BNSS · Section 229 · Chapter XVI — COMPLAINTS TO MAGISTRATES

Special summons in cases of petty offence.

What this section does

For petty offences (punishable only with fine not exceeding five thousand rupees, excluding Motor Vehicles Act offences), a Magistrate may issue a special summons allowing the accused to plead guilty and pay the fine by post or through an advocate without appearing in person. State Governments may specially empower Magistrates to use this procedure for compoundable offences or offences punishable with imprisonment up to three months or fine where imposition of fine alone would meet the ends of justice.

AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).

Procedure at a glance

Key actors: Magistrate · Accused · Advocate · State Government

Old-law correspondence

Derived from CrPC s.206.

Read the official text

For the binding statutory text of BNSS Section 229, refer to the Gazette of India or the India Code official website.

Why this matters

BNSS Section 229 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.