Section 203 BNSS: Offence committed on journey or voyage
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Section 203 BNSS at a Glance
Section 203 BNSS deals with offence committed on journey or voyage. It replaced Section 183 CrPC on 1 July 2024.
Section 203 BNSS Bare Act Text
203. Offence committed on journey or voyage
When an offence is committed whilst the person by or against whom, or the thing in respect of which, the offence is committed is in the course of performing a journey or voyage, the offence may be inquired into or tried by a Court through or into whose local jurisdiction that person or thing passed in the course of that journey or voyage.
Source: Section 203, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Section 203 BNSS in Simple Words
Section 203 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 covers an offence committed during a journey or voyage.
It applies when the offence is committed by or against a person, or in respect of a thing, while that person or thing is in the course of a journey or voyage.
A Court may inquire into or try the offence if that person or thing passed through or into the local jurisdiction of that Court in the course of that journey or voyage.
When Section 203 BNSS Applies
- Section 203 BNSS applies when an offence is committed whilst the person by or against whom, or the thing in respect of which, the offence is committed is in the course of performing a journey or voyage.
- The offence may be inquired into or tried by a Court through or into whose local jurisdiction that person or thing passed in the course of that journey or voyage.
Example of Section 203 BNSS
When Section 203 BNSS Does Not Apply
- Section 203 BNSS speaks of a person or thing in the course of performing a journey or voyage. It does not deal with an act that is an offence by reason of anything which has been done and of a consequence which has ensued, which Section 199 BNSS deals with.
- Section 203 BNSS speaks of a Court through or into whose local jurisdiction that person or thing passed. It does not deal with the question that arises when Courts have taken cognizance of the same offence and ask which of them ought to inquire into or try it, which Section 206 BNSS deals with.
Section 203 BNSS in the CrPC (Previous Law)
Section 203 BNSS replaces Section 183 CrPC from the old criminal code.
Section 183 CrPC is found in Section 203 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 183 →FAQs on Section 203 BNSS
Which Court may inquire into or try an offence under Section 203 BNSS?▼
A Court through or into whose local jurisdiction that person or thing passed in the course of that journey or voyage.
Does Section 203 BNSS cover an offence in respect of a thing?▼
Yes. Section 203 BNSS speaks of the person by or against whom, or the thing in respect of which, the offence is committed.
Does Section 203 BNSS speak of a voyage as well as a journey?▼
Yes. Section 203 BNSS speaks of a person or thing in the course of performing a journey or voyage.
What changed from Section 183 CrPC to Section 203 BNSS from 1 July 2024?▼
Section 203 BNSS has the same heading and the same text as Section 183 CrPC. The text has no cross-reference to another section.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 26 Oct 2026 ·