सं Samvidhan

BNSS · Chapter XVII

Commencement Of Proceedings Before Magistrates — MCQs with answers

35 exam-style questions on this chapter, written from the actual legal text and tagged for UPSC, Judiciary and CLAT. Five are shown below with answers and explanations — the rest are in the free interactive drill.

Q1 · easy · BNSS S.227

Under section 227(1)(a) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, if a Magistrate taking cognizance finds the case to be a summons-case, what is he required to do?

  1. A.Issue summons to the accused for his attendance✓ correct
  2. B.Issue a warrant to bring the accused before the court
  3. C.Dismiss the complaint for want of evidence
  4. D.Direct the police to arrest the accused

Why: Section 227(1)(a) states that if the case appears to be a summons-case, the Magistrate "shall issue summons to the accused for his attendance." This is a mandatory direction for summons-cases.

Read Section 227Issue of process

Q2 · easy · BNSS S.227

According to section 227(2), which of the following must be filed before any summons or warrant is issued under subsection (1)?

  1. A.A copy of the accused's prior criminal record
  2. B.A bail bond signed by the complainant
  3. C.A list of the prosecution witnesses✓ correct
  4. D.A written consent from the public prosecutor

Why: Section 227(2) expressly provides that "No summons or warrant shall be issued ... until a list of the prosecution witnesses has been filed." Therefore filing the list of prosecution witnesses is required before issuing process.

Read Section 227Issue of process

Q3 · medium · BNSS S.227

If a Magistrate considers the case to be a warrant-case under section 227(1)(b), which of the following correctly states his options?

  1. A.He must issue a warrant and cannot issue a summons
  2. B.He may issue a warrant, or, if he thinks fit, issue a summons✓ correct
  3. C.He may issue only a summons because warrants are disallowed
  4. D.He must obtain the District Judge’s permission before issuing any process

Why: Section 227(1)(b) says that where the case appears to be a warrant-case, the Magistrate "may issue a warrant, or, if he thinks fit, a summons." This gives the Magistrate discretion to issue either process as he deems appropriate.

Read Section 227Issue of process

Q4 · medium · BNSS S.227

When a Magistrate taking cognizance has no jurisdiction himself, what does section 227(1) permit him to do regarding issuance of process?

  1. A.He cannot issue any summons or warrant at all
  2. B.He may issue process but only for appearance before himself
  3. C.He must transfer the complaint to the police for investigation
  4. D.He may issue a summons or warrant to cause the accused to appear before some other Magistrate having jurisdiction✓ correct

Why: Section 227(1) provides that the Magistrate shall issue process "for causing the accused to be brought or to appear at a certain time before such Magistrate or (if he has no jurisdiction himself) some other Magistrate having jurisdiction." Thus a Magistrate without jurisdiction may issue process to bring the accused before a Magistrate who has jurisdiction.

Read Section 227Issue of process

Q5 · hard · BNSS S.227

What does section 227(5) state about the relationship between section 227 and section 90?

  1. A.Section 227 overrides and replaces the provisions of section 90
  2. B.Section 227 supplements section 90 but modifies its application
  3. C.Nothing in section 227 shall be deemed to affect the provisions of section 90✓ correct
  4. D.Section 90 is rendered inapplicable by operation of section 227

Why: Section 227(5) explicitly states: "Nothing in this section shall be deemed to affect the provisions of section 90." Hence section 227 does not affect or override the provisions of section 90.

Read Section 227Issue of process

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Questions are AI-generated from the legal text, machine-verified against the provision, and editorially reviewable. Education, not legal advice.