Section 381 BNSS: Power to order costs

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 381 BNSS at a Glance

Section 381 BNSS deals with power to order costs. It replaced Section 342 CrPC on 1 July 2024.

Was CrPC

Section 342 →

Section 381 BNSS Bare Act Text

381. Power to order costs

Any Court dealing with an application made to it for filing a complaint under section 379 or an appeal under section 380, shall have power to make such order as to costs as may be just.

Source: Section 381, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 381 BNSS in Simple Words

Section 381 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 is about costs. Any Court dealing with an application made to it for filing a complaint under Section 379 BNSS or an appeal under Section 380 BNSS shall have power to make such order as to costs as may be just.

When Section 381 BNSS Applies

  • The Court is dealing with an application made to it for filing a complaint under Section 379 BNSS or an appeal under Section 380 BNSS.
  • The Court shall have power to make such order as to costs as may be just.

Example of Section 381 BNSS

A Court is dealing with an application made to it by Ramesh for filing a complaint under Section 379 BNSS. Under Section 381 BNSS, the Court shall have power to make such order as to costs as may be just.

When Section 381 BNSS Does Not Apply

  • Section 381 BNSS speaks of costs on an application for filing a complaint or on an appeal. It does not deal with the complaint itself. Section 379 BNSS is titled Procedure in cases mentioned in section 215.
  • Section 381 BNSS speaks of costs on an appeal. It does not deal with the appeal itself. Section 380 BNSS is titled Appeal.

Section 381 BNSS in the CrPC (Previous Law)

Section 381 BNSS replaces Section 342 CrPC from the old criminal code.

Section 342 CrPC and Section 381 BNSS have the same heading and the same text, except for renumbered cross-references. Section 381 BNSS refers to Section 379 BNSS and Section 380 BNSS where Section 342 CrPC referred to Section 340 CrPC and Section 341 CrPC.

View CrPC Section 342 →

FAQs on Section 381 BNSS

Which Court may make an order as to costs under Section 381 BNSS?▼

Any Court dealing with an application made to it for filing a complaint under Section 379 BNSS or an appeal under Section 380 BNSS.

What kind of order as to costs may the Court make under Section 381 BNSS?▼

Such order as to costs as may be just.

Does Section 381 BNSS fix an amount of costs?▼

The text of Section 381 BNSS gives no amount. It says that the Court shall have power to make such order as to costs as may be just.

What changed from Section 342 CrPC to Section 381 BNSS from 1 July 2024?▼

Section 381 BNSS has the same heading and the same text as Section 342 CrPC, except for renumbered cross-references. Section 381 BNSS refers to Section 379 BNSS and Section 380 BNSS where Section 342 CrPC referred to Section 340 CrPC and Section 341 CrPC.

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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 ·