ADP:* Assistant Director of Prosecution.
An officer designation in the Prosecution Department dealing with prosecution administration and supervision. The exact hierarchy depends on the State/Department rules.
*APP:* Assistant Public Prosecutor.
A government prosecutor who conducts prosecution on behalf of the State in Magistrate Courts.
*CC No.:* Calendar Case Number.
The case number/classification generally used for a criminal case before a Magistrate Court.
*CJM:* Chief Judicial Magistrate.
The principal Judicial Magistrate in a district.
*DDP:* Deputy Director of Prosecution.
A senior supervisory designation in the Prosecution Department. The exact hierarchy depends on the State/Department structure.
*DJ:* District Judge / District & Sessions Judge.
The principal judicial officer of the district judiciary; may also exercise Sessions jurisdiction on the criminal side.
*DW:* Defence Witness.
A witness examined on behalf of the accused or defence.
*FTC:* Fast Track Court.
A court established for speedy disposal of specified categories of cases.
*JM:* Judicial Magistrate.
A judicial officer who deals with criminal cases within Magistrate jurisdiction.
*MC:* Magisterial Clerk.
A term used in some court establishments for staff handling court files, records and ministerial work.
*NBW:* Non-Bailable Warrant.
A warrant issued by the Court to secure the appearance of an accused. “Non-bailable” does not mean that bail can never be granted.
*PP:* Public Prosecutor.
A prosecutor who conducts prosecution on behalf of the State in Sessions Courts and other designated criminal courts.
*PRC No.:* Preliminary Register Case Number.
A case classification/number generally used in the Magistrate Court before a case exclusively triable by the Court of Session is committed to the Sessions Court.
*PT:* Pending Trial.
A term commonly used to indicate that the trial of a criminal case is pending.
*PT Warrant:* Prisoner Transit/Transfer Warrant.
A warrant used for producing an accused/prisoner in custody before another Court or at another place.
*PW:* Prosecution Witness.
A witness examined on behalf of the prosecution.
*SC No.:* Sessions Case Number.
The case number assigned to a case registered before the Court of Session.
*STC No.:* Summary Trial Case Number.
The case number/classification used for a case tried under the summary procedure.
STAGES OF A PENDING TRIAL (PT) CASE ⚖️
*1. TAKEN ON FILE:*
The Court formally takes the case on file and registers it with the appropriate case number.
*2. APPEARANCE OF ACCUSED:*
The accused appears before the Court or is produced from custody. Personal appearance on every hearing date is not an absolute requirement in every case; it may be dispensed with where permitted by law.
*3. SUPPLY OF COPIES:*
In a police-report case, copies of the FIR, police report and other applicable documents are supplied to the accused free of cost.
*CURRENT LAW: BNSS SECTION 230*
*OLD LAW: CrPC SECTION 207*
*4. DISCHARGE / CHARGE STAGE:*
Depending on the procedure applicable to the case, a discharge application may be considered. If the accused is not discharged, the case proceeds to the charge stage.
*5. CHARGE FRAMING:*
The Court frames the charge according to the applicable procedure and explains the charge to the accused.
*6. PROSECUTION EVIDENCE:*
Prosecution witnesses are examined and cross-examined, beginning with PW1 and continuing with the other witnesses. The Investigating Officer may also be examined as a prosecution witness.
*7. EXAMINATION OF ACCUSED:*
*OLD LAW: CrPC SECTION 313*
*CURRENT LAW: BNSS SECTION 351*
The Court questions the accused about circumstances appearing in the evidence against them and gives the accused an opportunity to explain those circumstances.
*8. DEFENCE EVIDENCE:*
The accused may produce defence witnesses and documents, subject to the applicable procedure.
*9. FINAL ARGUMENTS:*
The prosecution and defence counsel present their respective final arguments before the Court.
*10. JUDGMENT:*
After considering the evidence and applicable law, the Court pronounces judgment resulting in acquittal or conviction.
TYPES OF CASES “TAKEN ON FILE ⚖️
*CC:* Calendar Case – A criminal case generally dealt with by a Magistrate Court.
*STC:* Summary Trial Case – A case tried under the summary procedure.
*PRC:* Preliminary Register Case – A case classification used before commitment of a Sessions-triable case to the Court of Session.
*SC:* Sessions Case – A criminal case tried by the Court of Session.
