When someone says your case is “in court,” that single phrase can hide a dozen different legal moments. Indian criminal procedure under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) still follows the same broad journey families learned under the old Code of Criminal Procedure — but section numbers, some labels, and a few time-limit discussions have changed. This overview names all thirteen stages in order so you can place your papers on the right shelf before calling counsel.
The thirteen stages in one view
Courts and lawyers sometimes count stages differently. The framework below matches the stage finder on the parent page — one number per major gate, not every minor adjournment.
STAGE FLOW (BNSS ERA)
====================
[1] FIR / information
|
v
[2] Investigation (police / agency)
|
v
[3] Chargesheet (or closure / final report)
|
v
[4] Cognizance by court
|
v
[5] Process & service (summons / warrant / presence)
|
v
[6] Committal* (Sessions track only)
|
v
[7] Charge framed / substance of accusation
|
v
[8] Prosecution evidence (PW examination)
|
v
[9] Statement of accused (BNSS s. 351 — old "313")
|
v
[10] Defence evidence (if led)
|
v
[11] Final arguments
|
v
[12] Judgment & sentence (if convicted)
|
v
[13] Appeal / revision
* Stage 6 skipped in many Magistrate-track cases.Stage-by-stage in plain words
Stage 1 — FIR or information: Police register a First Information Report, or a Magistrate takes a complaint. Your case number at the police station starts here. BNSS retained the FIR concept; families still receive the same style of copy with sections from the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) where applicable.
Stage 2 — Investigation: Police collect statements, documents, medical papers, CCTV, and other material. Bail applications, anticipatory bail, and remand hearings often sit inside this stage even though they feel like “court work.”
Stage 3 — Chargesheet: Police file a final report accusing named persons, or a closure report if they find no offence. A chargesheet does not mean conviction; it means the prosecution wants the court to proceed.
Stage 4 — Cognizance: The Magistrate or court formally takes notice of the offence and the accused. Without cognizance, trial cannot begin on a police report. Complaint cases have a parallel but distinct path.
Stage 5 — Process and papers: Summons, warrants, sureties, and supply of copies to accused. Families often confuse this with “trial started” because the accused must appear.
Stage 6 — Committal: In Sessions-triable matters, the Magistrate commits the case to Sessions after framing charges at the committal stage or holding inquiry as procedure requires. Many Aligarh families first hear “Sessions” here.
Stage 7 — Charge or accusation: The court frames charges (warrant/Sessions track) or conveys substance of accusation (summons track). Discharge applications are typically argued before or around this gate.
Stage 8 — Prosecution evidence: Witnesses for the prosecution testify. This block often consumes the longest calendar time.
Stage 9 — Statement of accused: The court puts incriminating circumstances to the accused under BNSS Section 351. Older papers and lawyers still say “313 statement.”
Stage 10 — Defence evidence: Optional. Defence may lead witnesses or rely on prosecution gaps without leading evidence.
Stage 11 — Final arguments: Both sides summarise the record. Written submissions are common in longer matters.
Stage 12 — Judgment: Acquittal, conviction, or mixed result. Sentence may follow immediately or on a fixed date.
Stage 13 — Appeal or revision: Separate clock from judgment. Limitation and forum depend on which court decided the case.
BNSS names families still mix up
| What you hear | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| CrPC 313 | BNSS 351 statement of accused |
| CrPC 161 / 154 | BNSS investigation statements / FIR rules |
| BNS sections | Substantive offences (replaced much of IPC) |
| BNSS | Procedure code (replaced much of CrPC) |
Pending cases registered under old law may still cite CrPC in orders. The stage number on the parent finder remains valid; only the citation line changes.
Magistrate track vs Sessions track
Stages 1–5 look similar. The split appears at committal and charge: Sessions matters add Stage 6 and usually run before a Sessions Judge after committal. Warrant cases before a Magistrate may never show a committal order. If your order sheet says “committed to Sessions,” you are past Stage 6 even when dates feel slow.
How to use this overview
Read the stage name, then open the parent finder and tap the same number for weekly tasks. Do not treat this article as a substitute for orders in your file. The latest daily order fixes your stage — not WhatsApp forwards, not police oral assurances.
This-week checklist
- List the last three daily orders and match each to a stage number above.
- Note whether your papers cite BNSS, CrPC, or both.
- Confirm if any committal order exists (Sessions path).
- Mark whether chargesheet or closure report is filed.
- Check if prosecution evidence, 351 statement, or arguments are mentioned.
- Write one sentence: “We are closest to Stage ___ because the order says ___.”
- Bring that sentence to counsel on the next date.
FAQs
Are there always exactly thirteen hearings?
No. Thirteen stages are thirteen legal phases. Each phase may need many court dates.
Did BNSS reduce the number of stages?
No. BNSS renumbered and refined procedure; the family-facing journey remains comparable to the old thirteen-step map.
Which stage is “trial” in common speech?
Lawyers often mean prosecution evidence onward (Stages 8–12). Police mean investigation (Stage 2). Clarify which speaker you ask.
Can stages overlap?
Yes. Bail, further investigation, and process service can run beside the main stage line. Use the dominant order purpose to pick one primary stage.
Speak to Advocate Rampal Singh in Aligarh
For help mapping BNSS stage names to your court papers in Aligarh, contact Advocate Rampal Singh at +91 75204 04411 or +91 80774 13315. Chamber 7, CJM Court, Aligarh.
Educational disclaimer: This article provides general legal education, not legal advice. Procedure depends on the court record, orders, facts, and applicable law. It does not promise any result.
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