Section 330 BNSS: No formal proof of certain documents

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 330 BNSS at a Glance

Section 330 BNSS deals with no formal proof of certain documents. It replaced Section 294 CrPC on 1 July 2024.

Was CrPC

Section 294 →

Section 330 BNSS Bare Act Text

(1) Where any document is filed before any Court by the prosecution or the accused, the particulars of every such document shall be included in a list and the prosecution or the accused or the advocate for the prosecution or the accused, if any, shall be called upon to admit or deny the genuineness of each such document soon after supply of such documents and in no case later than thirty days after such supply:

Provided that the Court may, in its discretion, relax the time limit with reasons to be recorded in writing:

Provided further that no expert shall be called to appear before the Court unless the report of such expert is disputed by any of the parties to the trial.

(2) The list of documents shall be in such form as the State Government may, by rules, provide.

(3) Where the genuineness of any document is not disputed, such document may be read in evidence in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this Sanhita without proof of the signature of the person by whom it purports to be signed:

Provided that the Court may, in its discretion, require such signature to be proved.

Source: Section 330, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 330 BNSS in Simple Words

Section 330 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 deals with documents filed before any Court by the prosecution or the accused. The particulars of every such document shall be included in a list, and the prosecution or the accused or the advocate for the prosecution or the accused, if any, shall be called upon to admit or deny the genuineness of each such document soon after supply of such documents and in no case later than thirty days after such supply.

The Court may, in its discretion, relax the time limit with reasons to be recorded in writing, and no expert shall be called to appear before the Court unless the report of such expert is disputed by any of the parties to the trial. Where the genuineness of any document is not disputed, it may be read in evidence in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under the Sanhita without proof of the signature of the person by whom it purports to be signed, but the Court may, in its discretion, require such signature to be proved.

When Section 330 BNSS Applies

  • Under Section 330(1) BNSS, where any document is filed before any Court by the prosecution or the accused, the particulars of every such document shall be included in a list.
  • The prosecution or the accused or the advocate for the prosecution or the accused, if any, shall be called upon to admit or deny the genuineness of each such document.
  • The second proviso to Section 330(1) BNSS provides that no expert shall be called to appear before the Court unless the report of such expert is disputed by any of the parties to the trial.
  • Section 330(2) BNSS provides that the list of documents shall be in such form as the State Government may, by rules, provide.
  • Under Section 330(3) BNSS, where the genuineness of any document is not disputed, the document may be read in evidence in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under the Sanhita without proof of the signature of the person by whom it purports to be signed.
  • The proviso to Section 330(3) BNSS provides that the Court may, in its discretion, require such signature to be proved.

Time Limits Under Section 330 BNSS

  • Under Section 330(1) BNSS, the prosecution or the accused or the advocate for the prosecution or the accused, if any, shall be called upon to admit or deny the genuineness of each such document soon after supply of such documents and in no case later than thirty days after such supply.Act text: “soon after supply of such documents and in no case later than thirty days after such supply”
  • The first proviso to Section 330(1) BNSS provides that the Court may, in its discretion, relax the time limit with reasons to be recorded in writing.Act text: “Provided that the Court may, in its discretion, relax the time limit with reasons to be recorded in writing”

Example of Section 330 BNSS

During a trial, the prosecution files an expert report before the Court. Under Section 330(1) BNSS, the particulars of the report are included in a list, and the prosecution or the accused or the advocate for the prosecution or the accused shall be called upon to admit or deny the genuineness of the report soon after supply of the report and in no case later than thirty days after such supply. Under Section 330(2) BNSS, the list is in such form as the State Government may, by rules, provide. The genuineness of the report is not disputed. Under Section 330(3) BNSS, the report may be read in evidence in the trial without proof of the signature of the person by whom it purports to be signed, though the Court may, in its discretion, require such signature to be proved. Under the second proviso to Section 330(1) BNSS, no expert shall be called to appear before the Court unless the report of such expert is disputed by any of the parties to the trial.

When Section 330 BNSS Does Not Apply

  • Section 330(1) BNSS speaks of a document filed before any Court by the prosecution or the accused. It does not deal with a document filed by a person who is neither the prosecution nor the accused.
  • The second proviso to Section 330(1) BNSS speaks of an expert called to appear before the Court. It does not deal with a witness who is not an expert.
  • Section 330(3) BNSS speaks of reading a document in evidence without proof of the signature. It does not deal with proof of the contents of the document.

