Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter III: Power of Courts
Section 29: Powers of Judges and Magistrates exercisable by their successors-in-office
In plain words
A Judge's or Magistrate's powers and duties can be exercised by their successor in office. If there is doubt about who the successor is, the Sessions Judge decides for Judges, and the Chief Judicial Magistrate or District Magistrate decides for Magistrates, by written order.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
(1) Subject to the other provisions of this Sanhita, the powers and duties of a Judge or Magistrate may be exercised or performed by his successor-in-office.
(2) When there is any doubt as to who is the successor-in-office, the Sessions Judge shall determine by order in writing the Judge who shall, for the purposes of this Sanhita or of any proceedings or order thereunder, be deemed to be the successor-in-office.
(3) When there is any doubt as to who is the successor-in-office of any Magistrate, the Chief Judicial Magistrate, or the District Magistrate, as the case may be, shall determine by order in writing the Magistrate who shall, for the purpose of this Sanhita or of any proceedings or order thereunder, be deemed to be the successor-in-office of such Magistrate.
Corresponding sections were matched by comparing the wording of both official texts, and for the IPC and BNS, also against a published correspondence table. Wording, punishments and structure often changed, so read both sections before relying on the match.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 12 September 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 29
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.