In any summons-case instituted otherwise than upon complaint, a Magistrate of the first class or, with the previous sanction of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, any other Judicial Magistrate, may, for reasons to be recorded by him, stop the proceedings at any stage without pronouncing any judgment and where such stoppage of proceedings is made after the evidence of the principal witnesses has been recorded, pronounce a judgment of acquittal, and in any other case, release the accused, and such release shall have the effect of discharge.
CHAPTER XXI TRIAL OF SUMMONS-CASES BY MAGISTRATES
Section 281: Power to stop proceedings in certain cases
The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Corresponding CrPC provision
As given in the correspondence table of the National Crime Records Bureau (Ministry of Home Affairs). Read both texts before relying on it. NCRB table
Questions on this section
1 question in 4 of our papers cite Section 281. Try these from the free papers:
1. In a summons-case instituted on a police report, the Judicial Magistrate of the first class has recorded the evidence of the principal prosecution witnesses. For reasons recorded by him, he then decides to stop the proceedings without pronouncing a judgment on the merits. Under Section 281 of the BNSS, he shall