CrPC 470→BNSS 516

CrPC 470 to BNSS 516: Exclusion of time in certain cases

Section 470 CrPC (1973) replaced by Section 516 BNSS (2023)

View CrPC Section 470 →View BNSS Section 516 →

CrPC 470 to BNSS 516 at a Glance

Section 470 CrPC (Exclusion of time in certain cases) is now Section 516 BNSS, in force from 1 July 2024. What changed is set out below.

What Changed From CrPC 470 to BNSS 516?

Section 470 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 is found from 1 July 2024 as Section 516 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, with the same heading and the same text. Section 516(1) BNSS, Section 516(2) BNSS, Section 516(3) BNSS and Section 516(4) BNSS are Section 470(1) CrPC, Section 470(2) CrPC, Section 470(3) CrPC and Section 470(4) CrPC. The text contains no cross-reference to another section, so none is renumbered.

CrPC 470 vs BNSS 516: Comparison Table

AspectCrPC 1973 (repealed)BNSS 2023 (in force)
Section470516
HeadingExclusion of time in certain casesSame
Sub-sections4 sub-sectionsSame

CrPC 470 and BNSS 516: Bare Act Text Side by Side

CrPC 1973 (repealed)

Section 470, CrPC 1973

470. Exclusion of time in certain cases.—(1) In computing the period of limitation, the time during which any person has been prosecuting with due diligence another prosecution, whether in a Court of first instance or in a Court of appeal or revision, against the offender, shall be excluded: Provided that no such exclusion shall be made unless the prosecution relates to the same facts and is prosecuted in good faith in a Court which from defect of jurisdiction or other cause of a like nature, is unable to entertain it. (2) Where the institution of the prosecution in respect of an offence has been stayed by an injunction or order, then, in computing the period of limitation, the period of the continuance of the injunction or order, the day on which it was issued or made, and the day on which it was withdrawn, shall be excluded. (3) Where notice of prosecution for an offence has been given, or where, under any law for the time being in force, the previous consent or sanction of the Government or any other authority is required for the institution of any prosecution for an offence, then, in computing the period of limitation, the period of such notice or, as the case may be, the time required for obtaining such consent or sanction shall be excluded. Explanation.—In computing the time required for obtaining the consent or sanction of the Government or any other authority, the date on which the application was made for obtaining the consent or sanction and the date of receipt of the order of the Government or other authority shall both be excluded. (4) In computing the period of limitation, the time during which the offender— (a) has been absent from India or from any territory outside India which is under the administration of the Central Government, or (b) has avoided arrest by absconding or concealing himself, shall be excluded.
BNSS 2023 (in force)

Section 516, BNSS 2023

516. Exclusion of time in certain cases.—(1) In computing the period of limitation, the time during which any person has been prosecuting with due diligence another prosecution, whether in a Court of first instance or in a Court of appeal or revision, against the offender, shall be excluded: Provided that no such exclusion shall be made unless the prosecution relates to the same facts and is prosecuted in good faith in a Court which from defect of jurisdiction or other cause of a like nature, is unable to entertain it. (2) Where the institution of the prosecution in respect of an offence has been stayed by an injunction or order, then, in computing the period of limitation, the period of the continuance of the injunction or order, the day on which it was issued or made, and the day on which it was withdrawn, shall be excluded. (3) Where notice of prosecution for an offence has been given, or where, under any law for the time being in force, the previous consent or sanction of the Government or any other authority is required for the institution of any prosecution for an offence, then, in computing the period of limitation, the period of such notice or, as the case may be, the time required for obtaining such consent or sanction shall be excluded. Explanation.—In computing the time required for obtaining the consent or sanction of the Government or any other authority, the date on which the application was made for obtaining the consent or sanction and the date of receipt of the order of the Government or other authority shall both be excluded. (4) In computing the period of limitation, the time during which the offender— (a) has been absent from India or from any territory outside India which is under the administration of the Central Government; or (b) has avoided arrest by absconding or concealing himself, shall be excluded.

When It Applies: CrPC 470 vs BNSS 516

Under CrPC 470
  1. Section 470(1) CrPC states that in computing the period of limitation, the time during which any person has been prosecuting with due diligence another prosecution, whether in a Court of first instance or in a Court of appeal or revision, against the offender, shall be excluded.
  2. The proviso to Section 470(1) CrPC states that no such exclusion shall be made unless the prosecution relates to the same facts and is prosecuted in good faith in a Court which from defect of jurisdiction or other cause of a like nature, is unable to entertain it.
  3. Section 470(2) CrPC applies where the institution of the prosecution in respect of an offence has been stayed by an injunction or order.
  4. Section 470(3) CrPC applies where notice of prosecution for an offence has been given, or where, under any law for the time being in force, the previous consent or sanction of the Government or any other authority is required for the institution of any prosecution for an offence.
  5. Section 470(4)(a) CrPC applies to the time during which the offender has been absent from India or from any territory outside India which is under the administration of the Central Government.
  6. Section 470(4)(b) CrPC applies to the time during which the offender has avoided arrest by absconding or concealing himself.
Under BNSS 516
  1. Section 516(1) BNSS states that in computing the period of limitation, the time during which any person has been prosecuting with due diligence another prosecution, whether in a Court of first instance or in a Court of appeal or revision, against the offender, shall be excluded.
  2. The proviso to Section 516(1) BNSS states that no such exclusion shall be made unless the prosecution relates to the same facts and is prosecuted in good faith in a Court which from defect of jurisdiction or other cause of a like nature, is unable to entertain it.
  3. Section 516(2) BNSS applies where the institution of the prosecution in respect of an offence has been stayed by an injunction or order.
  4. Section 516(3) BNSS applies where notice of prosecution for an offence has been given, or where, under any law for the time being in force, the previous consent or sanction of the Government or any other authority is required for the institution of any prosecution for an offence.
  5. Section 516(4)(a) BNSS applies to the time during which the offender has been absent from India or from any territory outside India which is under the administration of the Central Government.
  6. Section 516(4)(b) BNSS applies to the time during which the offender has avoided arrest by absconding or concealing himself.

What CrPC 470 to BNSS 516 Means in Practice

A reader applying Section 516 BNSS finds the same words on the time excluded in computing the period of limitation as in Section 470 CrPC.

FAQs: CrPC 470 to BNSS 516

Which BNSS section carries Section 470 CrPC from 1 July 2024?▼

From 1 July 2024, Section 470(1) CrPC with its proviso is found in Section 516(1) BNSS with its proviso, Section 470(2) CrPC in Section 516(2) BNSS, Section 470(3) CrPC with its Explanation in Section 516(3) BNSS with its Explanation, and Section 470(4) CrPC in Section 516(4) BNSS. Section 516 BNSS is headed Exclusion of time in certain cases.

Is the text of Section 516 BNSS the same as Section 470 CrPC?▼

Section 516 BNSS has the same heading and the same text as Section 470 CrPC. Section 516(1) BNSS with its proviso is Section 470(1) CrPC with its proviso, Section 516(2) BNSS is Section 470(2) CrPC, Section 516(3) BNSS with its Explanation is Section 470(3) CrPC with its Explanation, and Section 516(4) BNSS is Section 470(4) CrPC.

Does Section 516 BNSS renumber any cross-reference?▼

Section 470 CrPC contains no cross-reference to another section, so Section 516 BNSS has none to renumber.

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 ·