*JC:* Juvenile Case – A term sometimes used for cases involving juveniles/children in conflict with law. It is not a uniform statutory case-number classification in every jurisdiction. Such matters are dealt with under the Juvenile Justice framework by the Juvenile Justice Board.
*ACQUITTAL / CONVICTION PROVISIONS –
OLD CrPC* ⚖️
*CrPC SECTION 235:* Judgment of acquittal or conviction in a Sessions trial.
*CURRENT BNSS: SECTION 258*
*CrPC SECTION 248:* Acquittal or conviction in a warrant-case instituted otherwise than on a police report.
*CURRENT BNSS: SECTION 271*
*CrPC SECTION 255:* Acquittal or conviction in a summons-case.
*CURRENT BNSS: SECTION 278*
*IMPORTANT:*
It is not technically correct to say “248 = acquittal in every CC” or “255 = acquittal in every STC.” The applicable provision depends on the nature and procedure of the case.
IMPORTANT CRIMINAL PROCEDURE SECTIONS ⚖️
*CrPC 317:* Power of the Court to proceed with inquiry or trial in the absence of the accused in appropriate circumstances.
*BNSS 355:* Corresponding current provision.
*CrPC 207:* Supply of copies of the police report and relevant documents to the accused.
*BNSS 230:* Corresponding current provision.
*CrPC 311:* Power of the Court to summon a material witness or recall and re-examine a witness already examined.
*BNSS 348:* Corresponding current provision.
*CrPC 91:* Power relating to production of a document or other thing before the Court.
*BNSS 94:* Corresponding current provision.
*CrPC 205:* Power to dispense with the personal attendance of the accused and permit appearance through a pleader.
*BNSS 228:* Corresponding current provision.
*CrPC 239:* Discharge of an accused in a warrant-case instituted on a police report.
*BNSS 262:* Corresponding current provision.
*CrPC 257:* Withdrawal of complaint.
*BNSS 280:* Corresponding current provision.
*CrPC 301:* Appearance of Public Prosecutors/Assistant Public Prosecutors and role of a private pleader.
*BNSS 338:* Corresponding current provision.
*CrPC 302:* Permission for prosecution to be conducted by another person before a Magistrate.
*BNSS 339:* Corresponding current provision.
*CrPC 156(3):* Power of a Magistrate to order an investigation by the police.
*BNSS 175(3):* Corresponding current provision.
*CrPC 173(8):* Further investigation and submission of a further report.
*BNSS 193(9):* Corresponding current provision.
*CrPC 167(2):* Statutory/default bail provision.
*BNSS 187(3):* Corresponding current provision.
*CrPC 437:* Bail powers of Magistrate Courts.
*BNSS 480:* Corresponding current provision.
*CrPC 438:* Anticipatory Bail.
*BNSS 482:* Corresponding current provision.
*CrPC 439:* Special bail powers of the High Court and Court of Session.
*BNSS 483:* Corresponding current provision.
POLICE INVESTIGATION & RECORD TERMS ⚖️
*AR Copy:* Accident Register Copy – A hospital/medical record relating to an accident or medico-legal case.
*CD:* Case Diary – The day-to-day investigation record maintained by the investigating police officer.
*Cr.No.:* Crime Number – The registration number assigned to a crime/FIR at a Police Station.
*FIR:* First Information Report – The report relating to information recorded by police concerning a cognizable offence.
*FP:* Fingerprint – A fingerprint impression collected for identification or investigation.
*FR:* Final Report – The report submitted by the police to the Court after completion of investigation.
*IO:* Investigating Officer – The police officer conducting the investigation.
*IP:* In-Patient – A person admitted to a hospital for treatment.
*MO:* Medical Officer – A doctor conducting medical or medico-legal examination.
*MO:* Modus Operandi – The method or pattern used by an offender to commit an offence.
*PM:* Post-Mortem – Medical examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death and other relevant findings.
*PMC:* Post-Mortem Certificate/Report – The medical report relating to the post-mortem examination.
*PNR:* Prisoner Nominal Roll – A prison record containing identification and custody-related details of a prisoner.
*R/w:* Read With – Used when one statutory provision is to be read together with another provision.
*Sec.:* Section – A specific provision of an Act or Code.
*SOC:* Scene of Crime – The place where an offence allegedly occurred.
*UI:* Under Investigation – A case in which investigation is still pending.
*U/s:* Under Section – Used to indicate that a case/offence is registered under a particular legal section.
