CrPC Section 337
Section 337 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), India
Title: Cognizance of offences by Magistrates
Text of Section 337:
“A Magistrate of the first class may take cognizance of any offence punishable with imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or with fine, or with both.”
Explanation in Detail
Meaning of “Cognizance”
In legal terms, cognizance means that a Magistrate has the legal authority to hear and take action on a case.
When a Magistrate takes cognizance, it does not mean they have convicted the accused—it only means the court can legally proceed with the case.
Who Can Take Cognizance
Section 337 specifically refers to a Magistrate of the first class.
A First Class Magistrate is empowered to try certain offences and has powers defined under the CrPC for issuing warrants, summons, and conducting trials.
Type of Offences
The Section states that the magistrate may take cognizance of offences that are:
Punishable with imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, OR
Punishable with fine, OR
Punishable with both imprisonment (not exceeding three years) and fine.
This means serious offences like murder or rape are not included here; such offences are cognizable by higher authorities like a Magistrate of the Second Class or a Sessions Court depending on the severity.
Purpose of Section 337
The main purpose is to define the jurisdiction of a First Class Magistrate in terms of the offences they can legally entertain.
It ensures that minor offences are handled at the level of First Class Magistrates without burdening higher courts.
Example
Suppose a person commits cheating involving a sum less than the limit prescribed by law, or causes minor hurt, which carries imprisonment up to 3 years.
The First Class Magistrate can take cognizance of this case and start proceedings.
Important Points to Remember
Cognizance can be taken on complaint, police report, or upon receiving information from any source.
It is limited by the type of punishment: imprisonment should not exceed three years.
The section helps in decentralizing justice, allowing minor cases to be handled efficiently without involving higher courts.
✅ In short:
CrPC Section 337 empowers a First Class Magistrate to start legal proceedings for minor offences punishable by up to 3 years of imprisonment, fine, or both. It defines the scope of jurisdiction for first-class magistrates to ensure proper administration of justice.
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