Section 14 of CrPC : Section 14: Local Jurisdiction Of Judicial Magistrates

Explanation using Example

Imagine a scenario where the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) in a district decides that due to the high volume of traffic-related offenses in a particular area, it would be efficient to have a dedicated Magistrate to handle these cases. The CJM, with the approval of the High Court, defines the local limits of this area and invests a Magistrate with the powers to adjudicate all traffic-related offenses within these limits. This Magistrate can now hold court specifically for these cases, and the jurisdiction and powers granted are confined to this defined area.

However, if a certain case requires the Magistrate to exercise jurisdiction beyond this area but still within the district, the powers can extend to the entirety of the district, ensuring that the administration of justice is not hindered by geographical boundaries.

In another example, a Judicial Magistrate might be appointed to oversee environmental law violations in several districts. For this Magistrate, references to the Court of Session or Chief Judicial Magistrate in the Code would be understood as referring to the corresponding authority within the districts where the Magistrate has jurisdiction, ensuring that legal processes are properly contextualized to the area of jurisdiction.