Duty of High Court to exercise continuous superintendence over Courtsof Judicial Magistrates
Section 483 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 deals with duty of High Court to exercise continuous superintendence over Courtsof Judicial Magistrates. Duty of High Court to exercise continuous superintendence over Courts of Judicial Magistrates. The Act came into force on 01 Apr 1974. Repealed by section 531 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (46 of 2023) with effect from 1 July 2024, but conduct before that date is still charged, tried and appealed under it.
Duty of High Court to exercise continuous superintendence over Courts of Judicial Magistrates. Every High Court shall so exercise its superintendence over the Courts of Judicial Magistrates subordinate to it as to ensure that there is an expeditious and proper disposal of cases by such Magistrates.
Section 483, The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Act 2 of 1974).
Now in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
BNSS 529 Duty of High Court to exercise continuous superintendence over Courts Close, with changes 84%
Measured by comparing the text of the two provisions, not taken from an official correspondence table — there is no machine-readable one. See both texts side by side before relying on it.
Both regimes are live. The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force. We never redirect one to the other.
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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V. Y. Jose vs State of Gujarat
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
For an offence of cheating under Sections 417 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code to be established, the essential ingredient of fraudulent or dishonest intention must be present at the time of making the promise or representation or entering into the contract. Mere failure to perform contractual obligations or deliver goods conforming to specifications, without evidence of fraudulent or dishonest intention at the inception of the contract, does not constitute the offence of cheating. Where allegations in a criminal complaint, even if accepted at their face value in their entirety, do not disclose the ingredients of the offence, the High Court is justified in exercising its inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 CrPC to quash the proceedings. A civil contractual dispute should not be allowed to be converted into criminal prosecution without clear disclosure of criminal ingredients, as such conversion would constitute an abuse of judicial process.
On this section: Duty of Superior Court - Referenced in context of supervising functioning of trial courts and preventing abuse of process.
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State vs Gani Mohd.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
A conviction pronounced against an accused who cannot understand the proceedings, without explaining to the accused the incriminating circumstances appearing against him and without giving him a chance of defence, and without a conclusive finding about the accused's mental state regarding understanding of proceedings, is void ab initio. Before proceeding with trial against such an accused, the trial court must make necessary enquiries and reach a definite conclusion about whether the accused can be made to understand the proceedings. The legislative intent of Section 318 CrPC is that conviction can be recorded only when the requirements of Chapters XVII to XXI of the Criminal Procedure Code have been complied with.
On this section: Provision read with Section 482 to exercise inherent powers of High Court.
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Ajay Kumar Singh vs State of U.p. Thru. Prin. Secy. Home Deptt. Lko.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Subordinate courts are duty-bound to adhere to the statutory timelines for NI Act trials and must employ all available coercive measures to prevent the accused from stalling proceedings through non-appearance.
On this section: Invocation of High Court's power to oversee and direct speedy disposal by subordinate courts.
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Shashikant Pal @ Munnu Pal vs State of U.p.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
The High Court, exercising its inherent powers under Sections 482 and 483 Cr.P.C., can direct a trial court to expedite the disposal of a pending trial and conclude it within a specified timeframe when the trial is substantially complete (with only formal witnesses remaining) and there are compelling circumstances affecting the applicant's future, such as a career opportunity, provided the respondent does not oppose such direction.
On this section: Supplementary powers of High Court; cited alongside Section 482 as basis for court's authority
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Questions about Section 483
What have the courts held on Section 483 of the Code of Criminal Procedure?
V. Y. Jose vs State of Gujarat (16 Dec 2008) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Duty of Superior Court - Referenced in context of supervising functioning of trial courts and preventing abuse of process. Another 3 judgments on this section are set out below, 1 of them from the Supreme Court. They run from 2008 to 2026.
How do I find court cases under Section 483 of the Code of Criminal Procedure?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: CRPC 483, section 483 CRPC, section 483 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 4 reported judgments on this section are set out on this page, beginning with V. Y. Jose vs State of Gujarat (16 Dec 2008).
What should I read with Section 483 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and has it changed?
For anything done on or after 1 July 2024 the provision to read is BNSS 529 (Duty of High Court to exercise continuous superintendence over Courts), which replaced it; conduct before that date is still charged, tried and appealed under this section.
When did Section 483 of the Code of Criminal Procedure come into force?
Section 483 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, cited as CRPC 483, came into force on 01 Apr 1974, having been enacted on 25 Jan 1974. It is no longer in force.
Other sections of this Act
- 320. Compounding of offences1554 words
- 167. Procedure when investigation cannot be completed in twenty four hours1005 words
- 220. Trial for more than one offence962 words
- 360. Order to release on probation of good conduct or after admonition804 words
- 2. Definitions799 words
- 198. Prosecution for offences against marriage774 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Recovered from the consolidated text published by India Code (item 330a1099-77ad-4a2e-b22a-769b33398f9e). This page is not a substitute for legal advice.