Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Section 257
Arguments
When the examination of the witnesses (if any) for the defence is complete, the prosecutor shall sum up his case and the accused or his advocate shall be entitled to reply: Provided that where any point of law is raised by the accused or his advocate, the prosecution may, with the permission of the Judge, make his submissions with regard to such point of law.
Why this exists
This section structures the closing arguments of a Sessions trial, ensuring both sides get a fair, orderly chance to summarize their case for the judge before a verdict is reached, and that the accused effectively gets the last word on the facts while legal points can still be debated both ways. It mirrors section 234 of the earlier Code of Criminal Procedure.