Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter XXXIV: Execution, Suspension, Remission and Commutation of Sentences · E.—Suspension, remission and commutation of sentences
Section 477: State Government to act after concurrence with Central Government in certain cases
In plain words
A State Government can remit or commute a sentence only with the Central Government's concurrence where the offence was investigated by a central agency, involved Central Government property, or was committed by a Central Government employee in official duty. Where concurrent sentences include offences on Union subjects, the Centre must also make a matching order.
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) The powers conferred by sections 473 and 474 upon the State Government to remit or commute a sentence, in any case where the sentence is for an offence—-
(a) which was investigated by any agency empowered to make investigation into an offence under any Central Act other than this Sanhita; or
(b) which involved the misappropriation or destruction of, or damage to, any property belonging to the Central Government; or
(c) which was committed by a person in the service of the Central Government while acting or purporting to act in the discharge of his official duty,
shall not be exercised by the State Government except after concurrence with the Central Government.
(2) No order of suspension, remission or commutation of sentences passed by the State Government in relation to a person, who has been convicted of offences, some of which relate to matters to which the executive power of the Union extends, and who has been sentenced to separate terms of imprisonment which are to run concurrently, shall have effect unless an order for the suspension, remission or commutation, as the case may be, of such sentences has also been made by the Central Government in relation to the offences committed by such person with regard to matters to which the executive power of the Union extends.
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 477
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.