e-Nyaya Sarathi

No, accused has right to inform a relative or friend.

First Information Report, lodged for cognizable offences.

Any person who has knowledge of a cognizable offence.

At the police station having jurisdiction over the area of offence.

Yes, many states provide online FIR portals.

Yes, no fee can be charged.

Yes, for offences against women, she can approach any police station.

Yes, police must write it down and read it to the complainant.

Complainant can approach Superintendent of Police or file application before Magistrate.

No, name and details are required.

FIR registered at any police station regardless of jurisdiction, later transferred.

It ensures immediate action without delay due to jurisdiction issues.

No, once registered, FIR cannot be withdrawn.

Yes, filing false FIR is an offence.

No, only complaint is filed in such cases.

Yes, free of cost.

Yes, through court or police.

No strict limit, but prompt reporting is preferred.

Police may record information, but proper written FIR is needed.

Yes, but delay must be explained.

Yes, if it is purely civil in nature (like contract disputes).

Magistrate supervises investigation and ensures legality.

No, FIR is mandatory for cognizable offence investigation.

Daily record of investigation by police.

No, only court can examine it.

Yes, through court application.

Police report when no evidence is found against accused.

Report filed when evidence is found and trial is to proceed.

The magistrate.

Additional report when new evidence is found later.

Yes, police can conduct further investigation with court permission.

Yes, by filing protest petition.

Yes, before taking cognizance.

Only higher courts can order reinvestigation.

Questioning of accused while in custody.

Yes, they can call for questioning under notice.

Police notice requiring appearance instead of arrest for minor offences.

No, it is mandatory.

No, they should be questioned at their residence in presence of a woman officer.

Yes, but in presence of guardian and as per Juvenile Justice Act.

Process where witness identifies accused from a group of people.

Not mandatory but useful for investigation.

Judicial magistrate.

Use of scientific methods like DNA, fingerprint, cyber forensics.

No, in certain cases like sexual offences or drunken driving, it is mandatory.

Yes, if it is related to the crime.

Written record of property/items seized.

Yes, court may release on bond.

Yes, like phones, laptops, CCTV footage.

Formal accusation against the accused.

The magistrate or sessions court.

A judicial process to determine guilt or innocence of the accused.

A Magistrate or a Sessions Judge, depending on the seriousness of the offence.

A court that tries serious offences like murder, rape, etc.

A court that tries less serious offences with lesser punishment.

Sending serious cases from Magistrate to Sessions Court for trial.

Yes, accused can plead guilty voluntarily.

Court may convict, but ensures plea is voluntary.

Trial continues with evidence and witnesses.

Initial questioning of witness by the party who calls them.

Questioning of witness by the opposite party to test truth.

Further questioning by the party who called the witness, after cross.

Yes, either personally or through lawyer.

No, accused cannot be compelled to testify against self.

Yes, the victim is an important witness.

A witness who changes statement during trial.

Yes, if witness departs from earlier statement.

Written documents like agreements, records, letters.

Statements made by witnesses in court.

Digital records like emails, chats, CCTV, phone calls.

Yes, it is legally admissible if properly certified.

Indirect evidence that links accused to crime through facts.

Yes, if chain of circumstances is complete.

Statement by accused admitting guilt.

No, unless made before Magistrate.

Confession made voluntarily before Magistrate.

Yes, but court examines if earlier confession was voluntary.

Statement recorded by Magistrate during investigation.

Yes, for corroboration.

Opportunity for accused to explain evidence against him.

No, answers are voluntary.

No, silence cannot be treated as guilt.

Summary submissions made by both sides before judgment.

Prosecution.

Yes, with court’s permission.

Final decision of court on guilt or innocence.

Yes, with clear reasons.

Yes, but must be followed by written copy.

When court finds accused guilty.

When accused is found not guilty.

If doubt exists, accused gets acquittal.

Punishment imposed after conviction.

Yes, victim impact statement may be considered.

Release of convict on good conduct instead of jail.

Negotiated settlement where accused pleads guilty for lesser punishment.

Yes, except for serious offences and crimes against women/children.

Yes, if offence is committed in India.

Trial conducted when accused absconds and avoids court.

Yes, if evidence proves guilt beyond doubt.

It is the punishment imposed by the court after conviction.

The judge who conducts the trial.

Gravity of offence, motive, past conduct, impact on victim.

Death penalty, life imprisonment, imprisonment (rigorous or simple), fine, probation.

Yes, depending on offence.

Jail with hard labour.

Jail without labour, only confinement.