(Advocate Avengers)
*WC:* Wound Certificate – A medical/medico-legal certificate describing injuries.
*CASE CLOSURE & POLICE STATION RECORD TERMS* ⚖️
*AD:* Action Dropped – A police/departmental term indicating that further action has been discontinued.
*UN:* Undetected – A police case status generally indicating that the offender could not be traced or identified.
*MF:* Mistake of Fact – A closure classification used where the alleged offence is not established on the available facts.
*ML:* Mistake of Law – A classification used in some police practices where the issue concerns an error in application of law or a legal provision.
*CSR:* Community Service Register – A register used in some States/Police Departments to record petitions or complaints and provide an acknowledgement/receipt.
*IMPORTANT:* CSR entry does not itself mean that an FIR has been registered.
*GD:* General Diary – The daily record of important events, movements, duties and occurrences at a Police Station.
*SHO:* Station House Officer – The officer in charge of a Police Station.
*OP:* Out Post / Out-Patient – “Out Post” in police context and “Out-Patient” in medical context.
*NOTE:* GCR, LLI, PSR, SHR and RCS are not uniformly used statutory abbreviations. Their exact meanings may vary according to the State, Police Department or local practice. The official departmental usage should be verified before using them in a legal document.
CRIMINAL SURVEILLANCE / POLICE CLASSIFICATIONS* ⚖️
*BC:* Bad Character – A term used in certain police surveillance/record systems.
*DC:* Dossier Criminal – A term used in some police systems for a criminal dossier or background record.
*HO:* Habitual Offender – A police/legal classification relating to habitual criminal activity, subject to the applicable law and police rules.
*HS:* History Sheet – A police record maintained for surveillance purposes according to applicable police rules.
*KD:* Known Depredator – A police surveillance term relating to a known offender/depredator.
*LKD:* Local Known Depredator – A local known depredator classification used in certain police records.
*NLKD:* Non-Local Known Depredator – A known depredator who is not local to the particular police area.
*LFO:* Local First Offender – A classification used in some police practices for a local first offender.
*NLFO:* Non-Local First Offender – A classification used in some police practices for a first offender who is not local to the particular police area.
*IMPORTANT:* These are generally police surveillance/record classifications and should not automatically be treated as statutory legal rights or findings of guilt. The terminology and criteria may vary under State Police Manuals and departmental rules.
ADMINISTRATIVE & SPECIAL POLICE TERMS ⚖️
*L & O:* Law & Order – Police functions relating to maintenance of public peace and order.
*OD:* Other Duty – A duty assigned other than the officer’s regular duty.
*PSO:* Police Standing Orders – Standing instructions/orders governing police duties and procedures.
*ID:* Illicit Distillation – Illegal manufacture or distillation of liquor.
*IMFL:* Indian Made Foreign Liquor – Excise terminology generally used for foreign-style liquor manufactured in India.
*IMFS:* Indian Made Foreign Spirits – A term used in some State Excise/departmental contexts for spirits manufactured in India.
*GSE:* Good Service Entry – An entry in a service record recognizing good service or performance.
*MSE:* Meritorious Service Entry – An entry relating to meritorious or outstanding service.
IMPORTANT CURRENT CRIMINAL LAW NOTE ⚖️
*The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) came into force on 1 July 2024 and replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC), subject to the applicable savings/transition provisions.*
Therefore, for current criminal proceedings, the corresponding BNSS provision should be checked. CrPC provisions may still appear in older proceedings depending on the applicable transition/saving provisions.
QUICK REVISION
CrPC → BNSS SECTIONS*
*CrPC 91 → BNSS 94*
*CrPC 156(3) → BNSS 175(3)*
*CrPC 167(2) → BNSS 187(3)*
*CrPC 173(8) → BNSS 193(9)*
*CrPC 205 → BNSS 228*
*CrPC 207 → BNSS 230*
*CrPC 239 → BNSS 262*
*CrPC 257 → BNSS 280*
*CrPC 301 → BNSS 338*
*CrPC 302 → BNSS 339*
*CrPC 311 → BNSS 348*
*CrPC 313 → BNSS 351*
*CrPC 317 → BNSS 355*
*CrPC 437 → BNSS 480*
*CrPC 438 → BNSS 482*
*CrPC 439 → BNSS 483*
ACQUITTAL / CONVICTION
*CrPC 235 → BNSS 258*
*CrPC 248 → BNSS 271*
*CrPC 255 → BNSS 278*
