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The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898

( ACT NO. V OF 1898 )

Chapter XL

OF COMMISSIONS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES

When attendance of witness may be dispensed with Issue of commission and procedure thereunder
503.(1) Whenever in the course of an inquiry, a trial or any other proceeding under this Code, it appears to 1[a Metropolitan Magistrate], 2[a Chief Judicial Magistrate], a Court of Session or the High Court Division that the examination of a witness is necessary for the ends of justice, and that the attendance of such witness cannot be procured without an amount of delay, expense or inconvenience which, under the circumstances of the case, would be unreasonable, such Magistrate or Court may dispense with such attendance and may issue a commission to any District Magistrate, 3[Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or Chief Judicial Magistrate], within the local limits of whose jurisdiction such witness resides, to take the evidence of such witness.
 
 
(2) and (2A) [Omitted by section 3 and 2nd Schedule of the Bangladesh Laws (Revision And Declaration) Act, 1973 (Act No. VIII of 1973).]
 
 
(2B) When the witness resides in the United Kingdom or any other country of the Commonwealth other than Bangladesh, or in the Union of Burma, or any other country in which reciprocal arrangement in this behalf exists, the commission may be issued to such Court or Judge having authority in this behalf in that country as may be specified by the Government by notification in the official Gazette.
 
 
(3) The Magistrate or officer to whom the commission is issued, or if he is the 4[Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or the Chief Judicial Magistrate], he, or 5[any other Magistrate] as he appoints in this behalf, shall proceed to the place where the witness is or shall summon the witness before him, and shall take down his evidence in the same manner, and may for this purpose exercise the same powers, as in trials of warrant-cases under this Code.
 
 
(4) [Omitted by section 3 and 2nd Schedule of the Bangladesh Laws (Revision And Declaration) Act, 1973 (Act No. VIII of 1973).]

  • 1
    The letter and words "a Metropolitan Magistrate" were inserted by the Schedule of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Ordinance, 1976 (Ordinance No. LXXXVI of 1976)
  • 2
    The words “a Chief Judicial Magistrate” were substituted for the words “a District Magistrate” by section 88(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2009 (Act No. XXXII of 2009) (with effect from 1st November, 2007).
  • 3
    The words “Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or Chief Judicial Magistrate” were substituted for the words “or Magistrate of the first class” by section 88(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2009 (Act No. XXXII of 2009) (with effect from 1st November, 2007).
  • 4
    The words “Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or the Chief Judicial Magistrate” were substituted for the words “District Magistrate” by section 88(b) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2009 (Act No. XXXII of 2009) (wit h effect from 1st November, 2007).
  • 5
    The words “any other Magistrate” were substituted for the words and comma “such Magistrate, of the first class” by section 88(b) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2009 (Act No. XXXII of 2009) (with effect from 1st November, 2007).
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