Chapter II
Section 19 CrPC: Subordination of Metropolitan Magistrates
New Law Update (2024)
Section 20 BNSS
TRIAL COURT
Punishment
Procedural / Administrative
Cognizable?
Bailable?
Compoundable?
Bare Act Text
(1) The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate and every Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate shall be subordinate to the Sessions Judge, and every other Metropolitan Magistrate shall, subject to the general control of the Sessions Judge, be subordinate to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.
(2) The High Court may, for the purposes of this Code, define the extent of the subordination, if any, of the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrates to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.
(3) The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate may, from time to time, make rules or give special orders, consistent with this Code, as to the distribution of business among the Metropolitan Magistrates and as to the allocation of business to an Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.
Important Sub-Sections Explained
Section 19(1)
This sub-section establishes the primary chain of command, stating that Chief Metropolitan Magistrates and Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrates are subordinate to the Sessions Judge, while other Metropolitan Magistrates fall under the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s authority, subject to the Sessions Judge’s overall control.
Section 19(3)
This sub-section empowers the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate to issue rules or special orders for the orderly distribution of judicial business among all Metropolitan Magistrates and for specifically assigning duties to an Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.