Criminal procedure | Evidence in inquiries and trials

CrPC Section 294 and BNSS Section 330: No Formal Proof of Certain Documents

Section 294 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) simplified the proof of documents whose genuineness was not disputed. Its corresponding provision under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), is Section 330, which adds a timeline for admitting or denying documents and a safeguard concerning expert witnesses.

Current legal position: The BNSS came into force on 1 July 2024. Section 330 generally governs proceedings under the new law, while Section 531 contains savings provisions for certain pending investigations, inquiries, trials, appeals and applications under the CrPC. The procedural law applicable to a particular case must be assessed from its facts and transitional status.

Meaning and purpose of the provision

The expression no formal proof of certain documents means that, where the parties do not dispute a document's genuineness, the court may receive it in evidence without separately proving the purported signatory's signature. The provision avoids unnecessary formal witnesses and helps focus the trial on genuinely contested questions.

Admission of genuineness is not automatically an admission that every statement in a document is true, relevant or conclusive. The court must still evaluate the document in accordance with the applicable rules of evidence.

Section 294 CrPC - Original provision

294. No formal proof of certain documents.

(1) Where any document is filed before any Court by the prosecution or the accused, the particulars of every such document shall be included in a list and the prosecution or the accused, as the case may be, or the pleader for the prosecution or the accused, if any, shall be called upon to admit or deny the genuineness of each such document.

(2) The list of documents shall be in such form as may be prescribed by the State Government.

(3) Where the genuineness of any document is not disputed, such document may be read in evidence in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this Code without proof of the signature of the person by whom it purports to be signed:

Provided that the Court may, in its discretion, require such signature to be proved.

Section 330 BNSS - Current corresponding provision

Section 330, titled No formal proof of certain documents, retains the document-listing and admission-or-denial mechanism and introduces the following requirements:

Section 330(1): The prosecution or accused, or their advocate, must be asked to admit or deny the genuineness of each listed document soon after its supply, ordinarily no later than 30 days after supply.
First proviso to Section 330(1): The court may relax the 30-day limit, recording reasons in writing.
Second proviso to Section 330(1): An expert is not to be called to appear before the court unless a party disputes the expert's report.
Section 330(2): The document list must follow the form provided by State Government rules.
Section 330(3): Where genuineness is not disputed, the document may be read in evidence without proof of the purported signatory's signature; the court may nevertheless require proof of that signature.

For the enacted text, see the National Crime Records Bureau's BNSS chapter text and the Bureau of Police Research and Development's official criminal laws portal.

How admission or denial works

The prosecution or accused files documents before the court.
Each document is identified in a list in the prescribed form.
The opposing party or advocate is called upon to admit or deny genuineness.
Under Section 330 BNSS, the response is ordinarily required within 30 days of supply, subject to the court's recorded extension.
If genuineness is not disputed, formal proof of the purported signatory's signature may be dispensed with, subject to the court's discretion.
If genuineness is disputed, the party relying on the document may need to establish it by legally admissible proof.

CrPC Section 294 and BNSS Section 330: Key provisions

Issue	CrPC Section 294	BNSS Section 330
Admission or denial	Required when documents are filed	Required soon after supply of documents
Time limit	No express 30-day limit	30 days, relaxable with written reasons
Expert report	No matching express proviso	Expert not called unless report disputed
Undisputed signature	Formal proof may be dispensed with	Same basic principle retained
Court discretion	May require proof of signature	May require proof of signature

Practical significance in criminal trials

The provision may be relevant to medical records, laboratory reports, certificates, official records and other documents submitted by either side. Whether a particular document is admissible, authentic, or probative depends on its nature, the parties' responses and the applicable evidentiary rules, including the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 where applicable.

Parties should examine the documents carefully before admitting genuineness. A genuine document can still contain an inaccurate statement or a disputed inference. Conversely, an unsupported denial may create avoidable evidentiary disputes.

Repeal and savings under Section 531 BNSS

Section 531 repeals the CrPC but saves the application of the earlier Code to specified matters pending immediately before commencement of the BNSS. Accordingly, CrPC Section 294 may continue to matter in saved proceedings, notwithstanding the introduction of Section 330 BNSS. Consult the official BNSS text (PDF) for Sections 330 and 531.

Frequently asked questions

What is Section 294 of the CrPC?

It permits documents whose genuineness is not disputed to be read in evidence without formal proof of the purported signatory's signature, while preserving the court's discretion to require proof.

Which BNSS section corresponds to CrPC Section 294?

Section 330 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

What is the 30-day rule under BNSS Section 330?

Admission or denial of genuineness should ordinarily take place within 30 days after documents are supplied. The court may relax the limit by recording reasons in writing.

Does admitting a document prove every fact stated in it?

No. Dispensing with formal signature proof does not, by itself, determine the truth or evidentiary weight of every statement in the document.

Can the court still require proof of a signature?

Yes. Section 294(3) CrPC and Section 330(3) BNSS both preserve that discretion.

Official legal resources

Updated: 18 October 2026. This article provides general legal information and is not a substitute for advice based on the facts of a particular proceeding.