Section 400 CrPC: Power of Additional Sessions Judge

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 400 CrPC at a Glance

Section 400 CrPC deals with power of Additional Sessions Judge. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 441 BNSS.

Now BNSS

Section 441 →

What Section 400 CrPC Says

400. Power of Additional Sessions Judge

An Additional Sessions Judge shall have and may exercise all the powers of a Sessions Judge under this Chapter in respect of any case which may be transferred to him by or under any general or special order of the Sessions Judge.

Source: Section 400, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 400 CrPC in Simple Words

Section 400 CrPC deals with the Additional Sessions Judge. An Additional Sessions Judge shall have and may exercise all the powers of a Sessions Judge under this Chapter in respect of any case which may be transferred to the Additional Sessions Judge by or under any general or special order of the Sessions Judge.

When Section 400 CrPC Applies

  • An Additional Sessions Judge shall have and may exercise all the powers of a Sessions Judge under this Chapter.
  • The powers are in respect of any case which may be transferred to the Additional Sessions Judge by or under any general or special order of the Sessions Judge.

Example of Section 400 CrPC

The Sessions Judge transfers a case to Additional Sessions Judge Rekha by a special order. Additional Sessions Judge Rekha shall have and may exercise all the powers of a Sessions Judge under this Chapter in respect of that case.

When Section 400 CrPC Does Not Apply

  • Section 400 CrPC speaks of a case transferred to an Additional Sessions Judge by an order of the Sessions Judge. It does not deal with the transfer of a case from one Criminal Court to another, which Section 408 CrPC covers.

Section 400 CrPC Under BNSS 441: What Changed

Section 400 CrPC is now covered under Section 441 BNSS.

Section 400 CrPC became Section 441 BNSS from 1 July 2024. The heading is the same and the text is the same.

View detailed comparison (CrPC 400 vs BNSS 441) →

FAQs on Section 400 CrPC

What powers does an Additional Sessions Judge have under Section 400 CrPC?▼

An Additional Sessions Judge shall have and may exercise all the powers of a Sessions Judge under this Chapter.

In respect of which cases does an Additional Sessions Judge have these powers under Section 400 CrPC?▼

In respect of any case which may be transferred to the Additional Sessions Judge by or under any general or special order of the Sessions Judge.

Which orders of the Sessions Judge does Section 400 CrPC mention?▼

Section 400 CrPC mentions any general or special order of the Sessions Judge.

Where is Section 400 CrPC found in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023?▼

Section 400 CrPC has no sub-sections, and maps as a whole to Section 441 BNSS.

Have questions about Section 400 CrPC?

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, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Last updated: 20 Oct 2026 ·