Criminal Procedure Code · Updated to 1 May 2023 · Chapter XXIX · Previous Acquittals or Convictions
303. Plea of previous acquittal or conviction
Feedback & supportThe plea of a previous acquittal or conviction may be pleaded either orally or in writing, and may be in the following form or to the following effect—
The defendant says that by virtue of section 302 of the Criminal
Procedure Code he is not liable to be tried.
172
Such plea may be pleaded together with any other plea, but the issue raised by the plea shall be tried and disposed of before the issues raised by the other pleas are tried.
On the trial in the High Court of an issue on a plea of a previous acquittal or conviction the depositions transmitted to the Court on the former trial, together with the notes of the Judge if available, and the depositions transmitted to the Court on the subsequent charge, shall be admissible in evidence to prove or disprove the identity of the charges.
Court
“Court” means the High Court, a Sessions Court, or a Magistrate’s Court of any class, as the context may require;