Section 384 CrPC: Summary dismissal of appeal

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 384 CrPC at a Glance

Section 384 CrPC deals with summary dismissal of appeal. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 425 BNSS.

What Section 384 CrPC Says

384. Summary dismissal of appeal

(1) If upon examining the petition of appeal and copy of the judgment received under section 382 or section 383, the Appellate Court considers that there is no sufficient ground for interfering, it may dismiss the appeal summarily:

Provided thatβ€”

(a) no appeal presented under section 382 shall be dismissed unless the appellant or his pleader has had a reasonable opportunity of being heard in support of the same;

(b) no appeal presented under section 383 shall be dismissed except after giving the appellant a reasonable opportunity of being heard in support of the same, unless the Appellate Court considers that the appeal is frivolous or that the production of the accused in custody before the Court would involve such inconvenience as would be disproportionate in the circumstances of the case;

(c) no appeal presented under section 383 shall be dismissed summarily until the period allowed for preferring such appeal has expired.

(2) Before dismissing an appeal under this section, the Court may call for the record of the case.

(3) Where the Appellate Court dismissing an appeal under this section is a Court of Session or of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, it shall record its reasons for doing so.

(4) Where an appeal presented under section 383 has been dismissed summarily under this section and the Appellate Court finds that another petition of appeal duly presented under section 382 on behalf of the same appellant has not been considered by it, that Court may, notwithstanding anything contained in section 393, if satisfied that it is necessary in the interests of justice so to do, hear and dispose of such appeal in accordance with law.

Source: Section 384, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 384 CrPC in Simple Words

Section 384 CrPC deals with summary dismissal of an appeal. If, upon examining the petition of appeal and copy of the judgment received under Section 382 CrPC or Section 383 CrPC, the Appellate Court considers that there is no sufficient ground for interfering, it may dismiss the appeal summarily.

The provisos say when an appeal shall not be dismissed. Before dismissing an appeal, the Court may call for the record of the case.

When Section 384 CrPC Applies

  • The Appellate Court may dismiss an appeal summarily if, upon examining the petition of appeal and copy of the judgment received under Section 382 CrPC or Section 383 CrPC, it considers that there is no sufficient ground for interfering.
  • No appeal presented under Section 382 CrPC shall be dismissed unless the appellant or his pleader has had a reasonable opportunity of being heard in support of the same.
  • No appeal presented under Section 383 CrPC shall be dismissed except after giving the appellant a reasonable opportunity of being heard in support of the same, unless the Appellate Court considers that the appeal is frivolous or that the production of the accused in custody before the Court would involve such inconvenience as would be disproportionate in the circumstances of the case.
  • Where the Appellate Court dismissing an appeal under Section 384 CrPC is a Court of Session or of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, it shall record its reasons for doing so.
  • Where an appeal presented under Section 383 CrPC has been dismissed summarily and the Appellate Court finds that another petition of appeal duly presented under Section 382 CrPC on behalf of the same appellant has not been considered by it, that Court may, notwithstanding anything contained in Section 393 CrPC, if satisfied that it is necessary in the interests of justice so to do, hear and dispose of such appeal in accordance with law.

Time Limits Under Section 384 CrPC

  • No appeal presented under Section 383 CrPC shall be dismissed summarily until the period allowed for preferring such appeal has expired.Act text: β€œno appeal presented under section 383 shall be dismissed summarily until the period allowed for preferring such appeal has expired”

Example of Section 384 CrPC

Meera, who is in jail, presents a petition of appeal that the Appellate Court receives under Section 383 CrPC. The Appellate Court considers that there is no sufficient ground for interfering. Under Section 384 CrPC the Appellate Court shall not dismiss the appeal summarily until the period allowed for preferring such appeal has expired, and shall give Meera a reasonable opportunity of being heard in support of the same unless the Appellate Court considers that the appeal is frivolous.

When Section 384 CrPC Does Not Apply

  • Section 384 CrPC speaks of summary dismissal of an appeal. It does not deal with the hearing of an appeal that is not dismissed summarily, which Section 385 CrPC covers.
  • Section 384 CrPC speaks of the Appellate Court examining the petition of appeal and copy of the judgment. It does not deal with the powers of the Appellate Court in disposing of an appeal, which Section 386 CrPC covers.

Section 384 CrPC Under BNSS 425: What Changed

Section 384 CrPC is now covered under Section 425 BNSS.

Section 384 CrPC became Section 425 BNSS from 1 July 2024. The heading is the same. The text is the same except for renumbered cross-references to Section 423 BNSS, Section 424 BNSS and Section 434 BNSS, and advocate in place of pleader.

View detailed comparison (CrPC 384 vs BNSS 425) β†’

FAQs on Section 384 CrPC

When may the Appellate Court dismiss an appeal summarily under Section 384 CrPC?β–Ό

If, upon examining the petition of appeal and copy of the judgment received under Section 382 CrPC or Section 383 CrPC, the Appellate Court considers that there is no sufficient ground for interfering, it may dismiss the appeal summarily. The provisos to Section 384(1) CrPC say when an appeal shall not be dismissed.

What must the Appellate Court do before dismissing an appeal presented under Section 383 CrPC?β–Ό

No such appeal shall be dismissed except after giving the appellant a reasonable opportunity of being heard in support of the same, unless the Appellate Court considers that the appeal is frivolous or that the production of the accused in custody before the Court would involve such inconvenience as would be disproportionate in the circumstances of the case. No such appeal shall be dismissed summarily until the period allowed for preferring such appeal has expired.

Which Courts shall record reasons for dismissing an appeal under Section 384 CrPC?β–Ό

Under Section 384(3) CrPC, where the Appellate Court dismissing an appeal is a Court of Session or of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, it shall record its reasons for doing so.

Where is Section 384 CrPC found in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023?β–Ό

Section 384(1) CrPC is found in Section 425(1) BNSS, Section 384(2) CrPC in Section 425(2) BNSS, Section 384(3) CrPC in Section 425(3) BNSS and Section 384(4) CrPC in Section 425(4) BNSS.

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Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

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