CrPC 20→BNSS 14

CrPC 20 to BNSS 14: Executive Magistrates

Section 20 CrPC (1973) replaced by Section 14 BNSS (2023)

View CrPC Section 20 →View BNSS Section 14 →

CrPC 20 to BNSS 14 at a Glance

Section 20 CrPC (Executive Magistrates) is now Section 14 BNSS, in force from 1 July 2024. What changed is set out below.

What Changed From CrPC 20 to BNSS 14?

Section 20 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 became Section 14 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024. The references to a metropolitan area are removed: Section 14(1) BNSS omits the words and in every metropolitan area that appeared in Section 20(1) CrPC, and Section 14(6) BNSS omits the words in relation to a metropolitan area that appeared in Section 20(5) CrPC. Renumbering the section and sub-sections, including Section 20(4A) CrPC and Section 20(5) CrPC as Section 14(5) BNSS and Section 14(6) BNSS, and replacing Code with Sanhita are changes of form, while the remaining rules are unchanged.

CrPC 20 vs BNSS 14: Comparison Table

AspectCrPC 1973 (repealed)BNSS 2023 (in force)
Section2014
HeadingExecutive MagistratesSame
Sub-sections6 sub-sectionsSame

CrPC 20 and BNSS 14: Bare Act Text Side by Side

CrPC 1973 (repealed)

Section 20, CrPC 1973

20. Executive Magistrates.—(1) In every district and in every metropolitan area, the State Government may appoint as many persons as it thinks fit to be Executive Magistrates and shall appoint one of them to be the District Magistrate. (2) The State Government may appoint any Executive Magistrate to be an Additional District Magistrate, and such Magistrate shall have such of the powers of a District Magistrate under this Code or under any other law for the time being in force as may be directed by the State Government. (3) Whenever, in consequence of the office of a District Magistrate becoming vacant, any officer succeeds temporarily to the executive administration of the district, such officer shall, pending the orders of the State Government, exercise all the powers and perform all the duties respectively conferred and imposed by this Code on the District Magistrate. (4) The State Government may place an Executive Magistrate in charge of a sub-division and may relieve him of the charge as occasion requires; and the Magistrate so placed in charge of a sub-division shall be called the Sub-divisional Magistrate. (4A) The State Government may, by general or special order and subject to such control and directions as it may deem fit to impose, delegate its powers under sub-section (4) to the District Magistrate. (5) Nothing in this section shall preclude the State Government from conferring, under any law for the time being in force, on a Commissioner of Police, all or any of the powers of an Executive Magistrate in relation to a metropolitan area.
BNSS 2023 (in force)

Section 14, BNSS 2023

14. Executive Magistrates.—(1) In every district, the State Government may appoint as many persons as it thinks fit to be Executive Magistrates and shall appoint one of them to be the District Magistrate. (2) The State Government may appoint any Executive Magistrate to be an Additional District Magistrate, and such Magistrate shall have such of the powers of a District Magistrate under this Sanhita or under any other law for the time being in force as may be directed by the State Government. (3) Whenever, in consequence of the office of a District Magistrate becoming vacant, any officer succeeds temporarily to the executive administration of the district, such officer shall, pending the orders of the State Government, exercise all the powers and perform all the duties respectively conferred and imposed by this Sanhita on the District Magistrate. (4) The State Government may place an Executive Magistrate in charge of a sub-division and may relieve him of the charge as occasion requires; and the Magistrate so placed in charge of a sub-division shall be called the Sub-divisional Magistrate. (5) The State Government may, by general or special order and subject to such control and directions as it may deem fit to impose, delegate its powers under sub-section (4) to the District Magistrate. (6) Nothing in this section shall preclude the State Government from conferring, under any law for the time being in force, on a Commissioner of Police all or any of the powers of an Executive Magistrate.

