CrPC Section 13: Special Judicial Magistrates

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Chapter 2: Constitution of Criminal court and offices

Repealed on 1 July 2024 and replaced by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS).

13. Special Judicial Magistrates .- (1) The High Court may, if requested by the Central or State Government so to do, confer upon any person who holds or has held any post under the Government all or any of the powers conferred or conferrable by or under this Code on a Judicial Magistrate of the first class or of the second class, in respect to particular cases or to particular classes of cases, in any local area, not being a metropolitan area:


Provided that no such power shall be conferred on a person unless he possesses such qualification or experience in relation to legal affairs as the High Court may, by rules, specify.

(2) Such Magistrates shall be called Special Judicial Magistrates and shall be appointed for such term, not exceeding one year at a time, as the High Court may, by general or special order, direct.

(3) The High Court may empower a Special Judicial Magistrate to exercise the powers of a Metropolitan Magistrate in relation to any metropolitan area outside his local jurisdiction.

STATE AMENDMENTS


Andhra Pradesh:
In sub-section (2) of section 13, for the words "not exceeding one year at a time" the words "not exceeding two years at a time" shall be substituted and to the said sub-section the following proviso shall be added, namely:-

"Provided that any person who is holding the office of Special Judicial Magistrate at the commencement of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Andhra Pradesh Amendment) Act, 1992 and has not completed sixty-five years of age shall continue to hold office for a term of two years from the date of his appointment."

[Vide Andhra Pradesh Act 2 of 1992.]


Bihar:
In section 13 for the words "in any district", the words "in any local area" shall be substituted.

[Vide Bihar Act 8 of 1977, Section (w.e.f. 10-1-1977).]

Haryana:
In section 13 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1) for the words "second class", the words "first class or second class" and for the words "in any district", the words "in any local area" shall be substituted.

[Vide Haryana Act 16 of 1976, Section 3 (w.e.f. 24-2-1976).]

Himachal Pradesh:
In section 13 for the words "in any district" the words "in any local area" shall be substituted.

[Vide Himachal Pradesh Act 40 of 1976 (w.e.f. 13-11-1976).]

Punjab:
In section 13 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1) for the words "second class" the words "first class or second class" and for the words "in any district", the words "in any local area" shall be substituted.

[Vide Punjab Act 9 of 1978, Section 3 (w.e.f. 14-4-1978).]

Uttar Pradesh:
In section 13 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1) for the words "second class" the words "first class or second class" and for the words "in any district", the word" in any local area" shall be substituted.

[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 16 of 1976, Section 4 (w.e.f. 5-1-1976).]

Study: explanations and related material

Now BNSS 11 (corresponding section). CrPC → BNSS converterSource: BPR&D BNSS–CrPC corresponding section table (UP Police, 2024-07-03), p1

Official reference: Ministry of Home Affairs: historical CrPC reference — source link checked: 2 October 2026.Recorded edition / snapshot date: 2024-06-30.Mobile-app reference import; the recorded snapshot date is not a fresh legal-currency guarantee. The linked government text is an independent authoritative reference, not certification that this website reproduces the same edition. The source link was checked, not every provision or subsequent amendment. Check commencement notifications, savings and jurisdiction-specific variations separately. Section 135 was restored and individually checked against the linked government PDF (pages 75–76) on 2026-10-02; this is not a verification of the whole collection. Schedules and forms are not consolidated here. Historical code retained for reference; read the repeal/savings provisions in the successor code.

This text is for reference, not legal advice. Consult the official source for the authoritative text.

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