Section 310 CrPC: Local inspection

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 310 CrPC at a Glance

Section 310 CrPC deals with local inspection. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 347 BNSS.

Now BNSS

What Section 310 CrPC Says

310. Local inspection
(1) Any Judge or Magistrate may, at any stage of any inquiry, trial or other proceeding, after due notice to the parties, visit and inspect any place in which an offence is alleged to have been committed, or any other place which it is in his opinion necessary to view for the purpose of properly appreciating the evidence given at such inquiry or trial, and shall without unnecessary delay record a memorandum of any relevant facts observed at such inspection.
(2) Such memorandum shall form part of the record of the case and if the prosecutor, complainant or accused or any other party to the case, so desires, a copy of the memorandum shall be furnished to him free of cost.

Source: Section 310, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 310 CrPC in Simple Words

Section 310 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 deals with local inspection.

Under Section 310(1) CrPC, any Judge or Magistrate may, at any stage of any inquiry, trial or other proceeding, after due notice to the parties, visit and inspect any place in which an offence is alleged to have been committed, or any other place which it is in his opinion necessary to view for the purpose of properly appreciating the evidence given at such inquiry or trial, and shall without unnecessary delay record a memorandum of any relevant facts observed at such inspection.

Under Section 310(2) CrPC, such memorandum shall form part of the record of the case and a copy of the memorandum shall be furnished free of cost to the prosecutor, complainant, accused or any other party to the case who so desires.

When Section 310 CrPC Applies

Under Section 310(1) CrPC, any Judge or Magistrate may, at any stage of any inquiry, trial or other proceeding, after due notice to the parties, visit and inspect any place in which an offence is alleged to have been committed, or any other place which it is in his opinion necessary to view for the purpose of properly appreciating the evidence given at such inquiry or trial.
Under Section 310(1) CrPC, the Judge or Magistrate shall without unnecessary delay record a memorandum of any relevant facts observed at such inspection.
Under Section 310(2) CrPC, such memorandum shall form part of the record of the case, and if the prosecutor, complainant or accused or any other party to the case, so desires, a copy of the memorandum shall be furnished to him free of cost.

Time Limits Under Section 310 CrPC

Under Section 310(1) CrPC, the Judge or Magistrate shall without unnecessary delay record a memorandum of any relevant facts observed at such inspection.Act text: “shall without unnecessary delay record a memorandum”

Example of Section 310 CrPC

Meera, a Magistrate, after due notice to the parties, visits and inspects a place in which an offence is alleged to have been committed, at a stage of an inquiry. Under Section 310(1) CrPC, Meera shall without unnecessary delay record a memorandum of any relevant facts observed at such inspection. Under Section 310(2) CrPC, the memorandum shall form part of the record of the case, and if Ramesh, the accused, so desires, a copy of the memorandum shall be furnished to Ramesh free of cost.

When Section 310 CrPC Does Not Apply

Section 310(1) CrPC speaks of a Judge or Magistrate who visits and inspects a place. It does not deal with the postponement or adjournment of proceedings, which Section 309 CrPC covers under the heading Power to postpone or adjourn proceedings.
Section 310(2) CrPC speaks of a copy of the memorandum of an inspection furnished free of cost. It does not deal with the copy of the record of a Magistrate who tenders a pardon, which Section 306(3) CrPC covers under the heading Tender of pardon to accomplice.

Section 310 CrPC Under BNSS 347: What Changed

Section 310 CrPC is now covered under Section 347 BNSS.

From 1 July 2024, Section 347 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 replaced Section 310 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, with the same heading. Section 347(1) BNSS and Section 347(2) BNSS are in the same words as Section 310(1) CrPC and Section 310(2) CrPC.

View detailed comparison (CrPC 310 vs BNSS 347) →

FAQs on Section 310 CrPC

Who may visit and inspect a place under Section 310 CrPC?▼

Under Section 310(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, any Judge or Magistrate may, at any stage of any inquiry, trial or other proceeding, after due notice to the parties, visit and inspect any place in which an offence is alleged to have been committed, or any other place which it is in his opinion necessary to view for the purpose of properly appreciating the evidence given at such inquiry or trial.

What shall a Judge or Magistrate record after an inspection under Section 310 CrPC?▼

Under Section 310(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the Judge or Magistrate shall without unnecessary delay record a memorandum of any relevant facts observed at such inspection.

Who may be furnished a copy of the memorandum under Section 310 CrPC?▼

Under Section 310(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, such memorandum shall form part of the record of the case and if the prosecutor, complainant or accused or any other party to the case, so desires, a copy of the memorandum shall be furnished to him free of cost.

Where is Section 310 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 310(1) CrPC is found in Section 347(1) BNSS and Section 310(2) CrPC in Section 347(2) BNSS.

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