Section 525 BNSS: Cases in which Judge or Magistrate is personally interested

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 525 BNSS at a Glance

Section 525 BNSS deals with cases in which Judge or Magistrate is personally interested. It replaced Section 479 CrPC on 1 July 2024.

Was CrPC

Section 479 →

Section 525 BNSS Bare Act Text

525. Case in which Judge or Magistrate is personally interested

Cases in which Judge or Magistrate is personally interested.

No Judge or Magistrate shall, except with the permission of the Court to which an appeal lies from his Court, try or commit for trial any case to or in which he is a party, or personally interested, and no Judge or Magistrate shall hear an appeal from any judgment or order passed or made by himself.

Explanation

A Judge or Magistrate shall not be deemed to be a party to, or personally interested in, any case by reason only that he is concerned therein in a public capacity, or by reason only that he has viewed the place in which an offence is alleged to have been committed, or any other place in which any other transaction material to the case is alleged to have occurred, and made an inquiry in connection with the case.

Source: Section 525, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 525 BNSS in Simple Words

Section 525 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 is headed Cases in which Judge or Magistrate is personally interested.

It states that no Judge or Magistrate shall, except with the permission of the Court to which an appeal lies from his Court, try or commit for trial any case to or in which he is a party, or personally interested, and no Judge or Magistrate shall hear an appeal from any judgment or order passed or made by himself.

The Explanation states when a Judge or Magistrate shall not be deemed to be a party to, or personally interested in, any case.

When Section 525 BNSS Applies

  • Section 525 BNSS applies to a Judge or Magistrate who is a party, or personally interested, in a case.
  • Such a Judge or Magistrate shall not try or commit for trial the case except with the permission of the Court to which an appeal lies from his Court.
  • Section 525 BNSS also states that no Judge or Magistrate shall hear an appeal from any judgment or order passed or made by himself.
  • The Explanation states that a Judge or Magistrate shall not be deemed to be a party to, or personally interested in, any case by reason only that he is concerned therein in a public capacity.
  • The Explanation also names the case where the Judge or Magistrate has viewed the place in which an offence is alleged to have been committed, or any other place in which any other transaction material to the case is alleged to have occurred, and made an inquiry in connection with the case.

Example of Section 525 BNSS

Magistrate Rao is a party to a case. Under Section 525 BNSS, no Magistrate shall, except with the permission of the Court to which an appeal lies from the Court of Magistrate Rao, try or commit for trial that case. In another case, Judge Nair has viewed the place in which an offence is alleged to have been committed and made an inquiry in connection with the case. Under the Explanation, Judge Nair shall not be deemed to be a party to, or personally interested in, the case by reason only of that viewing and inquiry.

When Section 525 BNSS Does Not Apply

  • Section 525 BNSS speaks of a Judge or Magistrate who is a party, or personally interested, in a case. It does not deal with Section 526 BNSS, headed Practising advocate not to sit as Magistrate in certain Courts.
  • Section 525 BNSS speaks of a Judge or Magistrate who is a party, or personally interested, in a case. It does not deal with Section 447 BNSS, headed Power of High Court to transfer cases and appeals.

Section 525 BNSS in the CrPC (Previous Law)

Section 525 BNSS replaces Section 479 CrPC from the old criminal code.

Section 479 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 is found from 1 July 2024 as Section 525 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, with the same text, including the Explanation. It contains no cross-reference to another section.

View CrPC Section 479 →

FAQs on Section 525 BNSS

When may a Judge or Magistrate try or commit for trial a case under Section 525 BNSS?▼

Section 525 BNSS states that no Judge or Magistrate shall, except with the permission of the Court to which an appeal lies from his Court, try or commit for trial any case to or in which he is a party, or personally interested.

What does Section 525 BNSS say about an appeal from a judgment or order passed or made by the same Judge or Magistrate?▼

Section 525 BNSS states that no Judge or Magistrate shall hear an appeal from any judgment or order passed or made by himself.

When is a Judge or Magistrate not deemed to be a party or personally interested under the Explanation to Section 525 BNSS?▼

The Explanation states that a Judge or Magistrate shall not be deemed to be a party to, or personally interested in, any case by reason only that he is concerned therein in a public capacity, or by reason only that he has viewed the place in which an offence is alleged to have been committed, or any other place in which any other transaction material to the case is alleged to have occurred, and made an inquiry in connection with the case.

What changed from Section 479 CrPC to Section 525 BNSS from 1 July 2024?▼

From 1 July 2024, Section 525 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 replaced Section 479 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Section 525 BNSS has the same text as Section 479 CrPC, including the Explanation.

Have questions about Section 525 BNSS?

Ask NyayGuru for a plain language explanation, or how it applies to your situation.

Ask NyayGuru →

Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 26 Oct 2026 ·