Section 507: Irregularities which vitiate proceedings

Earlier law: CrPC section 461 (Irregularities which vitiate proceedings)

In plain words

If a Magistrate who lacks the legal power does certain things, the proceedings are void.

These include attaching a proclaimed person's property, searching postal items, demanding or cancelling peace or good behaviour security, making maintenance orders, nuisance orders and land or water dispute orders.
They also include taking cognizance on their own knowledge, trying an offender (including summarily), sentencing on another Magistrate's record, deciding an appeal, calling for records in revision, and revising bond forfeiture orders.

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 being empowered by law in this behalf, does any of the following things, namely:—-

(a) attaches and sells property under section 85;

(b) issues a search-warrant for a document, parcel or other things in the custody of a postal authority;

(c) demands security to keep the peace;

(d) demands security for good behaviour;

(e) discharges a person lawfully bound to be of good behaviour;

(f) cancels a bond to keep the peace;

(g) makes an order for maintenance;

(h) makes an order under section 152 as to a local nuisance;

(i) prohibits, under section 162, the repetition or continuance of a public nuisance;

(j) makes an order under Part C or Part D of Chapter XI;

(k) takes cognizance of an offence under clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 210;

(l) tries an offender;

(m) tries an offender summarily;

(n) passes a sentence, under section 364, on proceedings recorded by another Magistrate;

(o) decides an appeal;

(p) calls, under section 438, for proceedings; or

(q) revises an order passed under section 491,

his proceedings shall be void.

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 507

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