CrPC Section 416 is now BNSS 456: Postponement of capital sentence on pregnant woman

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · applies to offences and proceedings before 1 July 2024

ChangedCrPC 416 → BNSS 456

BPR&D's comparison records a change. Read what changed before relying on the old wording.

What changed, per BPR&D: The heading "Commutation of sentence of death on pregnant woman" replaces the heading "Postponement of capital sentence on pregnant woman".

Printed in both official correspondence tables (BPR&D and NCRB).

CrPC 416: Postponement of capital sentence on pregnant woman

Before 1 July 2024

If a woman sentenced to death is found to be pregnant, the High Court shall [****], commute the sentence to imprisonment for life.

B.—Imprisonment

BNSS 456: Commutation of sentence of death on pregnant woman

From 1 July 2024

If a woman sentenced to death is found to be pregnant, the High Court shall commute the sentence to imprisonment for life.

Everything BNSS 456 replaced →

Which one applies

Procedure follows the proceeding. Under section 531(2)(a) of the BNSS, an appeal, application, trial, inquiry or investigation already pending on 1 July 2024 continues under the CrPC; one begun on or after that date proceeds under the BNSS.

Read BNSS section 531 →

Judgments decided under CrPC 416

They remain the law on CrPC 416. Where the provision changed in the move, read what changed before relying on one for an offence after 1 July 2024.

Sources

BPR&D is the Bureau of Police Research & Development (Ministry of Home Affairs); NCRB the National Crime Records Bureau. Their correspondence tables are training aids, not law. This page is general information, not legal advice on any case; the bare Acts as published by the Government of India are the authority.