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

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 187 CrPC at a Glance

Section 187 CrPC deals with power to issue summons or warrant for offence committed beyond local jurisdiction. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 207 BNSS.

Now BNSS

Section 207 →

What Section 187 CrPC Says

187. Power to issue summons or warrant for offence committed beyond local jurisdiction
(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.

Source: Section 187, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 187 CrPC in Simple Words

Section 187 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 deals with the power to issue summons or warrant for an offence committed beyond local jurisdiction. Section 187(1) CrPC applies when a Magistrate of the first class sees reason to believe that a person within the local jurisdiction of the Magistrate has committed an offence outside that jurisdiction. The place outside that jurisdiction may be within or outside India. The offence must be one that cannot be inquired into or tried within that jurisdiction under sections 177 to 185, both inclusive, or any other law for the time being in force. It must also be triable in India under some law for the time being in force.

The Magistrate may then inquire into the offence as if it had been committed within the local jurisdiction. The Magistrate may also compel the person to appear, in the manner provided earlier in the Code, and send the person to the Magistrate having jurisdiction to inquire into or try the offence. Alternatively, the Magistrate may take a bond, with or without sureties, for the appearance of the person before the Magistrate having jurisdiction. This option applies only if the offence is not punishable with death or imprisonment for life. The person must also be ready and willing to give bail to the satisfaction of the Magistrate acting under Section 187 CrPC.

Under Section 187(2) CrPC, there may be more than one Magistrate having such jurisdiction. That provision applies where the Magistrate acting under Section 187 CrPC cannot be satisfied as to which Magistrate the person should be sent to or bound to appear before. In that event the case shall be reported for the orders of the High Court.

When Section 187 CrPC Applies

Under Section 187(1) CrPC, a Magistrate of the first class may act when the Magistrate sees reason to believe that a person within the local jurisdiction of that Magistrate has committed an offence outside such jurisdiction, whether within or outside India.
The offence must be one 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.
Under Section 187(1) CrPC, 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.
Under Section 187(1) CrPC, 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 Section 187 CrPC, take a bond with or without sureties for the appearance of such person before the Magistrate having such jurisdiction.
Under Section 187(2) CrPC, when there are more Magistrates than one having such jurisdiction and the Magistrate acting under Section 187 CrPC cannot be satisfied 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.

Example of Section 187 CrPC

A Magistrate of the first class sees reason to believe that Ramesh, a person within the local jurisdiction of that Magistrate, has committed an offence outside such jurisdiction. The offence 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. The offence is not punishable with death or imprisonment for life, and Ramesh is ready and willing to give bail to the satisfaction of the Magistrate. Under Section 187(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the Magistrate may take a bond with or without sureties for the appearance of Ramesh before the Magistrate having such jurisdiction.

When Section 187 CrPC Does Not Apply

Section 187(1) CrPC speaks of a Magistrate of the first class who sees reason to believe that a person within the local jurisdiction of that Magistrate has committed an offence outside such jurisdiction. It does not deal with the High Court deciding the district where an inquiry or trial shall take place in case of doubt, which is the subject of Section 186 CrPC.
Section 187(2) CrPC speaks of the report to the High Court where there are more Magistrates than one having such jurisdiction. It does not deal with the ordinary place of inquiry and trial, which is the subject of Section 177 CrPC.

Section 187 CrPC Under BNSS 207: What Changed

Section 187 CrPC is now covered under Section 207 BNSS.

Section 207 BNSS has the same heading as Section 187 CrPC, Power to issue summons or warrant for offence committed beyond local jurisdiction. Section 207(1) BNSS reads sections 197 to 205 where Section 187(1) CrPC read sections 177 to 185, and reads under any law where Section 187(1) CrPC read under some law. Section 207(1) BNSS reads a bond or bail bond where Section 187(1) CrPC read a bond with or without sureties, which is a change of form. Section 207(2) BNSS has the same text as Section 187(2) CrPC.

View detailed comparison (CrPC 187 vs BNSS 207) →

FAQs on Section 187 CrPC

When may a Magistrate of the first class act under Section 187(1) CrPC?▼

Under Section 187(1) CrPC, a Magistrate of the first class sees reason to believe that any person within the local jurisdiction of that Magistrate 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.

What bond may the Magistrate take under Section 187(1) CrPC?▼

Under Section 187(1) CrPC, the Magistrate may 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 Section 187 CrPC, take a bond with or without sureties for the appearance of such person before the Magistrate having such jurisdiction.

What happens under Section 187(2) CrPC when more than one Magistrate has jurisdiction?▼

Under Section 187(2) CrPC, when there are more Magistrates than one having such jurisdiction and the Magistrate acting under Section 187 CrPC cannot be satisfied 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.

Where is Section 187 CrPC found in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023?▼

The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 was replaced by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024. Section 187(1) CrPC is found in Section 207(1) BNSS and Section 187(2) CrPC in Section 207(2) BNSS.

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Sources: Bare Act Text, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Last updated: 26 Oct 2026 ·