Section 330 BNSS in the CrPC (Previous Law)

Section 330 BNSS replaced Section 294 CrPC from 1 July 2024.

From 1 July 2024, Section 330 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 replaced Section 294 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, with the same heading. Section 330(1) BNSS adds the words soon after supply of such documents and in no case later than thirty days after such supply, a first proviso on relaxing the time limit with reasons to be recorded in writing, and a second proviso that no expert shall be called to appear before the Court unless the report of such expert is disputed by any of the parties to the trial. Section 330(1) BNSS reads advocate where Section 294(1) CrPC read pleader. Section 330(2) BNSS reads such form as the State Government may, by rules, provide where Section 294(2) CrPC read such form as may be prescribed by the State Government. Section 330(3) BNSS reads the person by whom it purports to be signed where Section 294(3) CrPC read the person to whom it purports to be signed, and Sanhita where Section 294(3) CrPC read Code.

Each sub-section below names its own source.

FAQs on Section 330 BNSS

What time limit applies to admitting or denying the genuineness of a document under Section 330 BNSS?▼

Under Section 330(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the prosecution or the accused or the advocate for the prosecution or the accused, if any, shall be called upon to admit or deny the genuineness of each such document soon after supply of such documents and in no case later than thirty days after such supply. The first proviso to Section 330(1) BNSS provides that the Court may, in its discretion, relax the time limit with reasons to be recorded in writing.

When may an expert be called to appear before the Court under Section 330 BNSS?▼

The second proviso to Section 330(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 provides that no expert shall be called to appear before the Court unless the report of such expert is disputed by any of the parties to the trial.

When may a document be read in evidence without proof of signature under Section 330 BNSS?▼

Under Section 330(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, where the genuineness of any document is not disputed, the document may be read in evidence in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under the Sanhita without proof of the signature of the person by whom it purports to be signed. The proviso to Section 330(3) BNSS provides that the Court may, in its discretion, require such signature to be proved.

What changed from Section 294 CrPC to Section 330 BNSS from 1 July 2024?▼

From 1 July 2024, Section 330 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 replaced Section 294 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The heading is the same. Section 330(1) BNSS reads the advocate for the prosecution or the accused where Section 294(1) CrPC read the pleader for the prosecution or the accused, and adds the words soon after supply of such documents and in no case later than thirty days after such supply. Section 330(1) BNSS adds a first proviso, that the Court may, in its discretion, relax the time limit with reasons to be recorded in writing, and a second proviso, that no expert shall be called to appear before the Court unless the report of such expert is disputed by any of the parties to the trial. Section 330(2) BNSS reads such form as the State Government may, by rules, provide where Section 294(2) CrPC read such form as may be prescribed by the State Government. Section 330(3) BNSS reads this Sanhita where Section 294(3) CrPC read this Code, and the person by whom it purports to be signed where Section 294(3) CrPC read the person to whom it purports to be signed.

Section 330 BNSS: Sub-sections Explained

Section 330(1) BNSS: No formal proof of certain documents

▶

Bare Act Text

(1) Where any document is filed before any Court by the prosecution or the accused, the particulars of every such document shall be included in a list and the prosecution or the accused or the advocate for the prosecution or the accused, if any, shall be called upon to admit or deny the genuineness of each such document soon after supply of such documents and in no case later than thirty days after such supply:

Provided that the Court may, in its discretion, relax the time limit with reasons to be recorded in writing:

Provided further that no expert shall be called to appear before the Court unless the report of such expert is disputed by any of the parties to the trial.

Previous Law

CrPC 294 → Section 330(1) BNSS

Section 330(2) BNSS: No formal proof of certain documents

▶

Bare Act Text

(2) The list of documents shall be in such form as the State Government may, by rules, provide.

Previous Law

CrPC 294(2) → Section 330(2) BNSS

Section 330(3) BNSS: No formal proof of certain documents

▶

Bare Act Text

(3) Where the genuineness of any document is not disputed, such document may be read in evidence in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this Sanhita without proof of the signature of the person by whom it purports to be signed:

Provided that the Court may, in its discretion, require such signature to be proved.

Previous Law

CrPC 294(3) → Section 330(3) BNSS

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Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 22 Oct 2026 ·