Section 197 BNSS: Ordinary place of inquiry and trial

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 197 BNSS at a Glance

Section 197 BNSS deals with ordinary place of inquiry and trial. It replaced Section 177 CrPC on 1 July 2024.

Was CrPC

Section 177 →

Section 197 BNSS Bare Act Text

197. Ordinary place of inquiry and trial

Every offence shall ordinarily be inquired into and tried by a Court within whose local jurisdiction it was committed.

Source: Section 197, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 197 BNSS in Simple Words

Section 197 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 says that every offence shall ordinarily be inquired into and tried by a Court within whose local jurisdiction it was committed.

When Section 197 BNSS Applies

  • The Court within whose local jurisdiction the offence was committed is the Court by which the offence shall ordinarily be inquired into and tried.
  • Section 197 BNSS speaks of every offence, and of both the inquiry and the trial.

Example of Section 197 BNSS

Anita commits an offence within the local jurisdiction of a Court in Pune. Anita lives in Nagpur. Under Section 197 BNSS the offence shall ordinarily be inquired into and tried by the Court in Pune, because it was committed within the local jurisdiction of that Court.

When Section 197 BNSS Does Not Apply

  • Section 197 BNSS speaks of the Court within whose local jurisdiction the offence was committed. It does not deal with the place where the person accused lives.
  • Section 197 BNSS speaks of a Court within whose local jurisdiction the offence was committed. It does not deal with an offence committed partly in one local area and partly in another, which Section 198 BNSS deals with.

Section 197 BNSS in the CrPC (Previous Law)

Section 197 BNSS replaces Section 177 CrPC from the old criminal code.

Section 177 CrPC is found in Section 197 BNSS from 1 July 2024. Both have the same heading and the same text. The text has no cross-reference to another section.

View CrPC Section 177 →

FAQs on Section 197 BNSS

Which Court shall ordinarily inquire into and try an offence under Section 197 BNSS?▼

A Court within whose local jurisdiction the offence was committed.

Does Section 197 BNSS speak of both inquiry and trial?▼

Yes. Section 197 BNSS says every offence shall ordinarily be inquired into and tried by a Court within whose local jurisdiction it was committed.

Which offences does Section 197 BNSS cover?▼

Section 197 BNSS begins with the words every offence.

What changed from Section 177 CrPC to Section 197 BNSS from 1 July 2024?▼

Section 197 BNSS has the same heading and the same text as Section 177 CrPC. The text has no cross-reference to another section.

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Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 20 Oct 2026 ·