Code
(1) The State Government shall establish a Court of Session for every sessions division.
(2) Every Court of Session shall be presided over by a Judge, to be appointed by the High Court.
(3) The High Court may also appoint Additional Sessions Judges and Assistant Session Judges to exercise jurisdiction in a Court of Session.
(4) The Sessions Judge of one sessions division may be appointed by the High Court to be also an Additional Sessions Judge of another division, and in such case he may sit for the disposal of cases at such place or places in the other division as the High Court may direct.
(5) Where the office of the Sessions Judge is vacant, the High Court may make arrangements for the disposal of any urgent application which is, or may be, made or pending before such Court of Session by an Additional or Assistant Sessions Judge, or, if there be no Additional or Assistant Sessions Judge, by a Chief Judicial Magistrate, in the sessions division; and every such Judge or Magistrate shall have jurisdiction to deal with any such application.
(6) The Court of Session shall ordinarily hold its sitting at such place or places as the High Court may, by notification, specify; but, if, in any particular case, the Court of Session is of opinion that it will tend to the general convenience of the parties and witnesses to hold its sittings at any other place in the sessions division, it may, with the consent of the prosecution and the accused, sit at that place for the disposal of the case or the examination of any witness or witnesses therein.
Explanation.–For the purposes of this Code, appointment does not include the first appointment, posting or promotion of a person by the Government to any Service, or post in connection with the affairs of the Union or of a State, where under any law, such appointment, posting or promotion is required to be made by Government.
STATE AMENDMENT
West Bengal.—-
To sub-section (3) of section 9 of the principal Act, the following provisos shall be added:–
Provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Code, an Additional Sessions Judge in a sub-division, other than the sub-division, by whatever name called, wherein the headquarters of the Sessions Judges are situated, exercising jurisdiction in a Court of Session, shall have all the powers of the Sessions Judge under this Code, in respect of the cases and proceedings in the Criminal Courts in that sub-division, for the purposes of sub-section (7) of session 116, sections 193 and 194, clause (a) of section 209 and sections 409, 439 and 449:
Provided further that the above powers shall not be in derogation of the powers otherwise exercisable by an Additional Sessions Judge or a Sessions Judge under this Code..
[Vide West Bengal Act, 24 of 1988, s. 3.]
Orissa
Amendment of section 9.-In Section 9 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), to sub-section (3), the following provisions shall be added, namely:–
Provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Code, an Additional Sessions Judge in a district or subdivision, other than the district or subdivision, by whatever name called, wherein the headquarters of the Sessions Judge are situated, exercising jurisdiction in a Court of Sessions shall have all the powers of the Sessions Judge under this Code, in respect of the cases and the proceedings in the Criminal Courts in that district or subdivision for the purposes of sub-section (7) of section 116, sections 193 and 194, clause (a) of section 209 and sections 409 and 449:
Provided further that the above powers shall be not be in derogation of the powers otherwise exercisable by an Additional Sessions Judge or a Sessions Judge under this Code.
[Vide Orissa Act 6 of 2004, s. 2]
Uttar Pradesh
Amendment of section 9 of Act 2 of 1974.–In section 9 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, hereinafter referred to as the said Code, in sub-section (6), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely :–
“Provided that the Court of Session may hold, or the High Court may direct the Court of session to hold, its sitting in any particular case at any place in the session division, where it appears expedient to do so for consideration of internal security or public order, and in such cases, the consent of the prosecution and the accused shall not be necessary.”
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 16 of 1976, s. 2]
UttarPradesh
In section 9 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 hereinafter referred to the said Code, after subsection (5), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely ;
“(5-A) In the event of the death, resignation, removal or transfer of the Sessions Judge, or of his being incapacitated by illness or otherwise for the performance of his duties, or of his absence from the place at which his court is held, the senior-most among the Additional Sessions Judges, and the Assistant sessions Judges present at the place, and in their absence the Chief Judicial Magistrate shall without relinquishing his ordinary duties, assume charge of the office of the Sessions Judge and continue in charge thereof until the officer is resumed by the Sessions Judge or assumed by an officer appointed thereto, and shall subject to the provision of this Code and any rules made by the High Court in this behalf, exercise any of the powers of the Sessions Judge.”
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 1 of 1984, s. 2
Explanation: Section 9 CrPC
- The Court of Session is a superior criminal court in India, presided over by a Sessions Judge.
- This section grants it wide jurisdiction to try all criminal offences, except those specifically reserved for Magistrates under the CrPC.
- The Court of Session has the power to try all serious offences, including those punishable with death or life imprisonment.
- It also has the power to hear appeals against judgments and orders of subordinate criminal courts.
Illustration
For example, a case of murder, rape, or dacoity would be tried by a Court of Session, as these are offences punishable with serious penalties.
Common Questions and Answers
Q: What are the offences exclusively triable by a Magistrate?
A: These are offences that are generally less serious and are listed in the CrPC, such as petty theft, assault, or breach of peace.
Q: Can a Court of Session try any case it wants?
A: No, the CrPC lays down specific rules about which cases can be tried by a Court of Session.
Q: What is the difference between a Court of Session and a Magistrate’s court?
A: A Court of Session is a higher court with greater powers and jurisdiction compared to a Magistrate’s court.
