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The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

CHAPTER I: PRELIMINARY



1. Short title, extent and commencement

(1) This Act may be called the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

(2) It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir:

Provided that the provisions of this Code, other than those relating to Chapters VIII, X and XI thereof, shall not apply-

(a) to the State of Nagaland,

(b) to the tribal areas.

but the concerned State Government may, by notification, apply such provisions or any of them to the whole or part of the State of Nagaland or such tribal areas, as the case may be, with such supplemental, incidental or consequential modifications, as may be specified in the notification.

Explanation - In this section, "tribal areas" means the territories which immediately before the 21st day of January, 1972, were included in the tribal areas of Assam, as referred to in paragraph 20 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution, other than those within the local limits of the municipality of Shillong.

(3) It shall come into force on the 1st day of April, 1974.

2. Definitions

In this Code, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a) "bailable offence" means an offence which is shown as bailable in the First Schedule, or which is made bailable by any other law for the time being in force; and "non-bailable offence" means any other offence;

(b) "charge" includes any head of charge when the charge contains more heads than one;

(c) "cognizable offence" means an offence for which, and "cognizable case" means a case in which, a police officer may, in accordance with the First Schedule or under any other law for the time being in force, arrest without warrant;

(d) "complaint" means any allegation made orally or in writing to a Magistrate, with a view to his taking action under this Code, that some person, whether known or unknown, has committed an offence, but does not include a police report.

Explanation.-A report made by a police officer in a case which discloses, after investigation, the commission of a non-cognizable offence shall be deemed to be a complaint; and the police officer by whom such report is made shall be deemed to be the complainant;

(e) "High Court" means,-

(i) in relation to any State, the High Court for that State;

(ii) in relation to a Union territory to which the jurisdiction of the High Court for a State has been extended by law, that High Court;

(iii) in relation to any other Union territory, the highest Court of criminal appeal for that territory other than the Supreme Court of India;

(f) "India" means the territories to which this Code extends;

(g) "inquiry" means every inquiry, other than a trial, conducted under this Code by a Magistrate or Court;

(h) "investigation" includes all the proceedings under this Code for the collection of evidence conducted by a police officer or by any person (other than a Magistrate) who is authorised by a Magistrate in this behalf;

(i) "judicial proceeding" includes any proceeding in the course of which evidence is or may be legally taken on oath;

(j) "local jurisdiction", in relation to a Court or Magistrate, means the local area within which the Court or Magistrate may exercise all or any of its or his powers under this Code 1[and such local area may comprise the whole of the State, or any part of the State, as the State Government may, by notification, specify];

(k) "metropolitan area" means the area declared, or deemed to be declared, under section 8, to be a metropolitan area;

(l) "non-cognizable offence" means an offence for which, and "non-cognizable case" means a case in which, a police officer has no authority to arrest without warrant;

(m) "notification" means a notification published in the Official Gazette;

(n) "offence" means any act or omission made punishable by any law for the time being in force and includes any act in respect of which a complaint may be made under section 20 of the Cattle-trespass Act, 1871 (1 of 1871);

(o) "officer in charge of a police station" includes, when the officer in charge of the police station is absent from the station-house or unable from illness or other cause to perform his duties, the police officer present at the station-house who is next in rank to such officer and is above the rank of constable or, when the State Government so directs, any other police officer so present;

(p) "place" includes a house, building, tent, vehicle and vessel;

(q) "pleader", when used with reference to any proceeding in any Court, means a person authorised by or under any law for the time being in force, to practise in such Court, and includes any other person appointed with the permission of the Court to act in such proceeding;

(r) "police report" means a report forwarded by a police officer to a Magistrate under sub-section (2) of section 173;

(s) "police station" means any post or place declared generally or specially by the State Government to be a police station, and includes any local area specified by the State Government in this behalf;

(t) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Code;

(u) "Public Prosecutor" means any person appointed under section 24, and includes any person acting under the directions of a Public Prosecutor;

(v) "sub-division" means a sub-division of a district;

(w) "summons-case" means a case relating to an offence, and not being a warrant-case;

(x) "warrant-case" means a case relating to an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term exceeding two years;

(y) words and expressions used herein and not defined but defined in the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) have the meanings respectively assigned to them in that Code.

