Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter XVIII: The Charge · B.—Joinder of charges
Section 241: Separate charges for distinct offences
In plain words
Each distinct offence must have a separate charge and be tried separately, unless the accused asks in writing for charges to be tried together and the Magistrate thinks this will not prejudice them. This is subject to the exceptions in sections 242, 243, 244 and 246.
Example: A is accused of a theft on one occasion and causing grievous hurt on another. A must be separately charged and tried for each.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
(1) For every distinct offence of which any person is accused there shall be a separate charge, and every such charge shall be tried separately:
Provided that where the accused person, by an application in writing, so desires and the Magistrate is of opinion that such person is not likely to be prejudiced thereby, the Magistrate may try together all or any number of the charges framed against such person.
(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall affect the operation of the provisions of sections 242, 243, 244 and 246.
Illustration
A is accused of a theft on one occasion, and of causing grievous hurt on another occasion. A must be separately charged and separately tried for the theft and causing grievous hurt.
Corresponding sections were matched by comparing the wording of both official texts, and for the IPC and BNS, also against a published correspondence table. Wording, punishments and structure often changed, so read both sections before relying on the match.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 12 September 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 241
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.