limitation, in relation to offences which may be tried together, shall be determined with reference to the offence which is punishable with the more severe punishment or, as the case may be, the most severe punishment.
BNSS 2023 (in force)

Section 514, BNSS 2023

514. Bar to taking cognizance after lapse of period of limitation.—(1) Except as otherwise provided in this Sanhita, no Court shall take cognizance of an offence of the category specified in sub-section (2), after the expiry of the period of limitation. (2) The period of limitation shall be— (a) six months, if the offence is punishable with fine only; (b) one year, if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year; (c) three years, if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term exceeding one year but not exceeding three years. (3) For the purposes of this section, the period of limitation, in relation to offences which may be tried together, shall be determined with reference to the offence which is punishable with the more severe punishment or, as the case may be, the most severe punishment. Explanation.—For the purpose of computing the period of limitation, the relevant date shall be the date of filing complaint under section 223 or the date of recording of information under section 173.

When It Applies: CrPC 468 vs BNSS 514

Under CrPC 468
  1. A court shall not take cognizance of an offence belonging to a category in Section 468(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 once the period of limitation has expired.
  2. The bar in Section 468(1) CrPC applies except as otherwise provided elsewhere in the Code.
  3. The limitation bar in Section 468 CrPC applies only where the offence is punishable with fine only, with imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or with imprisonment for a term exceeding one year but not exceeding three years.
  4. Where multiple offences may be tried together, the court shall determine the period of limitation under Section 468(3) CrPC by reference to the offence punishable with the more severe punishment or the most severe punishment.
Under BNSS 514
  1. A court shall not take cognizance of an offence belonging to a category in Section 514(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 after the period of limitation has expired.
  2. The bar against taking cognizance in Section 514(1) BNSS applies except where another provision in the Sanhita provides otherwise.
  3. The limitation periods in Section 514(2) BNSS apply where the offence is punishable with fine only, with imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or with imprisonment for a term exceeding one year but not exceeding three years.
  4. Where offences may be tried together, the court shall determine the period of limitation under Section 514(3) BNSS with reference to the offence punishable with the more severe punishment or the most severe punishment.
  5. When computing the period of limitation under the Explanation to Section 514 BNSS, the relevant date shall be the date of filing a complaint under Section 223 BNSS or the date of recording information under Section 173 BNSS.

Time Limits: CrPC 468 to BNSS 514

Under CrPC 468
  • A period of limitation of six months under Section 468(2)(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 limits when a court may take cognizance of an offence punishable with fine only.Act text: “six months, if the offence is punishable with fine only”
  • A period of limitation of one year under Section 468(2)(b) CrPC limits when a court may take cognizance of an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year.Act text: “one year, if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year”
  • A period of limitation of three years under Section 468(2)(c) CrPC limits when a court may take cognizance of an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term exceeding one year but not exceeding three years.Act text: “three years, if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term exceeding one year but not exceeding three years”
Under BNSS 514
  • A period of limitation of six months under Section 514(2)(a) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 limits when a court may take cognizance of an offence punishable with fine only.Act text: “six months, if the offence is punishable with fine only”
  • A period of limitation of one year under Section 514(2)(b) BNSS limits when a court may take cognizance of an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year.Act text: “one year, if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year”
  • A period of limitation of three years under Section 514(2)(c) BNSS limits when a court may take cognizance of an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term exceeding one year but not exceeding three years.Act text: “three years, if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term exceeding one year but not exceeding three years”

What CrPC 468 to BNSS 514 Means in Practice

Under Section 514 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the limitation periods of six months, one year, and three years, as well as the rule for offences tried together, remain the same as under Section 468 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. However, the new Explanation to Section 514 BNSS expressly fixes the relevant date for computing the period of limitation as the date of filing a complaint under Section 223 BNSS or the date of recording of information under Section 173 BNSS.

FAQs: CrPC 468 to BNSS 514

Did Section 514 BNSS change the limitation periods that existed under Section 468 CrPC?▼

No, the periods of limitation in Section 514(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 are unchanged from Section 468(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Under both provisions, the period of limitation is six months for an offence punishable with fine only, one year for an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, and three years for an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term exceeding one year but not exceeding three years.

What new provision was added to Section 514 BNSS that was not in Section 468 CrPC?▼

Section 514 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 adds a new Explanation after Section 514(3) BNSS that had no corresponding text in Section 468 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Under this Explanation, for the purpose of computing the period of limitation, the relevant date shall be the date of filing a complaint under Section 223 BNSS or the date of recording of information under Section 173 BNSS.

Did the rule for computing limitation when offences are tried together change between Section 468(3) CrPC and Section 514(3) BNSS?▼

No, the rule in Section 514(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 is unchanged from Section 468(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Under both provisions, the period of limitation in relation to offences which may be tried together shall be determined with reference to the offence which is punishable with the more severe punishment, or as the case may be, the most severe punishment.

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: 22 Oct 2026 ·