A common point of confusion in Indian criminal litigation is whether a court can review or alter its decision once a final judgment has been pronounced and signed. While civil courts enjoy broad powers of review under the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC), criminal courts in India operate under a strict statutory bar . Here is a breakdown of the legal framework, key provisions under the new Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 , and the crucial judicial exceptions every law student and practitioner should know. 1. The Statutory Bar: Section 403 BNSS (Section 362 CrPC) The core statutory bar preventing a criminal court from altering its final decision is codified under Section 403 of the BNSS, 2023 (corresponding to Section 362 of the CrPC, 1973 ). Section 403, BNSS 2023: "Save as otherwise provided by this Sanhita or by any other law for the time being in force, no Court, when it has signed its judgment or final order disposing of a case, shall alter or r...