Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter XIV: Jurisdiction of the Criminal Courts in Inquiries and Trials
Section 206: High Court to decide, in case of doubt, district where inquiry or trial shall take place
In plain words
If two or more courts have taken cognizance of the same offence and it is unclear which should try it, the High Court they are subordinate to decides. If they are under different High Courts, the High Court where proceedings started first decides, and the other proceedings stop.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
Where two or more Courts have taken cognizance of the same offence and a question arises as to which of them ought to inquire into or try that offence, the question shall be decided—
(a) if the Courts are subordinate to the same High Court, by that High Court;
(b) if the Courts are not subordinate to the same High Court, by the High Court within the local limits of whose appellate criminal jurisdiction the proceedings were first commenced, and thereupon all other proceedings in respect of that offence shall be discontinued.
Corresponding sections were matched by comparing the wording of both official texts, and for the IPC and BNS, also against a published correspondence table. Wording, punishments and structure often changed, so read both sections before relying on the match.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 12 September 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 206
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.