Section 506: Irregularities which do not vitiate proceedings

Earlier law: CrPC section 460 (Irregularities which do not vitiate proceedings)

In plain words

If a Magistrate who lacks the legal power does certain things wrongly but in good faith, the proceedings are not set aside merely for that reason.

These include issuing certain search-warrants, ordering police investigation of a non-cognizable case, holding an inquest, issuing process for offences outside their area, taking cognizance on a complaint or police report, making over or recalling cases, tendering a pardon, and selling seized property.

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 any Magistrate not empowered by law to do any of the following things, namely:—-

(a) to issue a search-warrant under section 97;

(b) to order, under section 174, the police to investigate an offence;

(c) to hold an inquest under section 196;

(d) to issue process under section 207, for the apprehension of a person within his local jurisdiction who has committed an offence outside the limits of such jurisdiction;

(e) to take cognizance of an offence under clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 210;

(f) to make over a case under sub-section (2) of section 212;

(g) to tender a pardon under section 343;

(h) to recall a case and try it himself under section 450; or

(i) to sell property under section 504 or section 505, erroneously in good faith does that thing, his proceedings shall not be set aside merely on the ground of his not being so empowered.

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 506

No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.