When It Applies: CrPC 20 vs BNSS 14

Under CrPC 20
  1. Under Section 20(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, in every district and in every metropolitan area, the State Government may appoint as many persons as it thinks fit to be Executive Magistrates and shall appoint one of them to be the District Magistrate.
  2. Under Section 20(2) CrPC, the State Government may appoint any Executive Magistrate to be an Additional District Magistrate, who shall have such of the powers of a District Magistrate under the Code or under any other law for the time being in force as the State Government may direct.
  3. Under Section 20(3) CrPC, whenever the office of a District Magistrate becomes vacant and an officer succeeds temporarily to the executive administration of the district, that officer shall, pending the orders of the State Government, exercise all the powers and perform all the duties conferred and imposed by the Code on the District Magistrate.
  4. Under Section 20(4) CrPC, the State Government may place an Executive Magistrate in charge of a sub-division and may relieve that Magistrate of the charge as occasion requires. The Magistrate so placed in charge shall be called the Sub-divisional Magistrate.
  5. By a general or special order under Section 20(4A) CrPC, the State Government may delegate to the District Magistrate its Section 20(4) CrPC powers to place or relieve an Executive Magistrate in a sub-division, subject to such control and directions as the State Government may deem fit to impose.
  6. Under Section 20(5) CrPC, nothing in Section 20 CrPC shall preclude the State Government from conferring, under any law for the time being in force, on a Commissioner of Police all or any of the powers of an Executive Magistrate in relation to a metropolitan area.
Under BNSS 14
  1. Under Section 14(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in every district, the State Government may appoint as many persons as it thinks fit to be Executive Magistrates and shall appoint one of them to be the District Magistrate.
  2. Under Section 14(2) BNSS, the State Government may appoint any Executive Magistrate to be an Additional District Magistrate, who shall have such of the powers of a District Magistrate under the Sanhita or under any other law for the time being in force as the State Government may direct.
  3. Under Section 14(3) BNSS, whenever the office of a District Magistrate becomes vacant and an officer succeeds temporarily to the executive administration of the district, that officer shall, pending the orders of the State Government, exercise all the powers and perform all the duties conferred and imposed by the Sanhita on the District Magistrate.
  4. Under Section 14(4) BNSS, the State Government may place an Executive Magistrate in charge of a sub-division and may relieve that Magistrate of the charge as occasion requires. The Magistrate so placed in charge shall be called the Sub-divisional Magistrate.
  5. By a general or special order under Section 14(5) BNSS, the State Government may delegate to the District Magistrate its Section 14(4) BNSS powers to place or relieve an Executive Magistrate in a sub-division, subject to such control and directions as the State Government may deem fit to impose.
  6. Under Section 14(6) BNSS, nothing in Section 14 BNSS shall preclude the State Government from conferring, under any law for the time being in force, on a Commissioner of Police all or any of the powers of an Executive Magistrate.

Time Limits: CrPC 20 to BNSS 14

Under CrPC 20
  • Pending the orders of the State Government is the period under Section 20(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 during which an officer who temporarily succeeds to the executive administration of a district upon a vacancy in the office of District Magistrate shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of the District Magistrate.Act text: “pending the orders of the State Government”
Under BNSS 14
  • Pending the orders of the State Government is the period under Section 14(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 during which an officer who temporarily succeeds to the executive administration of a district upon a vacancy in the office of District Magistrate shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of the District Magistrate.Act text: “pending the orders of the State Government”

What CrPC 20 to BNSS 14 Means in Practice

From 1 July 2024, the provision on Executive Magistrates is found in Section 14 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 in place of Section 20 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Section 14(1) BNSS refers to every district without the words and in every metropolitan area, and Section 14(6) BNSS does not contain the words in relation to a metropolitan area. The text on Additional District Magistrates, temporary succession, Sub-divisional Magistrates and delegation to the District Magistrate is the same.

FAQs: CrPC 20 to BNSS 14

Which provision of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 corresponds to Section 20 CrPC from 1 July 2024?▼

Section 14 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 corresponds to Section 20 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 from 1 July 2024. Section 20(1), Section 20(2), Section 20(3), and Section 20(4) CrPC map to Section 14(1), Section 14(2), Section 14(3), and Section 14(4) BNSS. Section 20(4A) CrPC is renumbered as Section 14(5) BNSS, and Section 20(5) CrPC is renumbered as Section 14(6) BNSS, which is a change of form.

What changed regarding metropolitan areas between Section 20 CrPC and Section 14 BNSS?▼

Section 20(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 provided for appointing Executive Magistrates in every district and in every metropolitan area, whereas Section 14(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 omits the words and in every metropolitan area. Similarly, Section 20(5) CrPC saved the power to confer Executive Magistrate powers on a Commissioner of Police in relation to a metropolitan area, while Section 14(6) BNSS omits the words in relation to a metropolitan area.

Did the rules for Additional District Magistrates, temporary succession, or Sub-divisional Magistrates change in Section 14 BNSS?▼

No, the rules in Section 14(2), Section 14(3), Section 14(4), and Section 14(5) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 are unchanged from Section 20(2), Section 20(3), Section 20(4), and Section 20(4A) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Replacing the word Code with Sanhita in Section 14(2) BNSS and Section 14(3) BNSS and renumbering Section 20(4A) CrPC as Section 14(5) BNSS are changes of form.

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: 22 Oct 2026 ·