Section 194 CrPC: Additional and Assistant Sessions Judges to try cases made over to them

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 194 CrPC at a Glance

Section 194 CrPC deals with additional and Assistant Sessions Judges to try cases made over to them. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 214 BNSS.

Now BNSS

Section 214 →

What Section 194 CrPC Says

194. Additional and Assistant Sessions Judges to try cases made over to them

An Additional Sessions Judge or Assistant Sessions Judge shall try such cases as the Sessions Judge of the division may, by general or special order, make over to him for trial or as the High Court may, by special order, direct him to try.

Source: Section 194, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 194 CrPC in Simple Words

Section 194 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 deals with the cases that an Additional Sessions Judge or Assistant Sessions Judge shall try. The Sessions Judge of the division may, by general or special order, make over cases to that judge for trial. The High Court may, by special order, direct that judge to try cases.

When Section 194 CrPC Applies

  • An Additional Sessions Judge or Assistant Sessions Judge shall try the cases made over to that judge or directed to be tried by that judge under Section 194 CrPC.
  • The Sessions Judge of the division may make over cases to an Additional Sessions Judge or Assistant Sessions Judge for trial.
  • The Sessions Judge of the division makes over a case under Section 194 CrPC by general or special order.
  • The High Court may, by special order, direct an Additional Sessions Judge or Assistant Sessions Judge to try a case.

Example of Section 194 CrPC

Meera is an Additional Sessions Judge and Arjun is an Assistant Sessions Judge. Rajesh is the Sessions Judge of the division. Rajesh makes over the trial of Vikram to Arjun by special order. The High Court directs Meera by special order to try the case against Kavita. Under Section 194 CrPC, Arjun shall try the case against Vikram and Meera shall try the case against Kavita.

When Section 194 CrPC Does Not Apply

  • Section 194 CrPC speaks of an Additional Sessions Judge or Assistant Sessions Judge who shall try cases. It does not deal with the commitment of a case by a Magistrate to the Court of Session.
  • Section 194 CrPC speaks of a general or special order of the Sessions Judge of the division and a special order of the High Court. It does not deal with an order of a Magistrate.

Section 194 CrPC Under BNSS 214: What Changed

Section 194 CrPC is now covered under Section 214 BNSS.

Section 194 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 is found in Section 214 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. Section 214 BNSS names only an Additional Sessions Judge, in its heading and in its text. Section 194 CrPC named an Additional Sessions Judge or Assistant Sessions Judge in its text and Additional and Assistant Sessions Judges in its heading. The words on the orders of the Sessions Judge of the division and of the High Court are the same.

View detailed comparison (CrPC 194 vs BNSS 214) →

FAQs on Section 194 CrPC

Which judges try cases under Section 194 CrPC?▼

Section 194 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 names an Additional Sessions Judge and an Assistant Sessions Judge. Either judge shall try such cases as the Sessions Judge of the division may, by general or special order, make over for trial, or as the High Court may, by special order, direct that judge to try.

What kind of order does Section 194 CrPC require from the Sessions Judge and from the High Court?▼

Section 194 CrPC reads that the Sessions Judge of the division may make over cases by general or special order. It reads that the High Court may direct a judge to try cases by special order.

Does an Additional Sessions Judge or Assistant Sessions Judge try a case made over under Section 194 CrPC?▼

Yes. Section 194 CrPC reads that an Additional Sessions Judge or Assistant Sessions Judge shall try such cases as the Sessions Judge of the division makes over for trial by general or special order, or as the High Court directs that judge to try by special order.

Where is Section 194 CrPC found in the BNSS from 1 July 2024?▼

Section 194 CrPC has no sub-sections, and maps as a whole to Section 214 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024. Section 214 BNSS reads an Additional Sessions Judge where Section 194 CrPC read an Additional Sessions Judge or Assistant Sessions Judge.

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Sources: Bare Act Text, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Last updated: 21 Oct 2026 ·