Sessions Trial (As per New Criminal Laws)

This Ninth Edition of Sessions Trial by S P Tyagi provides an updated and systematic exposition of trial procedures before the Court of Sessions under the newly enacted criminal laws - Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). Integrating doctrinal clarity with practical guidance, the book outlines the complete lifecycle of a sessions trial, addressing statutory requirements, procedural mandates, evidentiary principles, and evolving judicial interpretations. With expanded coverage on contemporary issues such as E-FIR, medico-legal complexities, custodial deaths, and the role of FIR under the new regime, the work serves as a consolidated reference for effective courtroom practice.

Key Features

• Detailed discussion on the powers and jurisdiction of the Court of Sessions under the new criminal law framework.
• Structured analysis of stages in a sessions trial, including discharge, framing of charges, prosecution evidence, examination of the accused, and defence presentation.
• Comprehensive chapters on evidentiary elements such as res gestae, dying declarations, identification evidence, and appreciation of circumstantial evidence.
• Special focus on sensitive categories including POCSO cases, dowry death trials, and trials involving juvenile offenders.
• Practical treatment of admissions, confessions, plea of alibi, joint trials, and summoning of additional accused.
• Insights on medico-legal evidence, custodial death cases, recovery procedures, and the role of motive in prosecution strategy.
• Coverage of trial-adjacent aspects: discretionary powers, fair and speedy trial guarantees, and rights of the accused.
• Incorporates procedural innovations including E-FIR and digital documentation under BNSS.

This book is designed for legal practitioners, judicial officers, law students, academicians, and candidates preparing for competitive examinations that include criminal law and procedure. It is also valuable for public prosecutors, defence counsel, police officers, and researchers who require a clear, authoritative, and practice-oriented understanding of sessions trial processes under the new criminal jurisprudence framework introduced by BNS, BNSS, and BSA.

1. Introductory and Preliminary
2. Pre-Sessions Trial Exercise
3. Construction and Powers of the Court of Sessions
4. Power of the Court of Sessions to summon Additional Accused
5. Opening case for Prosecution
6. Discharge and Framing of Charge in Sessions Trial
7. Conviction on Plea of Guilty
8. Public Prosecutor and Prosecution Evidence
9. Acquittal in case of no Evidence
10. Examination of Accused under Section 313 Code of Criminal Procedure
11. Entering upon Defense, Plea of Alibi and Conduct of Accused
12. Role of Motive and Res-Gestae
13. Role of F.I.R.
14. Direct and Circumstantial Evidence
15. Dying Declaration
16. Identification of Accused and Property
17. Admissions, Confessions and Recovery under Section 27, Evidence Act
18. Irregularities and Illegalities in Investigation, Search and Seizure
19. Appreciation of Evidence of various types of witnesses
20. Some Golden, Sound and Guiding principles of appreciation of Evidence
21. Trial of Juvenile Offender
22. Hearing of the question of sentence and Imposition of the death sentence
23. Dowry Death
24. Application of Joint/Constructive or Vicarious Liability and Law as to Criminal Conspiracy
25. Determination of Medico-Legal questions in Sessions Trial
26. Role of the Trial Judge in a Session Trial
Appendix
Topical Index.