CrPC Section 187 — Power to issue summons or warrant for offence committed beyond local jurisdiction

Summary

Sub-section (1) allows a Magistrate of the first class to act when there is reason to believe that a person within the Magistrate’s local jurisdiction committed an offence outside it, whether elsewhere in India or outside India. This applies when the offence cannot be inquired into or tried in that local jurisdiction under sections 177 to 185 or another law, but is triable in India under some law. The Magistrate may inquire into it as if it had been committed locally and require the person to appear. The Magistrate may then send the person to the Magistrate with jurisdiction over the offence. Alternatively, if the offence is not punishable with death or imprisonment for life and the person is willing to give bail to the acting Magistrate’s satisfaction, that Magistrate may take a bond, with or without sureties, for the person’s appearance before the Magistrate with jurisdiction.

Sub-section (2) applies when more than one Magistrate has jurisdiction and the Magistrate acting under this section cannot determine which Magistrate the person should be sent to or required to appear before. In that situation, the case must be reported to the High Court for its orders.

Official Text

(1) When a Magistrate of the first class sees reason to believe that any person within his local jurisdiction has committed outside such jurisdiction (whether within or outside India) an offence which cannot, under the provisions of sections 177 to 185 (both inclusive), or any other law for the time being in force, be inquired into or tried within such jurisdiction but is under some law for the time being in force triable in India, such Magistrate may inquire into the offence as if it had been committed within such local jurisdiction and compel such person in the manner hereinbefore provided to appear before him, and send such person to the Magistrate having jurisdiction to inquire into or try such offence, or, if such offence is not punishable with death or imprisonment for life and such person is ready and willing to give bail to the satisfaction of the Magistrate acting under this section, take a bond with or without sureties for his appearance before the Magistrate having such jurisdiction.

(2) When there are more Magistrates than one having such jurisdiction and the Magistrate acting under this section cannot satisfy himself as to the Magistrate to or before whom such person should be sent or bound to appear, the case shall be reported for the orders of the High Court.

Sections referred to

• CrPC §177 — Ordinary place of inquiry and trial
• CrPC §178 — Place of inquiry or trial
• CrPC §179 — Offence triable where act is done or consequence ensues
• CrPC §180 — Place of trial where act is an offence by reason of relation to other offence
• CrPC §181 — Place of trial in case of certain offences
• CrPC §182 — Offences committed by letters, etc
• CrPC §183 — Offence committed on journey or voyage
• CrPC §184 — Place of trial for offences triable together
• CrPC §185 — Power to order cases to be tried in different sessions divisions

Referred to by

• CrPC §460 — Irregularities which do not vitiate proceedings

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• BNSS §207 — Power to issue summons or warrant for offence committed beyond local jurisdiction