Metropolitan Courts

Metropolitan Courts

Metropolitan Courts preside over both civil as well as criminal matters. The civil courts include city civil courts and courts of smaller causes. The criminal courts are courts of the Session Judge, Chief Metropolitan Judge and Metropolitan Magistrate.

Metropolitan courts are set up in every metropolitan area that has a population of 10 lakh people or more. Section 16 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPc),  states, "there shall be established as many courts of Metropolitan Magistrates, and at such places, as the State Government may, after consultation with the High Court specify."

According to the criminal court structure in India, the courts of Metropolitan Magistrates are ranked as the second lowest. A Metropolitan Magistrate is a first class magistrate who operates under the District & Sessions Judge. They are allowed to pass a sentence of imprisonment that does not exceed 3 years, or a fine that does not exceed INR 10,000.

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