Section 444 BNSS: Option of Court to hear parties

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 444 BNSS at a Glance

Section 444 BNSS deals with option of Court to hear parties. It replaced Section 403 CrPC on 1 July 2024.

Was CrPC

Section 403 →

Section 444 BNSS Bare Act Text

444. Option of Court to hear parties

Save as otherwise expressly provided by this Sanhita, no party has any right to be heard either personally or by an advocate before any Court exercising its powers of revision; but the Court may, if it thinks fit, when exercising such powers, hear any party either personally or by an advocate.

Source: Section 444, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 444 BNSS in Simple Words

Section 444 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 is headed Option of Court to hear parties. Save as otherwise expressly provided by the Sanhita, no party has any right to be heard either personally or by an advocate before any Court exercising its powers of revision. The Court may, if it thinks fit, when exercising such powers, hear any party either personally or by an advocate.

When Section 444 BNSS Applies

  • Save as otherwise expressly provided by the Sanhita, no party has any right to be heard either personally or by an advocate before any Court exercising its powers of revision.
  • Section 444 BNSS begins with the words Save as otherwise expressly provided by this Sanhita.
  • A Court exercising its powers of revision may, if it thinks fit, when exercising such powers, hear any party.
  • A Court that hears a party when exercising its powers of revision may hear the party either personally or by an advocate.

Example of Section 444 BNSS

Meera is a party to a revision pending before a Court exercising its powers of revision. No provision of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 expressly provides otherwise. Under Section 444 BNSS, Meera has no right to be heard either personally or by an advocate before the Court. The Court may, if it thinks fit, hear Meera either personally or by an advocate. The Court may, if it thinks fit, hear the other party Arjun in the same way.

When Section 444 BNSS Does Not Apply

  • Section 444 BNSS speaks of whether a party is heard before a Court exercising its powers of revision. It does not deal with the powers of the High Court in revision, which are found in Section 442 BNSS, High Court's powers of revision.
  • Section 444 BNSS speaks of whether a party is heard when a Court exercises its powers of revision. It does not deal with the calling for records to exercise those powers, which is found in Section 438 BNSS, Calling for records to exercise powers of revision.

Section 444 BNSS in the CrPC (Previous Law)

Section 444 BNSS replaces Section 403 CrPC from the old criminal code.

From 1 July 2024, Section 444 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 replaced Section 403 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 under the same heading, Option of Court to hear parties. Section 444 BNSS reads Sanhita where Section 403 CrPC read Code, and reads an advocate in both places where Section 403 CrPC read pleader.

View CrPC Section 403 →

FAQs on Section 444 BNSS

Does a party have a right to be heard in revision under Section 444 BNSS?▼

Save as otherwise expressly provided by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, no party has any right to be heard either personally or by an advocate before any Court exercising its powers of revision, under Section 444 BNSS.

May a Court exercising its powers of revision hear a party under Section 444 BNSS?▼

Under Section 444 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the Court may, if it thinks fit, when exercising such powers, hear any party either personally or by an advocate.

What does Save as otherwise expressly provided by this Sanhita mean in Section 444 BNSS?▼

Section 444 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 begins with the words Save as otherwise expressly provided by this Sanhita. The statement that no party has any right to be heard before a Court exercising its powers of revision applies save as the Sanhita expressly provides otherwise.

What changed from Section 403 CrPC to Section 444 BNSS from 1 July 2024?▼

From 1 July 2024, Section 444 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 replaced Section 403 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Both have the same heading, Option of Court to hear parties. Section 444 BNSS reads Save as otherwise expressly provided by this Sanhita where Section 403 CrPC read Save as otherwise expressly provided by this Code. Section 444 BNSS reads personally or by an advocate in both places where Section 403 CrPC read personally or by pleader.

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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: 22 Oct 2026 ·