(1)When an an accused is committed for trial on a charge of murder, the committing Magistrate shall at the time of passing order for his commitment enquire of the accused whether he will make arrangements for his own defence in the Court of Sessions or wishes to be defended at the expense of Government, and shall communicate the result of his enquiry to Sessions. Judge direct filing a copy of the letter with the commitment record. If the accused expresses a wish to be defended at Government expense, the committing Magistrate shall state in the letter whether in his opinion the accused can afford to engage a pleader in the Sessions Court, giving the grounds for his opinion. It shall be stated whether the accused was defended by a pleader in the Lower Court.
