BNSS 521 — Delivery to commanding officers of persons liable to be tried by Court-martial.

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Statutory text

(1)  The
Central Government may make rules consistent with this Sanhita and the Air Force Act, 1950 (45 of 1950),
the Army Act, 1950 (46 of 1950), the Navy Act, 1957 (62 of 1957), and any other law, relating to the Armed
Forces of the Union, for the time being in force, as to cases in which persons subject to army, naval or air-
force law, or such other law, shall be tried by a Court to which this Sanhita applies, or by a Court-martial;
and when any person is brought before a Magistrate and charged with an offence for which he is liable to
be tried either by a Court to which this Sanhita applies or by a Court-martial, such Magistrate shall have
regard to such rules, and shall in proper cases deliver him, together with a statement of the offence of which
he is accused, to the commanding officer of the unit to which he belongs, or to the commanding officer of
the nearest army, naval or air-force station, as the case may be, for the purpose of being tried by a Court-
martial.
Explanation.—In this section—
(a) “unit” includes a regiment, corps, ship, detachment, group, battalion or company;
(b) “Court-martial” includes  any  Tribunal  with  the  powers  similar  to those  of  a  Court-martial
constituted under the relevant law applicable to the Armed Forces of the Union.

(2)  Every  Magistrate  shall,  on  receiving  a  written  application  for  that  purpose  by  the  commanding
officer of any unit or body of soldiers, sailors or airmen stationed or employed at any such place, use his
utmost endeavours to apprehend and secure any person accused of such offence.
(3) A High Court may, if it thinks fit, direct that a prisoner detained in any jail situate within the State
be brought before a Court-martial for trial or to be examined touching any matter pending before the Court-
martial.

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