3. Construction of references

(1) In this Code,-

(a) any reference, without any qualifying words, to a Magistrate, shall be construed, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(i) in relation to an area outside a metropolitan area, as a reference to a Judicial Magistrate;

(ii) in a relation to a metropolitan area, as a reference to a Metropolitan Magistrate;

(b) any reference to a Magistrate of the second class shall, in relation to an area outside a metropolitan area, be construed as a reference to a Judicial Magistrate of the second class, and, in relation to a Metropolitan area, as a reference to a Metropolitan Magistrate;

(c) any reference to a Magistrate of the first class shall,-

(i) in relation to a Metropolitan area, be construed as a reference to a Metropolitan Magistrate exercising jurisdiction in that area;

(ii) in relation to any other area, be construed as a reference to a Judicial Magistrate of the first class exercising jurisdiction in that area;

(d) any reference to the Chief Judicial Magistrate shall, in relation to a Metropolitan area, be construed as a reference to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate exercising jurisdiction in that area.

(2) In this Code, unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to the Court of a Judicial Magistrate shall, in relation to a Metropolitan area, be construed as a reference to the Court of the Metropolitan Magistrate for that area.

(3) Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference in any enactment passed before the commencement of this Code,-

(a) to a Magistrate of the first class, shall be construed as a reference to a Judicial Magistrate of the first class;

(b) to a Magistrate of the second class or of the third class, shall be construed as a reference to a Judicial Magistrate of the second class:

(c) to a Presidency Magistrate or Chief Presidency Magistrate, shall be construed as a reference, respectively, to a Metropolitan Magistrate or the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate;

(d) to any area which is included in a Metropolitan area, as a reference to such Metropolitan area, and any reference to a Magistrate of the first class or of the second class in relation to such area, shall be construed as a reference to the Metropolitan Magistrate exercising jurisdiction in such area.

(4) Where, under any law, other than this Code, the functions exercisable by a Magistrate relate to matters,-

(a) which involve the appreciation or shifting of evidence or the formulation of any decision which exposes any person to any punishment or penalty or detention in custody pending investigation, inquiry or trial or would have the effect of sending him for trial before any Court, they shall, subject to the provisions of this Code, be exercisable by a Judicial Magistrate; or

(b) which are administrative or executive in nature, such as, the granting of a licence, the suspension or cancellation of a licence, sanctioning a prosecution or withdrawing from a prosecution, they shall, subject as aforesaid, be exercisable by an Executive Magistrate.

STATE AMENDMENTS

In Andaman and Nicobar Islands (U.T.), w.e.f. 30th March, 1974

The following section shall be inserted after section 3: -

"3A. Special provision relating to Andaman and Nicobar Islands

(1) Reference in this Code to:

(a) The Chief Judicial Magistrate shall be construed as references to the District Magistrate or, where the State Government so directs, also to the Additional District Magistrate;

(b) a Magistrate or Magistrate of the first class or of the second class or Judicial Magistrate of the first class or of the second class, shall be construed as references to such Executive Magistrate as the State Government may, be notification in the Official Gazette, specify.

(2) The State Government may, if it is of opinion that adequate number of persons are available for appointment as Judicial Magistrate, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that the provisions of this section shall, on and from such day as may be specified in the notification, cease to be in force and different dates may be specified for different islands.

(3) On the cesser of operation of the provisions of this section every inquiry or trial pending, immediately before such cesser, before the District Magistrate or Additional District Magistrate or any Executive Magistrate, as the case may be, shall stand transferred, and shall be dealt with, from the stage which was reached before, such cesser, by such Judicial Magistrate as the State Government may specify in this behalf."

In Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, w.e.f. 2nd April, 1974

After sub-section (4), the following sub-section including Table shall be inserted:-

"(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this section,-

(i) any reference in such of the provisions of this Code, as applied to the Union territories of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, to the Courts mentioned in Column (1) of the Table below shall, until the Courts of Session and Courts of Judicial Magistrate are constituted in the said Union territories be construed as references to the Court of Magistrate mentioned in the corresponding entry in Column (2) of that Table.

1 Court of Sessions Judge or Chief Judicial Magistrate. - Magistrate or Magistrate of the First Class or Judicial Magistrate of the First Class.

2. District Magistrate - Executive Magistrate

(ii) the functions mentioned in clause (a) of sub-section (4) shall be exercisable by an Executive Magistrate."

The Chief Commissioners and the Additional Deputy Commissioners, in the Union territory of Arunachal Pradesh, were appointed to be Executive Magistrate].

In Nagaland, w.e.f. 19th June, 1975

After sub-section (4) the following sub-section shall be inserted and shall be deemed always to have been so:-

"(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this section,-

(i) any reference in such of the provisions of this Code, as applied to the State of Nagaland to the Court and authority mentioned in Column (1) of the Table below shall, until the Courts of Session and Court of Judicial Magistrates are constituted in the said areas, be construed as references to the Court and authority mentioned in the corresponding entry in Column (2) of that Table.

1. Court of Session or Session Judge or Chief Judicial Magistrate - Magistrate or Magistrate of the first class or Judicial Magistrate of the first class.

