Section 294 CrPC: No formal proof of certain documents

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 294 CrPC at a Glance

Section 294 CrPC deals with no formal proof of certain documents. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 330 BNSS.

Now BNSS

Section 330 →

What Section 294 CrPC Says

294. No formal proof of certain documents

(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, as the case may be, or the pleader for the prosecution or the accused, if any, shall be called upon to admit or deny the genuineness of each such document.

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

(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 Code without proof of the signature of the person to whom it purports to be signed:

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

Source: Section 294, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 294 CrPC in Simple Words

Section 294 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 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, as the case may be, or the pleader for the prosecution or the accused, if any, shall be called upon to admit or deny the genuineness of each such document.

Where the genuineness of any document is not disputed, it may be read in evidence in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under the Code without proof of the signature of the person to whom it purports to be signed, but the Court may, in its discretion, require such signature to be proved.

When Section 294 CrPC Applies

  • Under Section 294(1) CrPC, 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, as the case may be, or the pleader for the prosecution or the accused, if any, shall be called upon to admit or deny the genuineness of each such document.
  • Section 294(2) CrPC provides that the list of documents shall be in such form as may be prescribed by the State Government.
  • Under Section 294(3) CrPC, 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 Code without proof of the signature of the person to whom it purports to be signed.
  • The proviso to Section 294(3) CrPC provides that the Court may, in its discretion, require such signature to be proved.

Example of Section 294 CrPC

During a trial before a Court, the accused, Ramesh, files a rent receipt. Under Section 294(1) CrPC, the particulars of the receipt are included in a list, and the prosecution or the accused, as the case may be, or the pleader for the prosecution or the accused, shall be called upon to admit or deny the genuineness of the receipt. Under Section 294(2) CrPC, the list is in the form prescribed by the State Government. The genuineness of the receipt is not disputed. Under Section 294(3) CrPC, the receipt may be read in evidence in the trial without proof of the signature of the person to whom it purports to be signed, though the Court may, in its discretion, require such signature to be proved.

When Section 294 CrPC Does Not Apply

  • Section 294(1) CrPC 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.
  • Section 294(3) CrPC 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 294 CrPC Under BNSS 330: What Changed

Section 294 CrPC is now covered under Section 330 BNSS.

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.

View detailed comparison (CrPC 294 vs BNSS 330) →

FAQs on Section 294 CrPC

What happens when the prosecution or the accused files a document under Section 294 CrPC?▼

Under Section 294(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the particulars of every such document shall be included in a list. The prosecution or the accused, as the case may be, or the pleader for the prosecution or the accused, if any, shall be called upon to admit or deny the genuineness of each such document. Under Section 294(2) CrPC, the list of documents shall be in such form as may be prescribed by the State Government.

When may a document be read in evidence without proof of signature under Section 294 CrPC?▼

Under Section 294(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, 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 Code without proof of the signature of the person to whom it purports to be signed.

Can the Court require proof of signature on an undisputed document under Section 294 CrPC?▼

Yes. The proviso to Section 294(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 provides that the Court may, in its discretion, require such signature to be proved.

Where is Section 294 CrPC found in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024?▼

The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 was replaced by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024. Section 294(1) CrPC is found in Section 330(1) BNSS, Section 294(2) CrPC in Section 330(2) BNSS and Section 294(3) CrPC in Section 330(3) BNSS.

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Sources: Bare Act Text, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Last updated: 22 Oct 2026 ·