Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter XX: Trial of Warrant-Cases by Magistrates · C.—Conclusion of trial
Section 272: Absence of complainant
In plain words
In a complaint case, if the complainant is absent on a hearing date and the offence is compoundable or non-cognizable, the Magistrate can, after giving the complainant thirty days to appear, discharge the accused at any time before the charge is framed.
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
When the proceedings have been instituted upon complaint, and on any day fixed for the hearing of the case, the complainant is absent, and the offence may be lawfully compounded or is not a cognizable offence, the Magistrate may after giving thirty days’ time to the complainant to be present, in his discretion, notwithstanding anything hereinbefore contained, at any time before the charge has been framed, discharge the accused.
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 272
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.