Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
CrPC Section 216 in BNSS
Court may alter charge. Section 216 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Court may alter charge) corresponds to Section 239 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Verify before you rely on this. Renumbering under the 2023 codes is not a clean one-to-one exercise — provisions were merged, split and reworded. Always check the printed bare act.
Where this sits in the exam
This provision is examined under CrPC & Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, worth 10 of the 100 marks in AIBE XXII. The paper permits bare acts but bans notes, so what matters is finding it quickly, not reciting the number.
Questions that turn on this section
A charge may be altered by the court:
Answer & explanation
At any time before judgment is pronounced, and the accused must be given an opportunity
Alteration or addition is permitted, but the accused must not be prejudiced and may recall witnesses.
Sections either side of it
How the neighbouring provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 were renumbered:
| CrPC | Provision | BNSS |
|---|---|---|
| 208 | Supply of copies of statements and documents in Sessions cases | 231 |
| 209 | Commitment of case to Court of Session | 232 |
| 211 | Contents of charge | 234 |
| 218 | Separate charges for distinct offences | 241 |
| 219 | Three offences of same kind within year may be charged together | 242 |
| 223 | Persons who may be charged jointly | 246 |
Practise it
Cutoff has AIBE XXII questions on this area, each cited to both codes with a line telling you where to find it in the bare act. Ten questions per subject are free, no account needed.
Practise free Full CrPC→BNSS table