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Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter XXXVIII: Limitation for Taking Cognizance of Certain Offences

Section 514: Bar to taking cognizance after lapse of period of limitation

Earlier law: CrPC section 468 (Bar to taking cognizance after lapse of the period of limitation)

In plain words

Unless the Sanhita provides otherwise, a court cannot take cognizance of certain minor offences after the limitation period has expired.

  • Six months, for offences punishable with fine only.
  • One year, for offences punishable with imprisonment up to one year.
  • Three years, for offences punishable with imprisonment of more than one year and up to three years.
  • For offences tried together, the most serious one decides the period. The relevant date is when the complaint was filed or the FIR recorded.

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

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this Sanhita, no Court shall take cognizance of an offence of the category specified in sub-section (2), after the expiry of the period of limitation.

(2) The period of limitation shall be—-

(a) six months, if the offence is punishable with fine only;

(b) one year, if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year;

(c) three years, if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term exceeding one year but not exceeding three years.

(3) For the purposes of this section, the period of limitation, in relation to offences which may be tried together, shall be determined with reference to the offence which is punishable with the more severe punishment or, as the case may be, the most severe punishment.

Explanation.—For the purpose of computing the period of limitation, the relevant date shall be the date of filing complaint under section 223 or the date of recording of information under section 173.

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 514