CrPC Section 395: Reference to High Court
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Chapter 30: Reference and Revision
Repealed on 1 July 2024 and replaced by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS).
¶ 395. Reference to High Court.- (1) Where any Court is satisfied that a case pending before it involves a question as to the validity of any Act, Ordinance or Regulation or of any provision contained in an Act, Ordinance or Regulation, the determination of which is necessary for the disposal of the case, and is of opinion that such Act, Ordinance, Regulation or provision is invalid or inoperative, but has not been so declared by the High Court to which that Court is subordinate or by the Supreme Court, the Court shall state a case setting out its opinion and the reasons therefore, and refer the same for the decision of the High Court.
¶
Explanation.-In this section, "Regulation" means any Regulation as defined in the General Clauses Act, 1897 (10 of 1897), or in the General Clauses Act of a State.
¶(2) A Court of Session or a Metropolitan Magistrate may, if it or he thinks fit in any case pending before it or him to which the provisions of sub-section (1) do not apply, refer for the decision of the High Court any question of law arising in the hearing of such case.
¶(3) Any Court making a reference to the High Court under sub-section (1) or sub¬section (2) may, pending the decision of the High Court thereon, either commit the accused to jail or release him on bail to appear when called upon.
Study: explanations and related material
Now BNSS 436 (corresponding section). CrPC → BNSS converterSource: BPR&D BNSS–CrPC corresponding section table (UP Police, 2024-07-03), p21
Official reference: Ministry of Home Affairs: historical CrPC reference — source link checked: 2 October 2026.Recorded edition / snapshot date: 2024-06-30.Mobile-app reference import; the recorded snapshot date is not a fresh legal-currency guarantee. The linked government text is an independent authoritative reference, not certification that this website reproduces the same edition. The source link was checked, not every provision or subsequent amendment. Check commencement notifications, savings and jurisdiction-specific variations separately. Section 135 was restored and individually checked against the linked government PDF (pages 75–76) on 2026-10-02; this is not a verification of the whole collection. Schedules and forms are not consolidated here. Historical code retained for reference; read the repeal/savings provisions in the successor code.
This text is for reference, not legal advice. Consult the official source for the authoritative text.
Other sections in this chapter
- 396. Disposal of case according to decision of High Court
- 397. Calling for records to exercise powers of revision
- 398. Power to order inquiry
- 399. Sessions Judge's powers of revision
- 400. Power of Additional Sessions Judge
- 401. High Court's powers of revision
- 402. Power of High Court to withdraw or transfer revision cases
- 403. Option of Court to hear parties
- 404. Statement by Metropolitan Magistrate of grounds of his decision to be considered by High Court
- 405. High Court's order to be certified to lower Court