SECTION 256 CrPC - Code of Criminal Procedure - Non-appearance or death of complainant

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(1) If the summons has been issued on complaint and on the day appointed for the appearance of the accused, or any day subsequent thereto to which the hearing may be adjourned, the complainant does not appear, the Magistrate shall notwithstanding anything hereinbefore contained, acquit the accused unless for some reason he thinks it proper to adjourn the hearing of the case to some other day:

            Provided that where the complainant is represented by a pleader or by the officer conducting the prosecution or where the Magistrate is of opinion that the personal attendance of the complainant is not necessary, the Magistrate may dispense with his attendance and proceed with the case.

(2) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall, so far as may be, apply also to cases where the nonappearance of the complainant is due to his death.

Comments

There is no denying that the dismissal of the complaint in default under section 256 entails the acquittal of the accused. Once an accused has been acquitted of the offence, the law provides a remedy by way of an appeal against the order of acquittal under section 378 (4) of the Code; H.P. Agro Industries Corpn. Ltd. v. M.P.S. Chawla, (1997) 2 Crimes 591 (H&P)

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