law: Code of Criminal Procedure Act, 1973
  
  218.Separate charges for distinct offences.-
  (1) For every distinct offence of which any
  
  person is accused there shall be a separate charge, and every such charge shall
  
  be tried separately:
  
  Provided that where the accused person, by an application in writing, so
  
  desires and the Magistrate is of opinion that such person is not likely to be
  
  prejudiced thereby, the Magistrate may try together all or any number of the
  
  charges framed against such person.
  (2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall affect the operation of the provisions of
  
  sections 219, 220, 221 and 223.
  
  Illustration
  
  
  A is accused of a theft on one occasion, and of causing grievous hurt on
  
  another occasion. A must be separately charged and separately tried for the
  
  theft and causing grievous hurt.