BNSS Section 507 — Irregularities which vitiate proceedings

Summary

If a Magistrate does any of the listed actions—such as selling attached property, issuing a search warrant for mail, demanding security for peace or good behaviour, cancelling a bond, ordering maintenance, dealing with a nuisance, taking cognizance of an offence, trying a case, passing a sentence based on another Magistrate’s records, deciding an appeal, or revising certain orders—without having the legal authority to do so, then all of those proceedings are considered invalid and have no legal effect.

Official Text

If any Magistrate, not being empowered by law in this behalf, does any of the following things, namely:—

(a) attaches and sells property under section 85;

(b) issues a search-warrant for a document, parcel or other things in the custody of a postal authority;

(c) demands security to keep the peace;

(d) demands security for good behaviour;

(e) discharges a person lawfully bound to be of good behaviour;

(f) cancels a bond to keep the peace;

(g) makes an order for maintenance;

(h) makes an order under section 152 as to a local nuisance;

(i) prohibits, under section 162, the repetition or continuance of a public nuisance;

(j) makes an order under Part C or Part D of Chapter XI;

(k) takes cognizance of an offence under clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 210;

(l) tries an offender;

(m) tries an offender summarily;

(n) passes a sentence, under section 364, on proceedings recorded by another Magistrate;

(o) decides an appeal;

(p) calls, under section 438, for proceedings; or

(q) revises an order passed under section 491, his proceedings shall be void.

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.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• .. Petitioner/Accused No.12 vs The State of Tamilnadu, — Madras High Court ()
• SC (2025) Vol.2 p.1588 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2024) Vol.12 p.335 — Supreme Court of India (2024)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• CrPC §461 — Irregularities which vitiate proceedings