Imprisonment for entire natural life, unless law provides remission.

Not automatically. It may be longer unless reduced by government.

Punishment of execution in rarest of rare cases.

Jail authorities under court’s order.

Yes, it can be appealed up to Supreme Court.

Release of certain convicts on conditions, instead of jail.

The trial court, based on Probation Officer’s report.

No, only for less serious crimes.

Monetary penalty imposed by court.

Court may order additional imprisonment.

Money ordered by court to help victim recover losses.

Yes, through court’s order.

Legal right to challenge court’s decision in higher court.

Accused, victim, or prosecution (in certain cases).

Yes, with permission of higher court.

Yes, through Public Prosecutor.

Yes, accused may challenge it.

Yes, if conviction is accepted but sentence seems harsh.

Usually 30–60 days depending on type of case.

Court may condone delay if reason is justified.

It can confirm, reduce, enhance, or reverse judgment.

Yes, if it finds trial unfair.

Supervisory power of higher court to check legality of lower court orders.

Any aggrieved person, or higher court on its own.

Appeal is a right; revision is discretionary by higher court.

Yes, but only on limited grounds.

Yes, but revision is not allowed where appeal lies.

Application to same court to reconsider its order.

Generally no, except in Supreme Court for death penalty.

A last remedy in Supreme Court to prevent miscarriage of justice.

Yes, under Article 72 of Constitution.

Yes, under Article 161 of Constitution.

Reduction of jail term by government.

No, certain categories like terrorists may be excluded.

Temporary release from jail for specific reasons.

Periodic short-term release for good conduct.

Prison authorities with government approval.

No, it is discretionary.

Yes, depending on rules and conduct.

Temporary halt of sentence execution by court.

Yes, often done if accused gets bail.

Substitution of harsher punishment with lighter one.

Government, under law and Constitution.

Yes, women cannot be arrested at night except in exceptional cases with magistrate’s permission.

No, as far as possible arrest must be made by a woman officer.

Search of women must be done only by another woman with decency.

No, her statement must be recorded at her residence in presence of a female officer.

Yes, they are entitled to medical care and safeguards.

No, death sentence cannot be executed on a pregnant woman.

Any woman can file FIR at any police station, regardless of jurisdiction.

Yes, all women are eligible for free legal services.

Courts designated to handle sexual offences and gender-based crimes.

Children below 7 years have no criminal responsibility.

Only if they have enough maturity to understand consequences.

Special legal framework for children in conflict with law.

A child below 18 years accused of committing an offence.

No, they are kept in observation or special homes.

Special body to try cases of children in conflict with law.

Yes, bail is the rule for juveniles unless serious risk exists.

Recording statement of child in safe, non-threatening environment.

No, children cannot be handcuffed or kept with adult prisoners.

Police and court must ensure privacy and protection.

Special law to protect children from sexual offences.

Yes, BNSS provides procedure, but POCSO governs trial.

Yes, for protection and accuracy.

Use of screens, video links, and in-camera trials.

Yes, their evidence can be recorded at home if needed.

Yes, courts may allow deposition from residence.

Yes, courts must provide interpreters, sign language, or aids.

Yes, courts allow alternative modes of communication.

Yes, speedy trial and compensation are ensured.

Yes, within 2 months of filing charge sheet.

No, it is strictly prohibited.

No, disclosure is punishable.

Yes, hospitals must provide it free of cost.

Yes, it must be prepared promptly and sent to magistrate.

Yes, preference is given to female medical practitioners.

Trial held privately, without public, for sensitive cases.

Only judge, parties, lawyers, and approved persons.

Yes, they get privacy, legal aid, and rehabilitation support.

Yes, but with medical evaluation and safeguards.

Court may postpone proceedings until recovery.

Court may close trial and order treatment or custody.

Yes, through interpreters or written communication.

Yes, all procedural rights apply equally.

Yes, courts may allow in-camera proceedings.

Government scheme to give financial help to crime victims.

Yes, through District Legal Services Authority.

Yes, it is separate from fine or imprisonment.

Measures to protect witnesses from threats or harm.

Yes, under court’s directions.

Yes, court can withhold names in sensitive cases.

Yes, to ensure safety and comfort.

Evidence includes oral statements, documents, and material objects presented before the court.

Yes, DNA evidence is considered strong scientific proof.

Questioning of a witness by opposite party’s lawyer.

Initial questioning of witness by party who called him/her.

Further questioning after cross-examination to clarify points.

Yes, if question incriminates self or is privileged.

Yes, through summons or warrant.

Court may issue bailable or non-bailable warrant.

