Section 293 BNSS: Disposal of Case After Plea Bargaining

Section 293 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 explains how a Court must dispose of a case after a satisfactory disposition has been worked out under Section 292 in the plea bargaining process.

Updated: September 11, 2026

Current legal status: The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 came into force on July 1, 2024, subject to the notified exception concerning the First Schedule entry related to Section 106(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Meaning and scope of Section 293 BNSS

Section 293 forms part of the BNSS provisions dealing with plea bargaining. It operates only after a satisfactory disposition of the case has been worked out and reported to the Court under Section 292 BNSS.

The section directs the Court to deal with victim compensation first, then hear the parties on punishment and the possible benefit of probation or other applicable law. It also prescribes reduced sentencing standards for cases in which probation is not granted.

Section 293 BNSS - statutory provision

293. Disposal of case. Where a satisfactory disposition of the case has been worked out under section 292, the Court shall dispose of the case in the following manner, namely:-

(a) the Court shall award the compensation to the victim in accordance with the disposition under section 292 and hear the parties on the quantum of the punishment, releasing of the accused on probation of good conduct or after admonition under section 401 or for dealing with the accused under the provisions of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 or any other law for the time being in force and follow the procedure specified in the succeeding clauses for imposing the punishment on the accused;

(b) after hearing the parties under clause (a), if the Court is of the view that section 401 or the provisions of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 or any other law for the time being in force are attracted in the case of the accused, it may release the accused on probation or provide the benefit of any such law;

(c) after hearing the parties under clause (b), if the Court finds that minimum punishment has been provided under the law for the offence committed by the accused, it may sentence the accused to half of such minimum punishment, and where the accused is a first-time offender and has not been convicted of any offence in the past, it may sentence the accused to one-fourth of such minimum punishment;

(d) in case after hearing the parties under clause (b), the Court finds that the offence committed by the accused is not covered under clause (b) or clause (c), then, it may sentence the accused to one-fourth of the punishment provided or extendable for such offence and where the accused is a first-time offender and has not been convicted of any offence in the past, it may sentence the accused to one-sixth of the punishment provided or extendable, for such offence.

How the Court disposes of the case under Section 293

1. Compensation to the victim

The Court must award compensation to the victim in accordance with the satisfactory disposition recorded under Section 292. The compensation component therefore follows the result reached through the plea bargaining process.

2. Hearing on punishment and probation

The Court must hear the parties on the quantum of punishment and on whether the accused should receive the benefit of probation of good conduct, admonition, the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958, or another applicable law.

3. Probation or benefit of another applicable law

If the Court concludes that the BNSS provision relating to probation, the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958, or another applicable law is attracted, it may release the accused on probation or grant the appropriate statutory benefit.

4. Offence carrying a minimum punishment

If the offence carries a prescribed minimum punishment and probation is not applied, the Court may impose one-half of that minimum punishment. For a first-time offender who has not previously been convicted of any offence, the Court may impose one-fourth of the minimum punishment.

5. Offence without the minimum-punishment situation

Where the case is not covered by the probation clause or the minimum-punishment clause, the Court may impose one-fourth of the punishment provided or extendable for the offence. For a first-time offender with no past conviction, the Court may impose one-sixth of the punishment provided or extendable.

Key point: Section 293 does not independently begin plea bargaining. It prescribes the Court's disposal and sentencing process after the satisfactory disposition contemplated by Section 292 has already been worked out.

Related BNSS provisions

Practical summary

In a successful plea bargaining matter, Section 293 provides the bridge between the mutually satisfactory disposition and the final judicial outcome. The Court gives effect to victim compensation, considers probation and other statutory benefits, hears the parties on sentence, and then applies the reduced punishment formula specified by the section where appropriate.