Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Section 393
Language and contents of judgment
(1) Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Sanhita, every judgment referred to in section 392,—
(a) shall be written in the language of the Court;
(b) shall contain the point or points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision;
(c) shall specify the offence (if any) of which, and the section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023) or other law under which, the accused is convicted, and the punishment to which he is sentenced;
(d) if it be a judgment of acquittal, shall state the offence of which the accused is acquitted and direct that he be set at liberty.
(2) When the conviction is under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023) and it is doubtful under which of two sections, or under which of two parts of the same section, of that Sanhita the offence falls, the Court shall distinctly express the same, and pass judgment in the alternative.
(3) When the conviction is for an offence punishable with death or, in the alternative, with imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term of years, the judgment shall state the reasons for the sentence awarded, and, in the case of sentence of death, the special reasons for such sentence.
(4) When the conviction is for an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term of one year or more, but the Court imposes a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than three months, it shall record its reasons for awarding such sentence, unless the sentence is one of imprisonment till the rising of the Court or unless the case was tried summarily under the provisions of this Sanhita.
(5) When any person is sentenced to death, the sentence shall direct that he be hanged by the neck till he is dead.
(6) Every order under section 136 or sub-section (2) of section 157 and every final order made under section 144, section 164 or section 166 shall contain the point or points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision.
Why this exists
A judgment is more than an outcome — it is a reasoned explanation that lets the accused, the public, and appellate courts understand exactly why a decision was reached and what law was applied. Requiring specificity about the offence, the reasoning, and extra justification for severe sentences (especially death) guards against arbitrary or opaque decision-making and creates a solid record for any future appeal.
How courts read it
Courts have repeatedly stressed that reasons in a judgment, especially special reasons for a death sentence, are not a mere formality — they are essential so that an appellate or reviewing court can assess whether the sentence was justified on the facts, rather than simply endorsing the trial court's conclusion.
Common misconceptions
- Myth: A judge can impose a death sentence just by stating the person is guilty of a very serious crime.
Fact: This section requires the judgment to give special, additional reasons specifically justifying why death, rather than a lesser sentence, was chosen.