Plea bargaining eligibility restricted to specified offences, excluding serious crimes and offences against women or children. Plea bargaining under Chapter XXIII applies to accused persons against whom a police report under section 193 has been forwarded or a Magistrate has taken cognizance on complaint after examining complainant and witnesses and issuing process; it is unavailable for offences punishable by death, life imprisonment, or terms exceeding a statutory threshold, and excludes offences affecting the socio-economic condition of the country or offences committed against a woman or a child, with the Central Government empowered by notification to specify socio-economic offences.