{{Courts of India}} '''Courts of Metropolitan Magistrate''' are at the second lowest level of the Criminal Court structure in India,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B5FKEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA53&dq=Courts+of+Metropolitan+Magistrates,+India+-wikipedia&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=|page=53|title=The Government and Politics of India|first=Ramesh|last=Thakur|year=1995|isbn=9781349241002|publisher=Bloomsbury|access-date=15 August 2025}}</ref> although in some cities (those without special or executive magistrates), they ''de facto'' are the lowest level.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i-D3DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA138&dq=Courts+of+Metropolitan+Magistrates,+India+-wikipedia&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=|title=Comprehensive Guide to CDS OTA Exam|publisher=Disha Publications |year=2020|isbn=9789390152728|access-date=15 August 2025}}</ref>
== Overview == According to the Section 16 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPc), in every metropolitan area, 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, by notification, specify. Metropolitan Courts are to be established at such places in every metropolitan area having population of ten lakh or more. It has jurisdiction throughout such metropolitan area. The presiding officers of such courts shall be appointed by the High Court.
A Metropolitan Magistrate is a first class magistrate under the general control of the District and Sessions Judge, and is subordinate to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate. However, a civil judge may also serve as a magistrate (criminal) judge, and a district judge might also serve as a magistrate's judge.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PlMzEQAAQBAJ&pg=PT439&dq=Courts+of+Metropolitan+Magistrates,+India+-wikipedia&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=|title=Indian Constitution|isbn=9789369028016|first=Rohit|last=Manglik|year=2023|access-date=15 August 2025}}</ref>
According to Section 29 of the CrPc., a Metropolitan Magistrate (class II) may pass a sentence of imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or of fine not exceeding ten thousand rupees. A chief magistrate (class I), however, can pass a sentence of up to seven years.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QuEmDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA334&dq=Courts+of+Metropolitan+Magistrates,+India+-wikipedia&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=|pages=333-334|title=The Oxford Handbook of the Indian Constitution|year=2016|isbn=9780191058615|publisher=Oxford University Press|access-date=15 August 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Judiciary of India}} Category:Courts of India {{India-law-stub}}