BNSS · Section 6 · Chapter II — CONSTITUTION OF CRIMINAL COURTS AND OFFICES

Classes of Criminal Courts.

What this section does

This section establishes the hierarchy of criminal courts in every State, in addition to High Courts and courts constituted under other laws. The four classes of criminal courts are: Courts of Session, Judicial Magistrates of the first class, Judicial Magistrates of the second class, and Executive Magistrates.

AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).

Procedure at a glance

Key actors: Court of Session · Judicial Magistrate · Executive Magistrate

Old-law correspondence

Derived from CrPC s.6.

Read the official text

For the binding statutory text of BNSS Section 6, refer to the Gazette of India or the India Code official website.

Why this matters

BNSS Section 6 forms part of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita which replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 on 1 July 2024. Any new filing, FIR, charge sheet, or bail application made on or after that date should cite the new section number. References to the old act in legacy documents remain valid for matters that arose before the changeover.