Section 22 CrPC: Local Jurisdiction of Executive Magistrates

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 22 CrPC at a Glance

Section 22 CrPC deals with local Jurisdiction of Executive Magistrates. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 16 BNSS.

Now BNSS

Section 16 →

What Section 22 CrPC Says

22. Local Jurisdiction of Executive Magistrates
(1) Subject to the control of the State Government, the District Magistrate may, from time to time, define the local limits of the areas within which the Executive Magistrates may exercise all or any of the powers with which they may be invested under this Code.
(2) Except as otherwise provided by such definition, the jurisdiction and powers of every such Magistrate shall extend throughout the district.

Source: Section 22, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 22 CrPC in Simple Words

Section 22 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 deals with the local jurisdiction of Executive Magistrates. The District Magistrate may define the local limits of the areas in which Executive Magistrates may exercise all or any of the powers they are invested with under the Code.

The District Magistrate may do this from time to time. This power is subject to the control of the State Government.

Unless the definition provides otherwise, the jurisdiction and powers of each such Executive Magistrate shall extend throughout the district.

When Section 22 CrPC Applies

Under Section 22(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the District Magistrate may, from time to time, define the local limits of the areas within which the Executive Magistrates may exercise their powers.
Under Section 22(1) CrPC, the District Magistrate defines those local limits subject to the control of the State Government.
Within the local limits so defined, the Executive Magistrates may exercise all or any of the powers with which they may be invested under the Code, as Section 22(1) CrPC provides.
Under Section 22(2) CrPC, except as otherwise provided by such definition, the jurisdiction and powers of every such Executive Magistrate shall extend throughout the district.

Example of Section 22 CrPC

Raghav is the District Magistrate of a district, and Meera and Dev are Executive Magistrates there. Subject to the control of the State Government, Raghav makes an order under Section 22(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 defining one tehsil as the local area within which Meera may exercise the powers with which Meera is invested under the Code. Raghav makes no such definition for Dev, so under Section 22(2) CrPC the jurisdiction and powers of Dev extend throughout the district.

When Section 22 CrPC Does Not Apply

Section 22(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 gives the power to define local limits to the District Magistrate, and the District Magistrate exercises it subject to the control of the State Government, not free of that control.

Section 22 CrPC Under BNSS 16: What Changed

Section 22 CrPC is now covered under Section 16 BNSS.

Section 22 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 became Section 16 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024. Section 16(1) BNSS refers to the Sanhita in place of the Code and is otherwise the same as Section 22(1) CrPC. Section 16(2) BNSS has the same text as Section 22(2) CrPC.

View detailed comparison (CrPC 22 vs BNSS 16) →

FAQs on Section 22 CrPC

Who may define the local limits of Executive Magistrates under Section 22 CrPC?▼

Under Section 22(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the District Magistrate may, from time to time, define the local limits of the areas within which Executive Magistrates may exercise all or any of the powers with which they may be invested under the Code. The District Magistrate does so subject to the control of the State Government.

How far do the jurisdiction and powers of an Executive Magistrate extend if the District Magistrate has not defined local limits under Section 22 CrPC?▼

Under Section 22(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, except as otherwise provided by a definition made under Section 22(1) CrPC, the jurisdiction and powers of every such Executive Magistrate shall extend throughout the district.

Can the District Magistrate change the local limits of Executive Magistrates after defining them under Section 22 CrPC?▼

Section 22(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 provides that the District Magistrate may define the local limits from time to time, subject to the control of the State Government.

Where is Section 22 CrPC found after the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 came into force?▼

The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 was replaced by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024. Section 22 CrPC is found in Section 16 BNSS. Section 22(1) CrPC maps to Section 16(1) BNSS, and Section 22(2) CrPC maps to Section 16(2) BNSS.

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