BNSS Section 12 — Local Jurisdiction of Judicial Magistrates

CHAPTER II CONSTITUTION OF CRIMINAL COURTS AND OFFICES

Criminal

Summary

The Chief Judicial Magistrate can decide the specific local area where each magistrate appointed under certain sections can use their powers, but this is subject to the High Court's control. A Special Judicial Magistrate's court can hold its sittings anywhere within the local area it was set up for. If no such local limits are defined, each magistrate's powers apply across the entire district. If a magistrate's local jurisdiction includes an area outside their usual district, any mention in this law of the Court of Session or Chief Judicial Magistrate will refer to the one that has authority over that original district.

Official Text

(1) Subject to the control of the High Court, the Chief udicial Magistrate may, from time to time, define the local limits of the areas within which the Magistrates appointed under section 9 or under section 11 may exercise all or any of the powers with which they may respectively be invested under this Sanhita:

Provided that the Court of Special Judicial Magistrate may hold its sitting at any place within the local area for which it is established.

(2) Except as otherwise provided by such definition, the jurisdiction and powers of every such Magistrate shall extend throughout the district.

(3) Where the local jurisdiction of a Magistrate appointed under section 9 or section 11 extends to an area beyond the district in which he ordinarily holds Court, any reference in this Sanhita to the Court of Session or Chief Judicial Magistrate shall, in relation to such Magistrate, throughout the area within his local jurisdiction, be construed, unless the context otherwise requires, as a reference to the Court of Session or Chief Judicial Magistrate, as the case may be, exercising jurisdiction in relation to the said district.

Related Judgments

  • SC (2025) Vol.6 p.545 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.5 p.730 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2024) Vol.7 p.979 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
  • SC (2025) Vol.1 p.1469 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • .. Petitioner/Accused No.12 vs The State of Tamilnadu, — Madras High Court ()
  • SC (2025) Vol.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.2 p.1588 — Supreme Court of India (2025)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

  • CrPC §14 — Local Jurisdiction of Judicial Magistrates