Yes, giving false evidence is perjury, a punishable offence.

Yes, vulnerable witnesses may be examined behind screens or video.

When a party cross-examines its own uncooperative witness.

Yes, by referring to earlier notes or documents.

Certain statements (like between lawyer and client) cannot be disclosed.

No, client-lawyer communications are protected.

Yes, but some marital communications are privileged.

The police are primarily responsible for investigation.

It is the process of collecting evidence to find truth of the alleged offence.

Yes, it emphasizes use of forensics, DNA, and electronic evidence.

Use of science and technology like fingerprints, blood tests, DNA, etc., in criminal cases.

For serious offences like murder, rape, terrorism, and organized crime.

Yes, DNA reports are admissible and reliable.

A test where drugs are given to lower inhibitions; admissibility is limited by courts.

No, it requires consent of accused.

A scientific test to check brain responses, admissible only with consent.

Yes, police can take fingerprints legally.

Yes, with permission of a magistrate.

Yes, with magistrate’s order.

A government-approved lab for scientific examination of evidence.

Normally, only government-notified labs are accepted.

The documented handling of evidence from collection to court.

It prevents tampering and ensures credibility of evidence.

Examination of computers, mobiles, and digital data in crime.

Yes, forensic experts can recover deleted data.

Yes, CCTV is valuable digital evidence.

Ideally until investigation is complete or as directed by court.

Yes, with legal approvals, especially for crowd monitoring and searches.

Yes, call records and GPS can link accused to crime scenes.

Telecom data showing calls, location, and timing of accused.

Only with government authorization in serious cases.

Yes, if backed by a Section 65B certificate.

Yes, subject to authentication.

Yes, posts, messages, and activities can be probed.

A police unit specializing in online crimes and frauds.

Yes, through mutual legal assistance treaties (MLAT).

No, only lawful access with court or government permission.

Medical tests to collect evidence of injuries, rape, or poisoning.

Yes, except in cases where law mandates (like rape cases with child victims).

Medical autopsy conducted to find cause of death.

Police or magistrate in suspicious or unnatural deaths.

They can request, but legal requirement prevails.

Preliminary inquiry into cause of death by police/magistrate.

In cases of suicide, murder, accident, or suspicious death.

Police visiting crime spot to collect evidence.

A document recording items seized by police.

Yes, if linked to crime investigation.

Yes, with court’s permission during or after trial.

Court’s written order allowing police to search premises.

Yes, in urgent situations like preventing destruction of evidence.

A search without authority or in violation of procedure.

Sometimes yes, if it is relevant, but courts discourage it.

Accused being kept in police or judicial custody for investigation.

Maximum 15 days.

Yes, but only in judicial custody, not police custody.

Right to lawyer, medical check-up, and protection from torture.

Yes, citizens can raise objections before court at trial stage.

A formal accusation against a person stating the offence they are alleged to have committed.

The magistrate or sessions judge, after examining the case record.

It informs the accused about the exact offence to prepare their defence.

Yes, if the judge finds no sufficient evidence.

Yes, the court may alter or add charges if new facts emerge.

Yes, the accused must be given time to prepare defence.

Police report filed after investigation, containing evidence and list of witnesses.

The investigating police officer.

Usually 60 days (for offences with punishment <10 years) and 90 days (for serious offences).

The accused may get “default bail.”

Yes, supplementary charge-sheets are allowed.

A judicial process where evidence is examined to decide guilt or innocence.

Summary trial, summons trial, warrant trial, and sessions trial.

A quick trial for minor offences with simple procedure.

Trial for offences punishable up to 2 years.

Trial for serious offences punishable above 2 years.

Trial before a Sessions Court for grave offences like murder, rape, terrorism.

Reading and explaining the charge to the accused.

Court may convict and pass sentence directly.

The trial continues with evidence from prosecution.

Evidence presented by state lawyers to prove guilt.

Evidence presented by accused to prove innocence.

First the prosecution, then the defence, and finally the judge may ask questions.

Yes, no one can be forced to be a witness against themselves.

Yes, but only voluntarily.

A witness who changes their statement during trial.

Court may allow cross-examination by the side that called them.

BNSS encourages continuous hearings without long adjournments.

No, adjournments are restricted to avoid delays.

Judge can question accused to explain evidence against them.

Lawyers of both sides present their conclusions before judgment.

The presiding judge of the court.

Reasons, evidence relied upon, and decision of guilt or innocence.

When the accused is found guilty.

When the accused is declared not guilty.

Yes, the state or complainant can appeal.