BNSS Section 397 — Treatment of victims

Summary

All hospitals, whether government-run, private, or run by any other organisation, must give free first-aid or medical treatment right away to victims of certain serious crimes listed in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. The hospital must also immediately inform the police about the incident.

Official Text

All hospitals, public or private, whether run by the Central Government, the State Government, local bodies or any other person, shall immediately, provide the first-aid or medical treatment, free of cost, to the victims of any offence covered under section 64, section 65, section 66, section 67, section 68, section 70, section 71 or sub-section (1) of section 124 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023) or under sections 4, 6, 8 or section 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (32 of 2012), and shall immediately inform the police of such incident.

Sections referred to

• BNS §124 — Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid, etc
• BNSS §4 — Trial of offences under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and other laws
• BNSS §6 — Classes of Criminal Courts
• BNSS §8 — Court of Session
• BNSS §64 — Summons how served
• BNSS §65 — Service of summons on corporate bodies, firms, and societies
• BNSS §66 — Service when persons summoned cannot be found
• BNSS §67 — Procedure when service cannot be effected as before provided
• BNSS §68 — Service on Government servant
• BNSS §70 — Proof of service in such cases and when serving officer not present
• BNSS §71 — Service of summons on witness
• POCSO Act §10 — Punishment for aggravated sexual assault

Referred to by

• BNS §200 — Punishment for non-treatment of victim

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• CrPC §357C — Treatment of victims