Section 291 BNSS: Guidelines for mutually satisfactory disposition
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Section 291 BNSS at a Glance
Section 291 BNSS deals with guidelines for mutually satisfactory disposition. It replaced Section 265C CrPC on 1 July 2024.
Section 291 BNSS Bare Act Text
291. Guidelines for mutually satisfactory disposition
In working out a mutually satisfactory disposition under clause (a) of sub-section (4) of section 290, the Court shall follow the following procedure, namely:—
(a) in a case instituted on a police report, the Court shall issue notice to the Public Prosecutor, the police officer who has investigated the case, the accused and the victim of the case to participate in the meeting to work out a satisfactory disposition of the case:
Provided that throughout such process of working out a satisfactory disposition of the case, it shall be the duty of the Court to ensure that the entire process is completed voluntarily by the parties participating in the meeting:
Provided further that the accused, if he so desires, may participate in such meeting with his advocate, if any, engaged in the case;
(b) in a case instituted otherwise than on police report, the Court shall issue notice to the accused and the victim of the case to participate in a meeting to work out a satisfactory disposition of the case:
Provided that it shall be the duty of the Court to ensure, throughout such process of working out a satisfactory disposition of the case, that it is completed voluntarily by the parties participating in the meeting:
Provided further that if the victim of the case or the accused so desires, he may participate in such meeting with his advocate engaged in the case.
Source: Section 291, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Section 291 BNSS in Simple Words
Section 291 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 sets out the procedure the Court shall follow in working out a mutually satisfactory disposition under Section 290(4)(a) BNSS.
In a case instituted on a police report, the Court shall issue notice to the Public Prosecutor, the police officer who has investigated the case, the accused and the victim of the case to participate in the meeting.
In a case instituted otherwise than on police report, the Court shall issue notice to the accused and the victim of the case.
When Section 291 BNSS Applies
- Section 291(a) BNSS applies in a case instituted on a police report; the Court shall issue notice to the Public Prosecutor, the police officer who has investigated the case, the accused and the victim of the case to participate in the meeting to work out a satisfactory disposition of the case.
- The first proviso to Section 291(a) BNSS says that throughout such process of working out a satisfactory disposition of the case, it shall be the duty of the Court to ensure that the entire process is completed voluntarily by the parties participating in the meeting.
- The second proviso to Section 291(a) BNSS says that the accused, if he so desires, may participate in such meeting with his advocate, if any, engaged in the case.
- Section 291(b) BNSS applies in a case instituted otherwise than on police report; the Court shall issue notice to the accused and the victim of the case to participate in a meeting to work out a satisfactory disposition of the case.
- The first proviso to Section 291(b) BNSS says it shall be the duty of the Court to ensure, throughout such process of working out a satisfactory disposition of the case, that it is completed voluntarily by the parties participating in the meeting. The second proviso to Section 291(b) BNSS says that if the victim of the case or the accused so desires, he may participate in such meeting with his advocate engaged in the case.
Example of Section 291 BNSS
When Section 291 BNSS Does Not Apply
- Section 291 BNSS speaks of the procedure the Court shall follow in working out a mutually satisfactory disposition. It does not deal with the application for plea bargaining, which Section 290 BNSS covers under the heading Application for plea bargaining.
- Section 291 BNSS speaks of the meeting to work out a satisfactory disposition of the case. It does not deal with the report of the disposition to be submitted before the Court, which Section 292 BNSS covers under the heading Report of mutually satisfactory disposition to be submitted before Court.
Section 291 BNSS in the CrPC (Previous Law)
Section 291 BNSS replaces Section 265C CrPC from the old criminal code.
Section 265C of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 is found in Section 291 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024, under the same heading. The opening words of Section 291 BNSS refer to Section 290 BNSS where the opening words of Section 265C CrPC referred to Section 265B CrPC. The second proviso to Section 291(a) BNSS and the second proviso to Section 291(b) BNSS say advocate where Section 265C(a) CrPC and Section 265C(b) CrPC said pleader. The second proviso to Section 291(b) BNSS drops the words as the case may be. The rest of the text is the same.
View CrPC Section 265C →FAQs on Section 291 BNSS
Who is issued notice under Section 291(a) BNSS in a case instituted on a police report?▼
Section 291(a) BNSS says that in a case instituted on a police report, the Court shall issue notice to the Public Prosecutor, the police officer who has investigated the case, the accused and the victim of the case to participate in the meeting to work out a satisfactory disposition of the case.
Who is issued notice under Section 291(b) BNSS in a case instituted otherwise than on police report?▼
Section 291(b) BNSS says that in a case instituted otherwise than on police report, the Court shall issue notice to the accused and the victim of the case to participate in a meeting to work out a satisfactory disposition of the case.
What do the provisos to Section 291 BNSS say?▼
The first proviso to Section 291(a) BNSS and the first proviso to Section 291(b) BNSS say it shall be the duty of the Court to ensure that the process of working out a satisfactory disposition of the case is completed voluntarily by the parties participating in the meeting. The second proviso to Section 291(a) BNSS says the accused, if he so desires, may participate in such meeting with his advocate, if any, engaged in the case. The second proviso to Section 291(b) BNSS says that if the victim of the case or the accused so desires, he may participate in such meeting with his advocate engaged in the case.
What changed from Section 265C CrPC to Section 291 BNSS from 1 July 2024?▼
From 1 July 2024, Section 291 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 replaced Section 265C of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Section 291 BNSS has the same heading as Section 265C CrPC. The opening words of Section 291 BNSS refer to Section 290 BNSS where the opening words of Section 265C CrPC referred to Section 265B CrPC. The second proviso to Section 291(a) BNSS and the second proviso to Section 291(b) BNSS say advocate where Section 265C(a) CrPC and Section 265C(b) CrPC said pleader. The second proviso to Section 291(b) BNSS says the victim of the case or the accused so desires, where the second proviso to Section 265C(b) CrPC said the victim of the case or the accused, as the case may be, so desires.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 22 Oct 2026 ·