CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973
BHARATIYA NAGARIK SURAKSHA SANHITA, 2023
3. Construction of references
3. Construction of references
changed or removed in old law
changed or added in new law
Similar wording stays plain; only differences are highlighted.
CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973
3. Construction of references.—(1) In this Code,—
(a) any reference, without any qualifying words, to a Magistrate, shall be construed, unless the
context otherwise requires,—
(i) in relation to an area outside a metropolitan area, as a reference to a Judicial Magistrate;
(ii) in relation to a metropolitan area, as a reference to a Metropolitan Magistrate;
(b) any reference to a Magistrate of the second class shall, in relation to an area outside a
metropolitan area, be construed as a reference to a Judicial Magistrate of the second class, and, in
relation to a metropolitan area, as a reference to a Metropolitan Magistrate;
(c) any reference to a Magistrate of the first class shall,—
(i) in relation to a metropolitan area, be construed as a reference to a Metropolitan Magistrate
exercising jurisdiction in that area;
(ii) in relation to any other area, be construed as a reference to a Judicial Magistrate of the
first class exercising jurisdiction in that area;
(d) any reference to the Chief Judicial Magistrate shall, in relation to a metropolitan area, be
construed as a reference to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate exercising jurisdiction in that area.
(2) In this Code, unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to the Court of a Judicial
Magistrate shall, in relation to a metropolitan area, be construed as a reference to the Court of the
Metropolitan Magistrate for that area.
(3) Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference in any enactment passed before the
commencement of this Code,—
(a) to a Magistrate of the first class, shall be construed as a reference to a Judicial Magistrate of
the first class;
1. Ins. by Act 5 of 2009, s. 2 (w.e.f. 31-12-2009).
(b) to a Magistrate of the second class or of the third class, shall be construed as a reference to a
Judicial Magistrate of the second class;
(c) to a Presidency Magistrate or Chief Presidency Magistrate, shall be construed as a reference,
respectively, to a Metropolitan Magistrate or the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate;
(d) to any area which is included in a Metropolitan area, as a reference to such metropolitan area,
and any reference to a Magistrate of the first class or of the second class in relation to such area, shall
be construed as a reference to the Metropolitan Magistrate exercising jurisdiction in such area.
(4) Where, under any law, other than this Code, the function exercisable by a Magistrate relate to
matters,—
(a) which involve the appreciation or sifting of evidence or the formulation of any decision which
exposes any person to any punishment or penalty or detention in custody pending investigation,
inquiry or trial or would have the effect of sending him for trial before any Court, they shall, subject
to the provisions of this Code, be exercisable by a Judicial Magistrate; or
(b) which are administrative or executive in nature, such as, the granting of a licence, the
suspension or cancellation of a licence, sanctioning a prosecution or withdrawing from a prosecution,
they shall, subject as aforesaid, be exercisable by an Executive Magistrate.
STATE AMENDMENT
Union territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Lakshadweep
Insertion of New section 3A. —In the Code, as it applies to the Union territory of Andaman and
Nicobar Islands, after section 3, the following section shall be inserted, namely:—
“3A. Special provision relating to Andaman and Nicobar Islands. —(1) Reference in this Code to—
(a) The Chief Judicial Magistrate shall be construed as references to the District Magistrate or, where
the State Government so directs, also to the Additional District Magistrate;
(b) a Magistrate or Magistrate of the first class or of the second class or Judicial Magistrate of the first
class or of the second class, shall be construed as references to such Executive Magistrate as the State
Government may, be notification in the Official Gazette, specify.
(2) The State Government may, if it is of opinion that adequate number of persons are available for
appointment as Judicial Magistrate, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that the provisions of this
section shall, on and from such day as may be specified in the notification, cease to be in force and different
dates may be specified for different islands.
(3) On the cesser of operation of the provisions of this section, every inquiry or trial pending, immediately
before such cesser, before the District Magistrate or Additional District Magistrate or any Executive
Magistrate, as the case may be, shall stand transferred, and shall be dealt with, from the stage which was reached
before, such cesser, by such Judicial Magistrate as the State Government may specify in this behalf.”.
[Vide The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Regulation, 1974 Act (1 of 1974), s. 3.]
Legacy / repealed by BNSS India Code — CrPC 1973
BHARATIYA NAGARIK SURAKSHA SANHITA, 2023
3. Construction of references.—(1) Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference in any law,
to a Magistrate without any qualifying words, Magistrate of the first class or a Magistrate of the second
class shall, in relation to any area, be construed as a reference to a Judicial Magistrate of the first class or
Judicial Magistrate of the second class, as the case may be, exercising jurisdiction in such area.
(2) Where, under any law, other than this Sanhita, the functions exercisable by a Magistrate relate to
matters,—
(a) which involve the appreciation or shifting of evidence or the formulation of any decision which
exposes any person to any punishment or penalty or detention in custody pending investigation, inquiry
or trial or would have the effect of sending him for trial before any Court, they shall, subject to the
provisions of this Sanhita, be exercisable by a Judicial Magistrate; or
(b) which are administrative or executive in nature, such as, the granting of a licence, the suspension
or cancellation of a licence, sanctioning a prosecution or withdrawing from a prosecution, they shall,
subject to the provisions of clause (a) be exercisable by an Executive Magistrate.
Current law India Code — BNSS 2023