Section 456 BNSS: Commutation of sentence of death on pregnant woman
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Section 456 BNSS at a Glance
Section 456 BNSS deals with commutation of sentence of death on pregnant woman. It replaced Section 416 CrPC on 1 July 2024.
Section 456 BNSS Bare Act Text
456. Postponement of capital sentence on pregnant woman
Commutation of sentence of death on pregnant woman.
If a woman sentenced to death is found to be pregnant, the High Court shall commute the sentence to imprisonment for life.
Source: Section 456, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Section 456 BNSS in Simple Words
Section 456 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 deals with a woman sentenced to death who is found to be pregnant. The High Court shall commute the sentence to imprisonment for life.
When Section 456 BNSS Applies
- Section 456 BNSS applies when a woman sentenced to death is found to be pregnant.
- The High Court shall commute the sentence to imprisonment for life.
Example of Section 456 BNSS
When Section 456 BNSS Does Not Apply
- Section 456 BNSS speaks of a woman sentenced to death who is found to be pregnant. It does not deal with the postponement of the execution of a sentence of death for an appeal to the Supreme Court, which is dealt with in Section 455 BNSS.
- Section 456 BNSS speaks of the High Court commuting the sentence. It does not deal with the Court of Session carrying a sentence of death into effect by issuing a warrant, which is dealt with in Section 454 BNSS.
Section 456 BNSS in the CrPC (Previous Law)
Section 456 BNSS replaces Section 416 CrPC from the old criminal code.
Section 416 CrPC became Section 456 BNSS from 1 July 2024. The text is the same. The heading reads Commutation of sentence of death on pregnant woman in Section 456 BNSS where it read Postponement of capital sentence on pregnant woman in Section 416 CrPC.
View CrPC Section 416 →FAQs on Section 456 BNSS
What does the High Court do under Section 456 BNSS if a woman sentenced to death is found to be pregnant?▼
The High Court shall commute the sentence to imprisonment for life.
To what sentence does the High Court commute under Section 456 BNSS?▼
Imprisonment for life.
What does the heading of Section 456 BNSS say?▼
The heading reads Commutation of sentence of death on pregnant woman. The text says that the High Court shall commute the sentence to imprisonment for life.
What changed from Section 416 CrPC to Section 456 BNSS from 1 July 2024?▼
The text of Section 456 BNSS is the same as Section 416 CrPC. The heading reads Commutation of sentence of death on pregnant woman in Section 456 BNSS where it read Postponement of capital sentence on pregnant woman in Section 416 CrPC.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 20 Oct 2026 ·