Lawgist327Court to be open
1[(1)] The place in which any Criminal Court is held for the purpose of inquiring into or trying any offence shall be deemed to be an open Court, to which the public generally may have access, so far as the same can conveniently contain them:
Provided that the presiding Judge or Magistrate may, if he thinks fit, order at any stage of any inquiry into, or trial of, any particular case, that the public generally, or any particular person, shall not have access to, or be or remain in, the room or building used by the Court.
2[(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub- section (1), the inquiry into and trial of rape or an offence under section 376, section 376A, section 376B, section 376C, 3[section 376D or section 376E of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860)] shall be conducted in camera :
Provided that the presiding Judge may, if he thinks fit, or on an application made by either of the parties, allow any particular person to have access to, or be or remain in, the room or building used by the Court:
4[Provided further that in camera trial shall be conducted as far as practicable by a woman Judge or Magistrate.]
(3) Where any proceedings are held under sub-section (2), it shall not be lawful for any person to print or publish any matter in relation to any such proceedings except with the previous permission of the Court:]
4[Provided that the ban on printing or publication of trial proceedings in relation to an offence of rape may be lifted, subject to maintaining confidentiality of name and address of the parties.]
STATE AMENDMENT
Chhattisgarh
In sub-section (2) of the section 327 of the Code, for the words, figures and letters “or an offence under section 376, section 376A, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D or section 376E of the Indian Penal Code”, the words, figures, letters and punctuations “sexual harassment, outraging modesty of woman or an offence under section 354, section 354A, section 354B, section 354C, section 354D, section 354E, section 376, section 376A, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D, section 376E, section 376F, section 509, section 509A or section 509B of the Indian Penal Code” shall be substituted.
[Vide Chhattisgarh Act 25 of 2015, s. 12.]
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1. S. 327 renumbered as sub-section (1) thereof by Act 43 of 1983, s. 4 (w.e.f. 25-12-1983).
2. Ins. by s. 4, ibid. (w.e.f. 25-12-1983).
3. Subs. by Act 13 of 2013, s. 22, for "or section 376D of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860)" (w.e.f. 3-2-2013).
4. Ins. by Act 5 of 2009, s. 24 (w.e.f. 31-12-2009).
- 300 Person once convicted or acquitted not to be tried for same offence
- 301 Appearance by Public Prosecutors
- 302 Permission to conduct prosecution
- 303 Right of person against whom proceedings are instituted to be defended
- 304 Legal aid to accused at State expense in certain cases
- 305 Procedure when corporation or registered society is an accused
- 306 Tender of pardon to accomplice
- 307 Power to direct tender of pardon
- 308 Trial of person not complying with conditions of pardon
- 309 Power to postpone or adjourn proceedings
- 310 Local inspection
- 311 Power to summon material witness, or examine person present
- 311A Power of Magistrate to order person to give specimen signatures or handwriting
- 312 Expenses of complainants and witnesses
- 313 Power to examine the accused
- 314 Oral arguments and memorandum of arguments
- 315 Accused person to be competent witness
- 316 No influence to be used to induce disclosure
- 317 Provision for inquiries and trial being held in the absence of accused in certain cases
- 318 Procedure where accused does not understand proceedings
- 319 Power to proceed against other persons appearing to be guilty of offence
- 320 Compounding of offences
- 321 Withdrawal from prosecution
- 322 Procedure in cases which Magistrate cannot dispose of
- 323 Procedure when, after commencement of inquiry or trial, Magistrate finds case should be committed
- 324 Trial of persons previously convicted of offences against coinage, stamp-law or property
- 325 Procedure when Magistrate cannot pass sentence sufficiently severe
- 326 Conviction or commitment on evidence partly recorded by one Magistrate and partly by another
- 327 Court to be open
