What Is BNSS Section 207?

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 - Section 207: Power to issue summons or warrant for offence committed beyond local jurisdiction.

(1) When a Magistrate of the first class sees reason to believe that any person within his local jurisdiction has committed outside such jurisdiction (whether within or outside India) an offence which cannot, under the provisions of sections 197 to 205 (both inclusive), or any other law for the time being in force, be inquired into or tried within such jurisdiction but is under some law for the time being in force triable in India, such Magistrate may inquire into the offence as if it had been committed within such local jurisdiction and compel such person in the manner hereinbefore provided to appear before him, and send such person to the Magistrate having jurisdiction to inquire into or try such offence, or, if such offence is not punishable with death or imprisonment for life and such person is ready and willing to give bail to the satisfaction of the Magistrate acting under this section, take a bond with or without sureties for his appearance before the Magistrate having such jurisdiction.

(2) When there are more Magistrates than one having such jurisdiction and the Magistrate acting under this section cannot satisfy himself as to the Magistrate to or before whom such person should be sent or bound to appear, the case shall be reported for the orders of the High Court.

Brefe Detail

Section 207 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, empowers a first-class Magistrate to take action against individuals who commit offences outside their local jurisdiction but within the scope of Indian law. This section allows the Magistrate to compel the accused to appear before him and facilitate the transfer of the case to the appropriate jurisdiction if necessary. It also provides a mechanism for dealing with situations where multiple Magistrates may have jurisdiction over a case.

Question & Answers

What powers does a first-class Magistrate have under Section 207?

A first-class Magistrate can inquire into offences committed outside his local jurisdiction and compel the accused to appear before him.

Can the Magistrate issue a summons for offences that are not punishable by death or life imprisonment?

Yes, if the offence is not punishable with death or imprisonment for life, the Magistrate can take a bond for the accused's appearance.

What happens if multiple Magistrates have jurisdiction over the offence?

If the acting Magistrate cannot determine the appropriate Magistrate to whom the person should be sent, the case will be reported for the orders of the High Court.

Example

1. Example of jurisdiction: If a person residing in Delhi commits fraud against someone in Mumbai through online communication, the Delhi Magistrate can initiate proceedings under Section 207.

2. Example of bail: If the accused in the above case is ready to give bail and the offence is not severe, the Delhi Magistrate can take a bond for their appearance in the Mumbai court.

Summary

Section 207 facilitates legal action against individuals committing offences beyond local jurisdictions, allowing for inquiries and the issuance of summons or warrants. It ensures that the judicial process is upheld, even when the offence occurs outside the immediate geographical area of the Magistrate's authority.