Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Section 390
Appeals from convictions under sections 383, 384, 388 and 389
(1) Any person sentenced by any Court other than a High Court under section 383, section 384, section 388, or section 389 may, notwithstanding anything contained in this Sanhita appeal to the Court to which decrees or orders made in such Court are ordinarily appealable.
(2) The provisions of Chapter XXXI shall, so far as they are applicable, apply to appeals under this section, and the Appellate Court may alter or reverse the finding, or reduce or reverse the sentence appealed against.
(3) An appeal from such conviction by a Court of Small Causes shall lie to the Court of Session for the sessions division within which such Court is situate.
(4) An appeal from such conviction by any Registrar or Sub-Registrar deemed to be a Civil Court by virtue of a direction issued under section 386 shall lie to the Court of Session for the sessions division within which the office of such Registrar or Sub-Registrar is situate.
Why this exists
The summary powers in sections 383, 384, 388, and 389 let courts punish people quickly, sometimes on the same day, with limited procedural steps. To balance that speed against fairness, this section guarantees a meaningful right of appeal, and clearly specifies which appellate court handles each situation so people know exactly where to challenge a conviction.