Section 19 of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
- (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.
Summary
- The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate and every Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate are subordinate to the Sessions Judge.
- All other Metropolitan Magistrates are subordinate to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.
- The Sessions Judge maintains general control over all Metropolitan Magistrates in their division.
- The High Court has the authority to define exactly how much an Additional Chief is subordinate to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.
- The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate creates the rules and orders for how legal business is distributed among the magistrates.
Practical examples
FAQ
1. Is the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate the highest authority in the city under Section 19 of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973?
No, under Section 19 of the 1973 Code, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate is subordinate to the Sessions Judge.
2. Who decides which magistrate hears which case in a city under Section 19 of the 1973 Criminal Code?
Under Section 19 of the 1973 Criminal Code, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate makes the rules and orders for the distribution of business among magistrates.
3. Who defines the relationship between the Chief and the Additional Chief under Section 19 of the Criminal Procedure Code?
According to Section 19 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the High Court defines the extent of subordination of the Additional Chief to the Chief.
Test yourself
Q1.Under Section 19 of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, to whom is the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate subordinate?
Q2.Who is responsible for making rules regarding the distribution of business among Metropolitan Magistrates under Section 19 of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973?
Q3.Under Section 19 of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, who defines the extent of subordination of an Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate to the Chief?
Q4.According to Section 19 of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, who has general control over a standard Metropolitan Magistrate?