✓ Substantially Identical

Law Transition Comparison: Section 96 BNSS vs Section 93 CrPC

Side-by-side analysis of statutory changes, penal differences, bailable classification, trial courts, and precedents following India's July 2024 criminal law transition.

AI Legal Analysis & Key Differences

No material statutory changes have been made to the core text of this provision during the transition. The wording, elements, and thresholds remain substantially identical. However, practitioners must adapt to the new section numbering and procedural alignment under the 2023 Sanhitas.

Transition Checklist for Legal Practitioners

✓

Verify Date of Offense (Crucial for Application)

If the alleged offense occurred before July 1, 2024, substantive charges must be filed under the old act (CrPC). For offenses on or after July 1, 2024, use the new Sanhita (BNSS).

✓

Nomenclature Audit in Pleadings

Ensure all draft petitions, FIRs, charge sheets, and bail applications refer to Section 96 of the BNSS instead of the old Section 93 of the CrPC.

✓

Confirm Savings Clause Compliance

Apply the savings clause (Section 531 BNSS or Section 358 BNS) to confirm that any trials, appeals, or investigations pending as of July 1, 2024 continue under the old code (CrPC) as if the new Sanhitas had not been enacted.

✓

Review Updated Bail and Trial Jurisdiction

Double-check the schedule in BNSS or CrPC to verify if the trial court jurisdiction (e.g. Session Court vs Magistrate) or the bailable status has been altered for Section 96.

Act Source (Active Site)

Section 96

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita

Official Statutory Text

(1) Where— B.—Search-warrants (a) any Court has reason to believe that a person to whom a summons order under section 94 or a requisition under sub-section (1) of section 95 has been, or might be, addressed, will not or would not produce the document or thing as required by such summons or requisition; or (b) such document or thing is not known to the Court to be in the possession of any person; or (c) the Court considers that the purposes of any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this Sanhita will be served by a general search or inspection, it may issue a search-warrant; and the person to whom such warrant is directed, may search or inspect in accordance therewith and the provisions hereinafter contained. (2) The Court may, if it thinks fit, specify in the warrant the particular place or part thereof to which only the search or inspection shall extend; and the person charged with the execution of such warrant shall then search or inspect only the place or part so specified. (3) Nothing contained in this section shall authorise any Magistrate other than a District Magistrate or Chief Judicial Magistrate to grant a warrant to search for a document, parcel or other thing in the custody of the postal authority.

Procedural Profile

Offence Category	N/A / Procedural
Bail Eligibility	Procedural
Arrest Classification	Procedural
Trial Court	Procedural
Max Punishment	Procedural

Act Source (Compared)

Section 93

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Official Statutory Text

The court;
		
			Where any Court has reason to believe that a person to whom a summons or order under section 91 or a requisition under Sub-Section (1) of section 92 has been, or might be, addressed, will not or would not produce the document or thing as required by such summons or requisition, or
			where such document or thing is not known to the Court to be in the possession of any person, or
			where the Court considers that the purposes of any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this Code will be served by a general search or inspection,
It may issue a search-warrant; and the person to whom such warrant is directed, may search or inspect in accordance therewith and the provisions hereinafter contained.
		
		The Court may, if it thinks fit, specify in the warrant the particular place or part thereof to which only the search or inspection shall extend; and the person charged with the execution of such warrant shall then search or inspect only the place or part so specified.
		Nothing contained in this section shall authorise any Magistrate other than a District Magistrate or Chief Judicial Magistrate to grant a warrant to search for a document, parcel or other thing in the custody of the postal or telegraph authority.

Procedural Profile

Offence Category	N/A / Procedural
Bail Eligibility	Procedural
Arrest Classification	Procedural
Trial Court	Procedural
Max Punishment	Procedural

Explore Section 96 Details Explore Section 93 Details