(1) In every inquiry or trial the proceedings shall be continued from day-to-day
basis until all the witnesses in attendance have been examined, unless the Court finds the
adjournment of the same beyond the following day to be necessary for reasons to be
recorded:
Provided that when the inquiry or trial relates to an offence under section 64,
section 66, section 67, section 68 and section 70 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 the
inquiry or trial shall be completed within a period of two months from the date of filing of the
chargesheet.
(2) If the Court, after taking cognizance of an offence, or commencement of trial, finds
it necessary or advisable to postpone the commencement of, or adjourn, any inquiry or trial,
it may, from time to time, for reasons to be recorded, postpone or adjourn the same on such
terms as it thinks fit, for such time as it considers reasonable, and may by a warrant remand
the accused if in custody:
Provided that no Court shall remand an accused person to custody under this
section for a term exceeding fifteen days at a time:
Provided further that when witnesses are in attendance, no adjournment or
postponement shall be granted, without examining them, except for special reasons to be
recorded in writing:
Provided also that no adjournment shall be granted for the purpose only of enabling
the accused person to show cause against the sentence proposed to be imposed on him:
Provided also that—
(a) no adjournment shall be granted at the request of a party, except where the
circumstances are beyond the control of that party;
(b) where the circumstances are beyond the control of a party, not more than
two adjournments may be granted by the Court after hearing the objections of the
other party and for the reasons to be recorded in writing;
(c) the fact that the advocate of a party is engaged in another Court, shall not be
a ground for adjournment;
(d) where a witness is present in Court but a party or his advocate is not present
or the party or his advocate though present in Court, is not ready to examine or
cross-examine the witness, the Court may, if thinks fit, record the statement of the
witness and pass such orders as it thinks fit dispensing with the examination-in-chief
or cross-examination of the witness, as the case may be.
Explanation 1.—If sufficient evidence has been obtained to raise a suspicion that
the accused may have committed an offence, and it appears likely that further evidence may
be obtained by a remand, this is a reasonable cause for a remand.
Explanation 2.—The terms on which an adjournment or postponement may be granted
include, in appropriate cases, the payment of costs by the prosecution or the accused.
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