CrPC Section 200
Examination of complainant — private complaint
BNSS Section 223— Examination of complainant.
Effective for any FIR, charge sheet, or filing on or after 1 July 2024. Matters that arose before that date continue under the CrPC.
When a Magistrate takes cognizance of an offence on complaint, he must examine the complainant and present witnesses on oath, reduce the substance to writing, and have it signed by all parties including himself; the accused must be given an opportunity of being heard before cognizance is taken. Special procedural protections apply when the complaint is against a public servant for acts done in official discharge of duty, requiring the public servant's assertions and a superior officer's report before cognizance.
For the full text of the new section, see the linked BNSS page above. For the binding statutory text, refer to the India Code or the Gazette of India. This reference is informational, not legal advice.