BNSS 369 — Release of person of unsound mind pending investigation or trial.

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Statutory text

(1) Whenever a person if
found under section 367 or section 368 to be incapable of entering defence by reason of unsoundness of
mind or intellectual disability, the Magistrate or Court, as the case may be, shall, whether the case is one in
which bail may be taken or not, order release of such person on bail:
Provided that the accused is suffering from unsoundness of mind or intellectual disability which does
not mandate in-patient treatment and a friend or relative undertakes to obtain regular out-patient psychiatric
treatment  from  the  nearest  medical  facility  and  to  prevent  from  doing  injury  to  himself or  to  any  other
person.
(2) If the case is one in which, in the opinion of the Magistrate or Court, as the case may be, bail cannot
be granted or if an appropriate undertaking is not given, he or it shall order the accused to be kept in such
a place where regular psychiatric treatment can be provided, and shall report the action taken to the State
Government:
Provided that no order for the detention of the accused in a public mental health establishment shall be
made  otherwise  than  in  accordance  with  such rules  as  the  State  Government  may  have  made  under  the
Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 (10 of 2017).
(3) Whenever a person is found under section 367 or section 368 to be incapable of entering defence
by reason of unsoundness of mind or intellectual disability, the Magistrate or Court, as the case may be,
shall keeping in view the nature of the act committed and the extent of unsoundness of mind or intellectual
disability, further determine if the release of the accused can be ordered:
Provided that—
(a) if on the basis of medical opinion or opinion of a specialist, the Magistrate or Court, as the case
may be, decide to order discharge of the accused, as provided under section 367 or section 368, such
release may be ordered, if sufficient security is given that the accused shall be prevented from doing
injury to himself or to any other person;
(b) if the Magistrate or Court, as the case may be, is of the opinion that discharge of the accused
cannot be ordered, the transfer of the accused to a residential facility for persons with unsoundness of
mind  or  intellectual  disability  may  be  ordered  wherein  the  accused  may  be  provided  care  and
appropriate education and training.

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