CrPC 14→BNSS 12

CrPC 14 to BNSS 12: Local jurisdiction of Judicial Magistrates

Section 14 CrPC (1973) replaced by Section 12 BNSS (2023)

View CrPC Section 14 →View BNSS Section 12 →

CrPC 14 to BNSS 12 at a Glance

Section 14 CrPC (Local jurisdiction of Judicial Magistrates) is now Section 12 BNSS, in force from 1 July 2024. What changed is set out below.

What Changed From CrPC 14 to BNSS 12?

Section 14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 became Section 12 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The power of the Chief Judicial Magistrate to define local limits subject to the control of the High Court, the proviso on sittings of the Court of Special Judicial Magistrate, and the district-wide jurisdiction in Section 12(2) BNSS keep the CrPC text. Section 12 BNSS refers to Section 9 BNSS and Section 11 BNSS in place of Section 11 CrPC and Section 13 CrPC, and to the Sanhita in place of the Code. Section 12(3) BNSS does not mention Section 18 CrPC, the metropolitan area or the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.

CrPC 14 vs BNSS 12: Comparison Table

AspectCrPC 1973 (repealed)BNSS 2023 (in force)
Section1412
HeadingLocal jurisdiction of Judicial MagistratesSame
Sub-sections3 sub-sectionsSame
Cross-referencess.11s.9

CrPC 14 and BNSS 12: Bare Act Text Side by Side

CrPC 1973 (repealed)

Section 14, CrPC 1973

14. Local jurisdiction of Judicial Magistrates.—(1) Subject to the control of the High Court, the Chief Judicial Magistrate may, from time to time, define the local limits of the areas within which the Magistrates appointed under section 11 or under section 13 may exercise all or any of the powers with which they may respectively be invested under this Code: 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 11 or section 13 or section 18, extends to an area beyond the district, or the metropolitan area, as the case may be, in which he ordinarily holds Court, any reference in this Code to the Court of Session, Chief Judicial Magistrate or the Chief Metropolitan 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, Chief Judicial Magistrate, or Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, as the case may be, exercising jurisdiction in relation to the said district or metropolitan area.
BNSS 2023 (in force)

Section 12, BNSS 2023

12. Local Jurisdiction of Judicial Magistrates.—(1) Subject to the control of the High Court, the Chief Judicial 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.

When It Applies: CrPC 14 vs BNSS 12

Under CrPC 14
  1. Subject to the control of the High Court, the Chief Judicial Magistrate may, from time to time, define the local limits of the areas within which Magistrates appointed under Section 11 or Section 13 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 may exercise all or any of the powers with which they are invested.
  2. Under the proviso to Section 14(1) CrPC, the Court of Special Judicial Magistrate may hold its sitting at any place within the local area for which it is established.
  3. Under Section 14(2) CrPC, except as otherwise provided by the definition made under Section 14(1) CrPC, the jurisdiction and powers of every Magistrate appointed under Section 11 CrPC or Section 13 CrPC shall extend throughout the district.
  4. When the local jurisdiction of a Magistrate appointed under Section 11 CrPC, Section 13 CrPC or Section 18 CrPC extends beyond the district or metropolitan area in which the Magistrate ordinarily holds Court, references in the Code to the Court of Session, Chief Judicial Magistrate or Chief Metropolitan Magistrate shall, throughout that local jurisdiction and unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as references to the Court of Session, Chief Judicial Magistrate or Chief Metropolitan Magistrate exercising jurisdiction in relation to that district or metropolitan area.
Under BNSS 12
  1. Subject to the control of the High Court, the Chief Judicial Magistrate may, from time to time, define the local limits of the areas within which Magistrates appointed under Section 9 or Section 11 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 may exercise all or any of the powers with which they are invested.
  2. Under the proviso to Section 12(1) BNSS, the Court of Special Judicial Magistrate may hold its sitting at any place within the local area for which it is established.
  3. Under Section 12(2) BNSS, except as otherwise provided by the definition made under Section 12(1) BNSS, the jurisdiction and powers of every Magistrate appointed under Section 9 BNSS or Section 11 BNSS shall extend throughout the district.
  4. When the local jurisdiction of a Magistrate appointed under Section 9 BNSS or Section 11 BNSS extends to an area beyond the district in which the Magistrate ordinarily holds Court, references in the Sanhita to the Court of Session or Chief Judicial Magistrate shall, throughout that local jurisdiction and unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as references to the Court of Session or Chief Judicial Magistrate exercising jurisdiction in relation to that district.

What CrPC 14 to BNSS 12 Means in Practice

From 1 July 2024, the provision on the local jurisdiction of Judicial Magistrates is found in Section 12 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 in place of Section 14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The power of the Chief Judicial Magistrate to define local limits, the proviso on sittings of a Court of Special Judicial Magistrate, and district-wide jurisdiction keep the same text, while Section 12(3) BNSS does not mention metropolitan areas or Chief Metropolitan Magistrates.

FAQs: CrPC 14 to BNSS 12

Where is Section 14 CrPC located in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024?▼

From 1 July 2024, Section 14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 is found in Section 12 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. Section 14(1) CrPC maps to Section 12(1) BNSS, Section 14(2) CrPC maps to Section 12(2) BNSS, and Section 14(3) CrPC maps to Section 12(3) BNSS. This renumbering of the section and the replacement of the word Code with Sanhita are changes of form.

Did Section 12 BNSS change the power of the Chief Judicial Magistrate to define local limits, or the district-wide jurisdiction of Magistrates?▼

No. Both under Section 14(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Section 12(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the Chief Judicial Magistrate may from time to time define the local limits of Judicial Magistrates, subject to the control of the High Court. The proviso allowing a Court of Special Judicial Magistrate to sit anywhere in its local area and the rule in Section 14(2) CrPC and Section 12(2) BNSS that jurisdiction and powers shall otherwise extend throughout the district are unchanged.

What changed between Section 14(3) CrPC and Section 12(3) BNSS?▼

Section 14(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 covered Magistrates appointed under Section 11, Section 13, or Section 18 CrPC whose local jurisdiction extended beyond a district or metropolitan area, and construed references to the Court of Session, Chief Judicial Magistrate, or Chief Metropolitan Magistrate. Section 12(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 updates the cross-references to Section 9 BNSS and Section 11 BNSS as a change of form, and omits Section 18 CrPC, the metropolitan area, and the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.

Disclaimer: This comparison is for informational purposes only. The new criminal laws came into effect on 1 July 2024. Consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 21 Oct 2026 ·