Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter XVI: Complaints to Magistrates
Section 224: Procedure by Magistrate not competent to take cognizance of case
In plain words
If a complaint is made to a Magistrate who cannot take cognizance of it, the Magistrate returns a written complaint, endorsed, for filing in the proper court, or directs an oral complainant to the proper court.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
If the complaint is made to a Magistrate who is not competent to take cognizance of the offence, he shall,—
(a) if the complaint is in writing, return it for presentation to the proper Court with an endorsement to that effect;
(b) if the complaint is not in writing, direct the complainant to the proper Court.
Corresponding sections were matched by comparing the wording of both official texts, and for the IPC and BNS, also against a published correspondence table. Wording, punishments and structure often changed, so read both sections before relying on the match.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 12 September 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 224
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.