Bharat Samvidhan
BNSS Section 278

Section 278 BNSS: is satisfied that the accused would not be prejudiced thereby

Official criminal procedure provision under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

Official Statutory Wording (100% Legally Correct)

(1) If the Magistrate, upon taking the evidence referred to in section 277 and such further evidence, if any, as he may, of his own motion, cause to be produced, finds the accused not guilty, he shall record an order of acquittal. (2) Where the Magistrate does not proceed in accordance with the provisions of section 364 or section 401, he shall, if he finds the accused guilty, pass sentence upon him according to law. (3) A Magistrate may, under section 275 or section 278, convict the accused of any offence triable under this Chapter, which from the facts admitted or proved he appears to have committed, whatever may be the nature of the complaint or summons, if the Magistrate

Simplified Legal Summary

This section details the statutory rules, frameworks, and procedures under Section 278 of the BNSS.

Legal Compliance Notice

This content is compiled from the official Gazette of India publication. For active legal actions, petitions, or filings, citizens are advised to cross-reference this clause with their legal advocate under the corresponding Sections of the BNSS 2023.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What does BNSS Section 278 cover?

A: Section 278 of the BNSS 2023 deals with: "is satisfied that the accused would not be prejudiced thereby". It is part of India's updated criminal procedure law that replaced the old CrPC 1973, effective July 1, 2024.

Q: Which old CrPC section does BNSS Section 278 replace?

A: BNSS Section 278 ("is satisfied that the accused would not be prejudiced thereby") is part of the BNSS 2023 which replaced the entire CrPC 1973. Many sections were renumbered — use the Law Decoder for exact cross-references.

Q: Does BNSS Section 278 apply across all Indian states?

A: Yes. BNSS 2023 applies to the whole of India except Nagaland and specified tribal areas (per Section 1 BNSS). Section 278 ("is satisfied that the accused would not be prejudiced thereby") follows this national applicability.

Q: When did BNSS Section 278 come into effect?

A: The BNSS 2023 — including Section 278 ("is satisfied that the accused would not be prejudiced thereby") — came into effect on July 1, 2024, by Central Government notification in the Official Gazette.