Section 276.   Conviction on plea of guilty in absence of accused in petty cases.

(1) Where a summons has been issued under section 229 and the accused
desires to plead guilty to the charge without appearing before the Magistrate, he shall
transmit to the Magistrate, by post or by messenger, a letter containing his plea and also the
amount of fine specified in the summons.
(2) The Magistrate may, in his discretion, convict the accused in his absence, on his
plea of guilty and sentence him to pay the fine specified in the summons, and the amount
transmitted by the accused shall be adjusted towards that fine, or where a pleader authorised
by the accused in this behalf pleads guilty on behalf of the accused, the Magistrate shall
record the plea as nearly as possible in the words used by the pleader and may, in his
discretion, convict the accused on such plea and sentence him as aforesaid.