BNS OFFENCES – ELIGIBILITY FILTER
✅ BNS OFFENCES GENERALLY FIT FOR LOK ADALAT
(Personal / private / civil-flavoured offences)
| BNS Section | Nature of Offence | Lok Adalat |
|---|---|---|
| BNS 115 | Voluntarily causing hurt | ✔ |
| BNS 126 | Wrongful restraint | ✔ |
| BNS 127 | Wrongful confinement | ✔ |
| BNS 128 | Assault / criminal force | ✔ |
| BNS 129 | Assault on grave provocation | ✔ |
| BNS 134 | Criminal intimidation (Part-I) | ✔ |
| BNS 316 | Theft (simple) | ✔ |
| BNS 318 | Criminal breach of trust | ✔ |
| BNS 319 | Cheating | ✔ |
| BNS 321 | Mischief | ✔ |
| BNS 326 | Criminal trespass | ✔ |
| BNS 329 | House trespass | ✔ |
| BNS 351 | Intentional insult | ✔ |
| BNS 352 | Criminal intimidation (simple) | ✔ |
📌 These offences are either compoundable or treated as “private disputes” as per SC guidelines.
C. BNS OFFENCES – CONDITIONAL (COURT PERMISSION REQUIRED)
| BNS Section | Nature | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| BNS 117 | Grievous hurt | With Court leave |
| BNS 320 | Cheating with documents | Monetary settlement |
| BNS 324 | Misappropriation | Full restitution |
| BNS 356 | Forgery (non-serious) | Civil flavour |
📌 Scrutiny committee must flag “Court permission required”.
D. BNS OFFENCES – NOT FIT FOR LOK ADALAT ❌
☐ BNS 103 / 104 – Murder / attempt to murder
☐ BNS sexual offences (rape, aggravated assault)
☐ BNS offences against State / public justice
☐ Organised crime / terrorism chapters
☐ Repeat or habitual serious offenders
📌 Automatic rejection category.
E. MIXED CASES (VERY COMMON)
☐ BNS + NI Act 138 → ✔ Fit
☐ BNS + MV Act → ✔ MV Act part only
☐ BNS + Family dispute → ✔ Fit
☐ BNS + MACT implications → ✔ Criminal settlement allowed, MACT separate
**National Lok Adalat
COMPOUNDABLE OFFENCES – READY REFERENCE LIST**
I. COMPOUNDABLE OFFENCES UNDER CRPC (SECTION 320)
A. Compoundable WITHOUT permission of Court
(S.320(1) CrPC)
| Section (IPC) | Offence |
|---|---|
| 298 | Uttering words to wound religious feelings |
| 323 | Voluntarily causing hurt |
| 334 | Hurt on grave provocation |
| 341 | Wrongful restraint |
| 342 | Wrongful confinement |
| 352 | Assault or use of criminal force |
| 355 | Assault with intent to dishonour |
| 358 | Assault on grave provocation |
| 379 | Theft (non-aggravated) |
| 403 | Dishonest misappropriation of property |
| 406 | Criminal breach of trust |
| 411 | Dishonestly receiving stolen property |
| 417 | Cheating |
| 426 | Mischief |
| 447 | Criminal trespass |
| 448 | House trespass |
| 451 | House trespass to commit offence |
| 482 | Using false property mark |
| 504 | Intentional insult |
| 506 | Criminal intimidation (Part-I) |
✔ Ideal for Lok Adalat
B. Compoundable WITH permission of Court
(S.320(2) CrPC)
| Section | Offence |
|---|---|
| 325 | Grievous hurt |
| 326A (attempt stage) | Acid-related lesser stages |
| 335 | Grievous hurt on provocation |
| 343–348 | Wrongful confinement (aggravated) |
| 354 | Assault on woman (minor nature) |
| 357 | Assault with intent to dishonour |
| 380 | Theft in dwelling house |
| 420 | Cheating |
| 468 | Forgery (non-serious) |
| 471 | Using forged document |
| 477A | Falsification of accounts |
✔ Regularly placed before Lok Adalat with Court permission
II. NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS ACT
| Section | Nature |
|---|---|
| 138 | Cheque dishonour |
✅ Fully compoundable
📌 Most common category in National Lok Adalat
(SC: Damodar S. Prabhu v. Sayed Babalal H.)
III. MOTOR VEHICLES ACT, 1988
| Section | Offence |
|---|---|
| 177 | General violation |
| 178 | Helmet / seatbelt |
| 179 | Disobedience |
| 181 | No licence |
| 183 | Over-speeding |
| 184 | Dangerous driving |
| 185 | Drunken driving (first time) |
| 190 | Unsafe / modified vehicle |
| 196 | No insurance |
✔ Compoundable under Section 200 MV Act
✔ Frequently taken in Lok Adalat
IV. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT, 2005
| Provision | Status |
|---|---|
| S.12 applications | ✔ Settled |
| Maintenance | ✔ Settled |
| Compensation | ✔ Settled |
📌 Quasi-civil → ideal for Lok Adalat
V. FAMILY & MATRIMONIAL OFFENCES
| Section | Status |
|---|---|
| 498A IPC | ✔ Settled in Lok Adalat (as per SC) |
| 406 IPC | ✔ Settled |
| Maintenance cases | ✔ Settled |
| Mutual divorce terms | ✔ Settled |
(SC: Gian Singh, Narinder Singh)
VI. SPECIAL ACTS (COMMONLY SETTLED)
| Act | Nature |
|---|---|
| Essential Commodities (minor) | ✔ |
| Shops & Establishments Act | ✔ |
| Electricity Act (theft – civil settlement) | ✔ |
| Panchayat / Revenue minor offences | ✔ |
VII. NOT SUITABLE FOR NATIONAL LOK ADALAT ❌
| Category |
|---|
| Murder / Attempt to murder |
| Rape / POCSO |
| NDPS serious offences |
| Corruption Act |
| Economic offences involving public money |
| Habitual / repeat serious offenders |
VIII. GOLDEN RULE USED BY LOK ADALAT
If the offence is compoundable OR personal in nature OR has civil flavour → it can be placed before National Lok Adalat.
IX. SAFE COURT LINE TO RECORD
“The dispute being compoundable / of personal nature, the matter is referred to National Lok Adalat for amicable settlement.”