Section 398: Warrant for arrest of witness not attending on recognizance

Where a person who has been summoned to attend as a witness, whether for the prosecution or for the defence, does not attend the court on the day fixed for the trial of the case or on any further adjourned date, and he offers no reasonable excuse for his absence, despite the fact that he was duly served with the notice of the trial, the court may issue a bench warrant that the person be arrested and be brought before the court, at a time to be mentioned in the warrant, in order to give evidence on behalf of the prosecution or of the defence, as the case may be.