Section 482 CrPC: Saving of inherent powers of High Court

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 482 CrPC at a Glance

Section 482 CrPC deals with saving of inherent powers of High Court. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 528 BNSS. Popularly called the inherent powers of the High Court. The rule is unchanged: the High Court keeps its power to prevent abuse of the process of any Court or otherwise to secure the ends of justice.

Now BNSS

Section 528 →

What Section 482 CrPC Says

482. Saving of inherent powers of High Court

Nothing in this Code shall be deemed to limit or affect the inherent powers of the High Court to make such orders as may be necessary to give effect to any order under this Code, or to prevent abuse of the process of any Court or otherwise to secure the ends of justice.

Source: Section 482, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 482 CrPC in Simple Words

Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 provides that nothing in the Code shall be deemed to limit or affect the inherent powers of the High Court. Under Section 482 CrPC, the High Court may make such orders as may be necessary to give effect to any order under the Code, to prevent abuse of the process of any Court, or otherwise to secure the ends of justice.

Who Can Use Section 482 CrPC

  • Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 saves the inherent powers of the High Court, and nothing in the Code shall be deemed to limit or affect those powers.
  • The High Court may make such orders as may be necessary to give effect to any order under the Code.
  • The High Court may make such orders as may be necessary to prevent abuse of the process of any Court.
  • The High Court may also make such orders as may be necessary otherwise to secure the ends of justice.

Example of Section 482 CrPC

Ramesh obtains a valid order under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 from a Court in Jaipur, yet a gap in routine procedure blocks its enforcement. At the same time, Suresh initiates a baseless proceeding in that Court solely to misuse its process against Ramesh. Ramesh approaches the High Court under Section 482 CrPC for relief. Because nothing in the Code shall be deemed to limit or affect its inherent powers, the High Court may make such orders as may be necessary to give effect to the order passed under the Code, prevent abuse of the process of that Court, and secure the ends of justice for Ramesh.

When Section 482 CrPC Does Not Apply

  • Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 does not preserve or grant inherent powers for any Court other than the High Court.

Inherent Powers of High Court Under BNSS 528: What Changed

Section 482 CrPC is now covered under Section 528 BNSS.

Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 became Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024 with changes of form only. The provision was renumbered from Section 482 CrPC to Section 528 BNSS, and the word Code was replaced with the word Sanhita. The rule itself is unchanged. Both provisions preserve the inherent powers of the High Court to make such orders as may be necessary to give effect to orders under the statute, prevent abuse of the process of any Court, or otherwise secure the ends of justice.

View detailed comparison (CrPC 482 vs BNSS 528) →

FAQs on Section 482 CrPC

Does Section 482 CrPC confer new powers on the High Court?▼

No, Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 does not confer new powers on the High Court. As its title states, it is a saving provision for the inherent powers of the High Court. It declares that nothing in the Code shall be deemed to limit or affect the inherent powers that the High Court possesses to make such orders as may be necessary for the purposes specified in Section 482 CrPC.

For what purposes can the High Court pass orders under Section 482 CrPC?▼

Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 recognises that the High Court may make such orders as may be necessary for specific objects. Those objects are to give effect to any order under the Code, to prevent abuse of the process of any Court, or otherwise to secure the ends of justice. Nothing in the Code shall be deemed to limit or affect the inherent powers of the High Court to act for these purposes.

Can any Court other than a High Court exercise inherent powers under Section 482 CrPC?▼

No, Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 saves only the inherent powers of the High Court. The words any Court in Section 482 CrPC describe the Courts whose process the High Court may act to keep from abuse, not Courts that hold the power.

Where is Section 482 CrPC found after 1 July 2024?▼

The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 was replaced by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024. The provision corresponding to Section 482 CrPC is found in Section 528 BNSS, which carries the same title, Saving of inherent powers of High Court, and preserves the inherent powers of the High Court under the Sanhita.

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Sources: Bare Act Text, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Last updated: 18 Oct 2026 ·