Central

Section 4 of The Special Criminal Courts (Jurisdiction) Act, 1950

Power to add to Schedule.

The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, add to the Schedule any other State law providing for the trial of offences by special Criminal Courts, and any such addition shall take effect as if such law had been included in the Schedule by this Act.

Summary

This section gives the Central Government of India the power to change the Schedule.
The Central Government can add other state laws to the Schedule.
To add a law, the government must publish a notification (an official announcement) in the Official Gazette (the government's public newspaper for official notices).
The state law being added must provide for the trial of offenses (crimes) by special criminal courts.
Once a state law is added, the addition takes effect as if it was originally included in the Schedule when this Act was passed.

Practical examples

1In December 1951, the Central Government decides that a new security law passed by Bihar should be covered. They publish a notification in the Official Gazette listing the Bihar law. From that date, the Bihar law is treated as part of the Schedule.

2The Central Government wants to include a special courts law from Madras. On January 10, 1953, they issue an official notification in the Gazette. The Madras law is now officially added, and Madras special courts can use the powers of this Act.

FAQ

1. Who has the power to add laws to the Schedule?

The Central Government has this power.

2. How must the Central Government notify the public about an addition to the Schedule?

They must do so by publishing a notification in the Official Gazette (the government's public newspaper for official notices).

3. What kind of state laws can be added to the Schedule?

Any State law that provides for the trial of offenses (crimes) by special criminal courts.

4. What is the legal status of a state law after it is added to the Schedule?

The addition takes effect as if the state law had been included in the Schedule by this Act from the beginning.

Test yourself

1.Who has the authority to add state laws to the Schedule?

2.What is the method required to add a law to the Schedule?

3.What type of law can be added to the Schedule under Section 4?

4.What is the legal effect of adding a law to the Schedule?

5.What publication is used to announce the addition of a law?

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