Courts of Judicial Magistrate of Second Class

{{short description|Judicial structure in India}}{{Courts of India}}

Courts of Judicial Magistrate of Second Class are at the lowest hierarchy of the Criminal Court structure in India.{{Cite web|url=https://www.webindia123.com/law/asp/courtDetail.asp?cID=5|title=Second Class Judicial Magistrate Courts|website=webIndia123}} According to the Section 9 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS),{{Cite web |title=Courts of Judicial Magistrates. |url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/show-data?abv=CEN&statehandle=123456789/1362&actid=AC_CEN_5_23_00049_202346_1719552320687§ionId=90996§ionno=9&orderno=9&orgactid=AC_CEN_5_23_00049_202346_1719552320687 |url-status=live |archive-date= |access-date=25 March 2025 |website=indiacode.nic.in}} a Court of Judicial Magistrate of Second Class may be established by the State Government in consultation with the High Court of the respective state at such places in the district and in any number by a notification.

According to Section 23(3) of the BNSS,{{Cite web |title=Sentences which Magistrates may pass. |url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/show-data?abv=CEN&statehandle=123456789/1362&actid=AC_CEN_5_23_00049_202346_1719552320687§ionId=91010§ionno=23&orderno=23&orgactid=AC_CEN_5_23_00049_202346_1719552320687 |access-date=25 March 2025 |website=indiacode.nic.in}} a Judicial Magistrate of Second Class may pass a sentence of imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or of fine not exceeding Five thousand (in madhya pradesh 25 thousand){{Cite web |last=NETWORK |first=LIVELAW NEWS |date=2016-04-04 |title=Code of Criminal Procedure (Madhya Pradesh Amendment) Act, 2007 is retrospective in its operation; MP HC [Read Jt] |url=https://www.livelaw.in/code-criminal-procedure-madhya-pradesh-amendment-act-2007-retrospective-operation-mp-hc-read-jt#:~:text=in%20its%20operation.-,The%20Code%20of%20Criminal%20Procedure%20(Madhya%20Pradesh%20Amendment)%20Act,,365,%20377,%20392,%20. |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=www.livelaw.in |language=en}} rupees, or of both.

A Judicial Magistrate of Second Class cannot entertain a Prayer for Police Remand while hearing for police files. If the police remand prayer is received, the same must be kept reserved and the case record must immediately be sent to Judicial Magistrate 1st Class.{{Cite web |title=Procedure when investigation cannot be completed in twenty-four hours. |url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/show-data?abv=CEN&statehandle=123456789/1362&actid=AC_CEN_5_23_00049_202346_1719552320687§ionId=91173§ionno=187&orderno=187&orgactid=AC_CEN_5_23_00049_202346_1719552320687 |access-date=25 March 2025 |website=indiacode.nic.in}}

A Judicial Magistrate can try such offences which is triable by either "Any Magistrate" or "Judicial Magistrate 2nd Class" as enshrined in the Schedule I & II of the BNSS.{{Cite web |title=THE FIRST SCHEDULE BNSS |url=https://upload.indiacode.nic.in/schedulefile?aid=AC_CEN_5_23_00049_202346_1719552320687&rid=1191 |access-date=25 March 2025 |website=indiacode.nic.in}}{{Cite web |title=THE SECOND SCHEDULE BNSS |url=https://upload.indiacode.nic.in/schedulefile?aid=AC_CEN_5_23_00049_202346_1719552320687&rid=1192 |access-date=25 March 2025 |website=indiacode.nic.in}}

Generally, the post for Judicial Magistrate 2nd Class is to be held for 6 months by the newly inducted officers unless the concerned Hon'ble High Court of a State pleased to seem fit to reduce or increase the time period of 6 months.{{Cite web |title=GSJSR-2005 |url=https://gujarathighcourt.nic.in/hccms/sites/default/files/servicerules/GSJSR-2005_5633.pdf |access-date=26 March 2025 |website=gujarathighcourt.nic.in}}

File:Judicial Magistrate Office, Tarbha.jpg.]]

A production Warrant issued by a Judicial Magistrate 2nd Class must be countersigned by the Chief Judicial Magistrate as per Section 302 of BNSS{{Cite web |title=Power to require attendance of prisoners |url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/show-data?abv=CEN&statehandle=123456789/1362&actid=AC_CEN_5_23_00049_202346_1719552320687§ionId=91288§ionno=302&orderno=302&orgactid=AC_CEN_5_23_00049_202346_1719552320687 |access-date=26 March 2025 |website=ndiacode.nic.in}} only on the grounds that such warrant requires the attendance of a prisoner from a prison but it does not affect the normal power of a Judicial Magistrate of Second class under section 72 of BNSS{{Cite web |title=Form of warrant of arrest and duration. |url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/show-data?abv=CEN&statehandle=123456789/1362&actid=AC_CEN_5_23_00049_202346_1719552320687§ionId=91536§ionno=72&orderno=72&orgactid=undefined |access-date=26 March 2025 |website=indiacode.nic.in}}