CrPC Section 251 — Substance of accusation to be stated

Summary

When an accused person appears or is brought before the Magistrate in a summons-case, the Magistrate must tell them the details of the offence they are accused of and ask whether they plead guilty or have a defence to make. A formal charge does not have to be framed.

Official Text

When in a summons-case the accused appears or is brought before the Magistrate, the particulars of the offence of which he is accused shall be stated to him, and he shall be asked whether he pleads guilty or has any defence to make, but it shall not be necessary to frame a formal charge.

Related Judgments

• HARIBHAI MALAVIYA AND ORS. vs THE STATE OF GUJARAT AND ANR — Supreme Court of India (2019)
• S.K.BHALLA vs STATE & ORS — Delhi High Court (2011)
• ASSISTANT COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS & ANR. vs L. R. MALWANI AND ANR — Supreme Court of India (1968)
• SEWAKRAM SOBHANI vs R.K. KARANJIA, CHIEF EDITOR, WEEKLY BLITZ & ORS — Supreme Court of India (1981)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• BNSS §274 — Substance of accusation to be stated