CrPC 7→BNSS 7

CrPC 7 to BNSS 7: Territorial divisions

Section 7 CrPC (1973) replaced by Section 7 BNSS (2023)

View CrPC Section 7 →View BNSS Section 7 →

CrPC 7 to BNSS 7 at a Glance

Section 7 CrPC (Territorial divisions) is now Section 7 BNSS, in force from 1 July 2024. What changed is set out below.

What Changed From CrPC 7 to BNSS 7?

Section 7 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 became Section 7 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024. Section 7 BNSS does not contain the proviso to Section 7(1) CrPC, under which every metropolitan area was a separate sessions division and district. Section 7(1) BNSS and Section 7(4) BNSS refer to the Sanhita in place of the Code, and Section 7(1) BNSS reads every sessions divisions. Section 7(2) BNSS and Section 7(3) BNSS keep the text of the matching CrPC sub-sections.

CrPC 7 vs BNSS 7: Comparison Table

AspectCrPC 1973 (repealed)BNSS 2023 (in force)
Section77
HeadingTerritorial divisionsSame
Sub-sections4 sub-sectionsSame

CrPC 7 and BNSS 7: Bare Act Text Side by Side

CrPC 1973 (repealed)

Section 7, CrPC 1973

7. Territorial divisions.—(1) Every State shall be a sessions division or shall consist of sessions divisions; and every sessions division shall, for the purposes of this Code, be a district or consist of districts: Provided that every metropolitan area shall, for the said purposes, be a separate sessions division and district. (2) The State Government may, after consultation with the High Court, alter the limits or the number of such divisions and districts. (3) The State Government may, after consultation with the High Court, divide any district into sub-divisions and may alter the limits or the number of such sub-divisions. (4) The sessions divisions, districts and sub-divisions existing in a State at the commencement of this Code, shall be deemed to have been formed under this section.
BNSS 2023 (in force)

Section 7, BNSS 2023

7. Territorial divisions.—(1) Every State shall be a sessions division or shall consist of sessions divisions; and every sessions divisions shall, for the purposes of this Sanhita, be a district or consist of districts. (2) The State Government may, after consultation with the High Court, alter the limits or the number of such divisions and districts. (3) The State Government may, after consultation with the High Court, divide any district into sub-divisions and may alter the limits or the number of such sub-divisions. (4) The sessions divisions, districts and sub-divisions existing in a State at the commencement of this Sanhita, shall be deemed to have been formed under this section.

When It Applies: CrPC 7 vs BNSS 7

Under CrPC 7
  1. Every State shall be constituted as a single sessions division or made up of multiple sessions divisions, and each sessions division shall be a single district or made up of multiple districts for the purposes of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
  2. Under the proviso to Section 7(1) CrPC, every metropolitan area shall, for the purposes of the Code, be a separate sessions division and district.
  3. The State Government may change the boundaries or the total count of sessions divisions and districts in the State under Section 7(2) CrPC, provided it acts after consultation with the High Court.
  4. The State Government may split any district into smaller sub-divisions and may change the boundaries or the total count of those sub-divisions under Section 7(3) CrPC after consultation with the High Court.
  5. All sessions divisions, districts, and sub-divisions that already existed in a State when the Code came into force shall be treated by law as having been created under Section 7(4) CrPC.
Under BNSS 7
  1. Every State shall be constituted as a single sessions division or made up of multiple sessions divisions, and each sessions division shall be a single district or made up of multiple districts for the purposes of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
  2. The State Government may change the boundaries or the total count of sessions divisions and districts in a State under Section 7(2) BNSS, provided it acts after consultation with the High Court.
  3. The State Government may split any district into sub-divisions and may change the boundaries or the total count of those sub-divisions under Section 7(3) BNSS after consultation with the High Court.
  4. All sessions divisions, districts, and sub-divisions that already existed in a State when the Sanhita commenced shall be treated by law as having been formed under Section 7(4) BNSS.

What CrPC 7 to BNSS 7 Means in Practice

From 1 July 2024, the provision governing territorial divisions is found in Section 7 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 instead of Section 7 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. With the proviso to Section 7(1) CrPC omitted, Section 7 BNSS no longer carves out a metropolitan area as a separate sessions division and district. Existing sessions divisions, districts, and sub-divisions at the commencement of the Sanhita continue under Section 7(4) BNSS, and altering them still requires consultation with the High Court.

FAQs: CrPC 7 to BNSS 7

Did the section number for territorial divisions change between the CrPC and the BNSS?▼

No. Section 7 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 maps to Section 7 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024, and both carry the heading Territorial divisions. Section 7(1) CrPC, Section 7(2) CrPC, Section 7(3) CrPC and Section 7(4) CrPC map to Section 7(1) BNSS, Section 7(2) BNSS, Section 7(3) BNSS and Section 7(4) BNSS.

What happened to the rule on metropolitan areas in Section 7(1) CrPC?▼

The proviso to Section 7(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 was omitted in Section 7(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. Under the proviso to Section 7(1) CrPC, every metropolitan area shall, for the purposes of the Code, be a separate sessions division and district. Section 7(1) BNSS retains only the general rule that every State shall be or consist of sessions divisions and that every sessions division shall be or consist of districts.

Did the powers of the State Government to alter divisions, districts, and sub-divisions change in Section 7 BNSS?▼

No, the powers of the State Government are unchanged between Section 7 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Section 7 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. Under Section 7(2) of both Acts, the State Government may, after consultation with the High Court, alter the limits or number of divisions and districts. Under Section 7(3) of both Acts, it may, after consultation with the High Court, divide any district into sub-divisions and alter their limits or number.

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 ·