Section 339CTime for disposal of cases

s. 339C

339C. Time for disposal of cases (1) A Magistrate shall conclude the trial of a case within [one hundred and eighty days] from the date on which the case is [received by him] for trial. (2) A Sessions Judge, an Additional Sessions Judge or an Assistant Sessions Judge shall conclude the trial of a case within [three hundred and sixty days] from the date on which the case is received by him for trial. [(2A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), where a person is accused in several cases and such cases are brought for trial before a Magistrate or a Court of Session, the time limit specified in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) for the trial of such cases shall run consecutively.] [(2B) Notwithstanding the transfer of a case from one Court to another Court, the time specified in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall be the time for concluding the trial of a case.] (3) [Omitted by section 3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Second Amendment) Act, 1992 (Act No. XLII of 1992).] [(4) If a trial cannot be concluded within the specified time, the accused in the case, if he is accused of a non-bailable offence, may be released on bail to the satisfaction of the Court, unless for reasons to be recorded in writing, the Court otherwise directs.] [(5) Nothing in this section shall apply to the trial of a case under section 400 or 401 of the Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860), or to the trial of case to which the provisions of Chapter XXXIV apply.] [(6) In this section, in determining the time for the purpose of a trial,- [* * *] (b) the days spent on account of the absconsion of an accused after his release on bail, if any, shall not be counted.]

1. 349. The words "three hundred and sixty days" were substituted, for the words "two hundred and forty days" by section 3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Second Amendment) Act, 1992 (Act No. XLII of 1992)
2. 350. Sub-section (2A) was inserted by section 11 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 1982 (Ordinance No. LX of 1982)
3. 351. Sub-section (2B) was inserted by section 7 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 1991 (Act No. XVI of 1991)
4. 352. Sub-section (4) was substituted, for the former sub-section (4) by section 3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Second Amendment) Act, 1992 (Act No. XLII of 1992)
5. 353. Sub-section (5) was substituted, for the former sub-section (5) by section 2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Ordinance, 1985 (Ordinance No. XXIX of 1985)
6. 354. Sub-section (6) was substituted, for the former sub-section (6) by section 7 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 1991 (Act No. XVI of 1991)
7. 355. Clause (a) was omitted by section 7 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Second Amendment) Act, 1992 (Act No. XLII of 1992)