[199] Then the Venerable Upāli approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down at one side. Sitting at one side, the Venerable Upāli said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, when a united Saṅgha performs, not in the presence [of the party concerned], a formal act (kamma) that should be performed in his presence — is that, venerable sir, an act in accordance with the Dhamma, an act in accordance with the Vinaya?"
"That, Upāli, is an act not in accordance with the Dhamma, an act not in accordance with the Vinaya."
"Venerable sir, when a united Saṅgha performs, without interrogation, a formal act that should be performed with interrogation; performs, without his acknowledgment, a formal act that should be performed with the acknowledgment [of the accused]; gives a verdict of past insanity (amūḷhavinaya) to one who deserves a verdict of mindfulness (sativinaya); performs an act of further penalty (tassapāpiyasikākamma) against one who deserves a verdict of past insanity; performs an act of censure (tajjanīyakamma) against one who deserves an act of further penalty; performs an act of demotion (niyassakamma) against one who deserves an act of censure; performs an act of banishment (pabbājanīyakamma) against one who deserves an act of demotion; performs an act of reconciliation (paṭisāraṇīyakamma) against one who deserves an act of banishment; performs an act of suspension (ukkhepanīyakamma) against one who deserves an act of reconciliation; gives probation (parivāsa) to one who deserves an act of suspension; sends back to the beginning (mūlāya paṭikassanā) one who deserves probation; gives penance (mānatta) to one who deserves to be sent back to the beginning; rehabilitates (abbhāna) one who deserves penance; gives full ordination (upasampadā) to one who deserves rehabilitation — is that, venerable sir, an act in accordance with the Dhamma, an act in accordance with the Vinaya?"
"That, Upāli, is an act not in accordance with the Dhamma, an act not in accordance with the Vinaya. When, Upāli, a united Saṅgha performs, not in the presence [of the party concerned], a formal act that should be performed in his presence — thus, Upāli, the act is not in accordance with the Dhamma, not in accordance with the Vinaya, and thus, moreover, the Saṅgha incurs fault (sātisāra). When, Upāli, a united Saṅgha performs, without interrogation, a formal act that should be performed with interrogation; performs, without his acknowledgment, a formal act that should be performed with the acknowledgment [of the accused]; gives a verdict of past insanity to one who deserves a verdict of mindfulness; performs an act of further penalty against one who deserves a verdict of past insanity; performs an act of censure against one who deserves an act of further penalty; performs an act of demotion against one who deserves an act of censure; performs an act of banishment against one who deserves an act of demotion; performs an act of reconciliation against one who deserves an act of banishment; performs an act of suspension against one who deserves an act of reconciliation; gives probation to one who deserves an act of suspension; sends back to the beginning one who deserves probation; gives penance to one who deserves to be sent back to the beginning; rehabilitates one who deserves penance; gives full ordination to one who deserves rehabilitation — thus, Upāli, the act is not in accordance with the Dhamma, not in accordance with the Vinaya, and thus, moreover, the Saṅgha incurs fault."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.