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DRAFT FOR LAWYER REVIEW · NOT FILED

APPLICATION UNDER SECTION 479(3) OF THE BHARATIYA NAGARIK SURAKSHA SANHITA, 2023

To,

The Hon'ble Court of न्यायालय अपर सत्र न्यायाधीश, कोर्ट संख्या 5, आगरा

From: The Superintendent, ______________________ Jail

Subject: Release of undertrial prisoner र— कु— in जमानत प्रार्थना पत्र संख्या 3127/2026 on having undergone the period under Section 479(1) BNSS

Respectfully showeth:

1. The undertrial prisoner र— कु— is detained in this jail in connection with the above case, charged under IPC 1860 s.379, IPC 1860 s.411.

2. As per the court record, the prisoner has been in custody since 14 Mar 2023, that is, 1340 days as of the date of this application.

3. The maximum punishment specified for the offence charged is imprisonment for 3 years. One-third of that period was completed on 14 Mar 2024. The record shows the prisoner has no previous conviction, so the one-third period under the first proviso to Section 479(1) applies.

4. The prisoner has therefore undergone the period required by Section 479(1) BNSS, and has done so 974 days ago.

5. Section 479(3) BNSS requires the Superintendent of the jail, where the accused has completed the period mentioned in sub-section (1), to forthwith make an application in writing to the Court for release of such person.

6. The case was registered before 1 July 2024. By its order dated 23 Aug 2024 in In Re: Inhuman Conditions in 1382 Prisons, W.P.(C) No. 406 of 2013, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has directed that Section 479 BNSS applies to undertrials in such cases as well.

Extracts from the court record relied on:

IPC 379 “अन्तर्गत धारा 379, 411 भा.द.वि.”

IPC 411 “अन्तर्गत धारा 379, 411 भा.द.वि.”

custody from 2023-03-14 “प्रार्थी/अभियुक्त दिनांक 14.03.2023 से जिला कारागार आगरा में निरुद्ध है।”

first-time offender: true “प्रार्थी/अभियुक्त का कोई आपराधिक इतिहास नहीं है।”

other cases pending: false “प्रार्थी/अभियुक्त का कोई आपराधिक इतिहास नहीं है।”

registered 2023-03-12 “इस संबंध में दिनांक 12.03.2023 को थाना सुजानपुर पर प्रथम सूचना रिपोर्ट पंजीकृत की गई।”

Computation

  1. IPC 1860 s.379 (Punishment for theft) → max 3 years
  2. IPC 1860 s.411 (Dishonestly receiving stolen property) → max 3 years
  3. Case from before 1 Jul 2024: Sec 479 BNSS still applies, per the Supreme Court order of 23 Aug 2024. Old Sec 436A CrPC (half line, no first-time benefit) shown for comparison.
  4. Longest maximum among the charges: 3 years (IPC 1860 s.379).
  5. First-time offender (per the papers): one-third of 3 years.
  6. Custody began 14 Mar 2023.
  7. Line: 14 Mar 2024.
  8. Today: 13 Nov 2026; 1340 days detained.
  9. Detention has reached the full maximum term.
  10. Sec 479(2): More than one offence is charged (IPC 1860 s.379, IPC 1860 s.411).
  11. PAST THE LINE by 974 days, FLAGGED under Sec 479(2): a lawyer decides how 479(2) applies before the application.

Points for the reviewing lawyer before filing:

  • Detained for the full maximum term or longer: Sec 479(1) second proviso bars any further detention.
  • More than one offence is charged (IPC 1860 s.379, IPC 1860 s.411).

It is therefore prayed that the Hon'ble Court may be pleased to order the release of the undertrial prisoner on bail or bond, on such conditions as the Court deems fit.

Superintendent, ______________________ Jail

Reviewed by legal-aid counsel: ______________________ (name, enrolment no., signature)

Date: 2026-11-13

Prepared with HalfTime as a screening draft. The computation must be checked against the full court record before filing.