Courts by which offences are triable.
What this section does
Prescribes the courts competent to try offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and other laws, by reference to the First Schedule. Offences under BNS sections 64–71 (sexual offences) shall, as far as practicable, be tried by a court presided over by a woman. For offences under other laws, the court specified in that law governs; where none is specified, the High Court or the court shown in the First Schedule is competent.
AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).
Procedure at a glance
- Key actors
- High Court · Court of Session · Magistrate · Woman-presided Court
- Time limit
- None specified
Derived from CrPC s.26.
Read the official text
For the binding statutory text of BNSS Section 21, refer to the Gazette of India or the India Code official website.
Why this matters
BNSS Section 21 forms part of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita which replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 on 1 July 2024. Any new filing, FIR, charge sheet, or bail application made on or after that date should cite the new section number. References to the old act in legacy documents remain valid for matters that arose before the changeover.