2. District Magistrate or Additional District Magistrate - Executive Magistrate

(ii) references mentioned in sub-section (3) to a Judicial Magistrate and functions mentioned in sub-section (4) exercisable by a Judicial Magistrate and Executive Magistrate shall be construed as references to, and exercised by, Deputy Commissioner and Additional Deputy Commissioner and Assistant to Deputy Commissioner appointed under any law in force:

Provide that an Assistant to Deputy Commissioner shall exercise such powers of a Judicial Magistrate as may be invested by the Governor".

4. Trial of offences under the Indian Penal Code and other laws

(1) All offences under the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) shall be investigated, inquired into, tried, and otherwise dealt with according to the provisions hereinafter contained.

(2) All offences under any other law shall be investigated, inquired into, tried, and otherwise dealt with according to the same provisions, but subject to any enactment for the time being in force regulating the manner of place of investigating, inquiring into, trying or otherwise dealing with such offences.

5. Saving

Nothing contained in this Code shall, in the absence of a specific provision to the contrary, affect any special or local law for the time being in force, or any special jurisdiction or power conferred, or any special form of procedure prescribed, by any other law for the time being in force.

The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

CHAPTER I: PRELIMINARY

CHAPTER II : CONSTITUTION OF CRIMINAL COURTS AND OFFICES

CHAPTER III : POWER OF COURTS

CHAPTER IV : A.-POWERS OF SUPERIOR OFFICERS OF POLICE

B.-AID TO THE MAGISTRATES AND THE POLICE

CHAPTER V : ARREST OF PERSONS

CHAPTER VI : PROCESSES TO COMPEL APPEARANCE

CHAPTER VII : PROCESSES TO COMPEL THE PRODUCTION OF THINGS

15[CHAPTER VII A : RECIPROCAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR ASSISTANCE IN CERTAIN MATTERS AND PROCEDURE FOR ATTACHMENT AND FORFEITURE OF PROPERTY

CHAPTER VIII : SECURITY FOR KEEPING THE PEACE AND FOR GOOD BEHAVIOUR

CHAPTER IX : ORDER FOR MAINTENANCE OF WIVES, CHILDREN AND PARENTS

CHAPTER X: MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC ORDER AND TRANQUILLITY

CHAPTER XI : PREVENTIVE ACTION OF THE POLICE

CHAPTER XII : INFORMATION TO THE POLICE AND THEIR POWERS TO INVESTIGATE

CHAPTER XIII : JURISDICTION OF THE CRIMINAL COURTS IN INQUIRIES AND TRIALS

CHAPTER XIV : CONDITIONS REQUISITE FOR INITIATION OF PROCEEDINGS

CHAPTER XV : COMPLAINTS TO MAGISTRATES

CHAPTER XVI : COMMENCEMENT OF PROCEEDINGS BEFORE MAGISTRATES

CHAPTER XVII : THE CHARGE

CHAPTER XVIII : TRIAL BEFORE A COURT OF SESSION

CHAPTER XIX : TRIAL OF WARRANT-CASES BY MAGISTRATES

CHAPTER XX : TRIAL OF SUMMONS-CASES BY MAGISTRATES

CHAPTER XXI : SUMMARY TRIALS

CHAPTER XXII : ATTENDANCE OF PERSONS CONFINED OR DETAINED IN PRISONS

CHAPTER XXIII : EVIDENCE IN INQUIRIES AND TRIALS

CHAPTER XXIV : GENERAL PROVISIONS AS TO INQUIRIES AND TRIALS

CHAPTER XXV : PROVISIONS AS TO ACCUSED PERSONS OF UNSOUND MIND

CHAPTER XXVI : PROVISIONS AS TO OFFENCES AFFECTING THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

CHAPTER XXVII : THE JUDGEMENT

CHAPTER XXVIII : SUBMISSION OF DEATH SENTENCES FOR CONFIRMATION

CHAPTER XXIX : APPEALS

CHAPTER XXX : REFERENCE AND REVISION

CHAPTER XXXI: TRANSFER OF CRIMINAL CASES

CHAPTER XXXII: EXECUTION, SUSPENSION, REMISSION AND COMMUTATION OF SENTENCES

CHAPTER XXXIII : PROVISIONS AS TO BAIL AND BONDS

CHAPTER XXXIV : DISPOSAL OF PROPERTY

CHAPTER XXXV : IRREGULAR PROCEEDINGS

CHAPTER XXXVI9 : LIMITATION FOR TAKING COGNIZANCE OF CERTAIN OFFENCES

CHAPTER XXXVII : MISCELLANEOUS

THE FIRST SCHEDULE : CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCES
II - CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCES AGAINST OTHER LAWS

THE SECOND SCHEDULE