Section 241 CrPC: Conviction on plea of guilty

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 241 CrPC at a Glance

Section 241 CrPC deals with conviction on plea of guilty. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 264 BNSS.

Now BNSS

Section 264 →

What Section 241 CrPC Says

241. Conviction on plea of guilty

If the accused pleads guilty, the Magistrate shall record the plea and may, in his discretion, convict him thereon.

Source: Section 241, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 241 CrPC in Simple Words

Section 241 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 is headed Conviction on plea of guilty. If the accused pleads guilty, the Magistrate shall record the plea and may, in his discretion, convict him thereon.

When Section 241 CrPC Applies

  • Section 241 CrPC applies if the accused pleads guilty.
  • The Magistrate shall record the plea.
  • The Magistrate may, in his discretion, convict the accused on the plea.

Example of Section 241 CrPC

Vikram pleads guilty before a Magistrate. The Magistrate shall record the plea and may, in his discretion, convict Vikram thereon.

When Section 241 CrPC Does Not Apply

  • Section 241 CrPC speaks of the Magistrate. It does not deal with the Judge recording a plea of guilty, which is the subject of Section 229 CrPC.
  • Section 241 CrPC speaks of an accused who pleads guilty. It does not deal with conviction on a plea of guilty in absence of the accused in petty cases, which is the subject of Section 253 CrPC.

Section 241 CrPC Under BNSS 264: What Changed

Section 241 CrPC is now covered under Section 264 BNSS.

From 1 July 2024, Section 241 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 is found in Section 264 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. Both sections have the same heading, Conviction on plea of guilty, and the same text. Neither text refers to another section.

View detailed comparison (CrPC 241 vs BNSS 264) →

FAQs on Section 241 CrPC

What does the Magistrate do if the accused pleads guilty under Section 241 CrPC?▼

The Magistrate shall record the plea and may, in his discretion, convict him thereon.

Must the Magistrate convict on a plea of guilty under Section 241 CrPC?▼

Section 241 CrPC says that the Magistrate shall record the plea and may, in his discretion, convict him thereon. The word may is used for the conviction.

Does Section 241 CrPC state a time limit?▼

No. Section 241 CrPC does not state a period of time.

Where is Section 241 CrPC found in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023?▼

Section 241 CrPC has no sub-sections, and maps as a whole to Section 264 BNSS from 1 July 2024.

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Sources: Bare Act Text, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Last updated: 20 Oct 2026 ·