Cr.P.C Section 232 | Effect of material error.

Cr.P.C Section 232

Effect of material error.

(1) If any Appellate Court, or the High Court [,or the Court of Session] in the exercise of its powers of revision or of its powers under Chapter of opinion that any person convicted of an offence was misled in his defence by the absence of a charge or by an error in the charge, it shall direct a new trial to be had upon a charge framed in whatever manner it thinks fit.

(2) If the Court is of opinion that the facts of the case are such that no valid charge could be preferred against the accused in respect of the facts proved, it shall quash the conviction.
 

Illustration

A is convicted of an offence, under section 196 of the Pakistan Penal Code (XLV of 1860), upon a charge which omits to state that he knew the evidence, which he corruptly used or attempted to use as true or genuine, was false or fabricated. If the Court thinks it probable that A had such knowledge, and that he was misled in his defence by the omission from the charge of the statement that he had it, it shall direct a new trial upon an amended charge; but, if it appears probable from the proceedings that A had no such knowledge, it shall quash the conviction.