Last updated: 23 September 2026
What is a Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court?
A Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) was the senior-most judicial magistrate of a notified metropolitan area in India, equal in rank to a district’s Chief Judicial Magistrate. The office was created under Section 17 CrPC. A CMM could pass any sentence except death, life imprisonment or imprisonment above seven years, issued warrants, took cognisance of offences, granted bail in magistrate-triable matters and supervised every other Metropolitan Magistrate in the city.
Important update: the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, in force since 1 July 2024, does not carry forward the metropolitan magistracy. Section 8 CrPC, which let a State notify a “metropolitan area”, has no counterpart in the BNSS, and the provision on Chief Metropolitan Magistrates (Section 17 CrPC) corresponds most closely to BNSS 10, which deals with the Chief Judicial Magistrate. In practice the change is being absorbed gradually. Court establishments in the eCourts system still carry the old names in many cities: Delhi establishments read, for example, “Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, South East, Saket Court”, and Mumbai’s criminal courts are listed as “Mumbai CMM Courts”. So you will keep seeing “CMM” on case records and cause lists even for cases filed after July 2024.
Key takeaways
- A CMM was to a metropolitan area what a CJM is to a district: the senior-most judicial magistrate, with the same sentencing powers.
- The BNSS (from 1 July 2024) drops the metropolitan-area tier. The CJM provision is BNSS 10 and magistrates’ sentencing powers are in BNSS 23 (old Section 29 CrPC).
- Court names on eCourts often still say “CMM” or “Metropolitan Magistrate”, so search for both the old and new labels.
- Every CrPC section a CMM court used has a numbered BNSS successor. The table below gives each one with a link to the text.
- You can check any of these cases free on ecourtsindia.com/search and open the daily cause list by district.
While the office existed, the CMM exercised administrative control over all other Metropolitan Magistrates in the area. CMM courts existed only in cities declared metropolitan areas under Section 8 of the CrPC. The State Government made the declaration by notification, for cities with a population above ten lakh. Because the BNSS has no equivalent of Section 8, that declaration mechanism no longer applies to new notifications, though existing court establishments have kept running while each High Court re-designates them.
Quick answer
CMM stands for Chief Metropolitan Magistrate. It was the head judicial magistrate of a metropolitan area, equal in rank to a Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of a district. CMM courts could pass sentences of up to seven years’ imprisonment, issued warrants, took cognisance of offences and supervised other Metropolitan Magistrates. After the BNSS, these courts are moving into the CJM framework, but many still appear under their CMM names on the record. To check a case, search by party name or CNR at ecourtsindia.com/search, or open your city’s cause list using the links further down.
CrPC to BNSS: the sections a CMM court used
Most guides to magistrate courts still cite CrPC section numbers. Here is each one this guide refers to, with its BNSS successor as mapped in the eCourtsIndia statute book. Our longer CrPC to BNSS mapping for lawyers covers FIR, arrest, bail and cognizance in more depth.
| What it covers | CrPC | BNSS |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan areas | Section 8 | No counterpart (dropped) |
| Chief Metropolitan Magistrate / Chief Judicial Magistrate | Section 17 | BNSS 10 (CJM; closest match, not identical) |
| Sentences magistrates may pass | Section 29 | BNSS 23 |
| Recording confessions and statements | Section 164 | BNSS 183 |
| Remand when investigation is not complete in 24 hours | Section 167 | BNSS 187 |
| Cognizance of offences by magistrates | Section 190 | BNSS 210 |
| Examination of complainant | Section 200 | BNSS 223 |
| Issue of process (summons or warrant) | Section 204 | BNSS 227 |
| Summary trials | Section 260 | BNSS 283 |
| Examination of the accused | Section 313 | BNSS 351 |
| Judgment | Section 353 | BNSS 392 |
| Appeals from convictions | Section 374 | BNSS 415 |
| Revision (calling for records) | Section 397 | BNSS 438 |
| Withdrawal of cases by judicial magistrates | Section 410 | BNSS 450 |
| Bail in non-bailable offences | Section 437 | BNSS 480 |
One correction worth flagging: the CMM’s power to make over or withdraw cases among magistrates sat in Section 410 CrPC (Judicial Magistrates), now BNSS 450. Section 411 CrPC dealt with Executive Magistrates and maps to BNSS 451, so it is the wrong section to cite for a CMM.
Cities in India with Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Courts
Any city declared a metropolitan area had at least one CMM court before the BNSS. The most prominent included:
- Delhi: courts at Patiala House, Tis Hazari, Karkardooma, Rohini, Saket and Dwarka
- Mumbai: CMM courts at Esplanade and Ballard Estate
- Kolkata: Bankshall Court
- Chennai: Egmore
- Bengaluru: Mayo Hall
- Hyderabad: Nampally
- Ahmedabad: the City Civil and Sessions Court complex
- Pune: Shivajinagar
- Other notified cities, such as Kanpur, Lucknow, Nagpur, Surat, Indore, Bhopal, Patna, Visakhapatnam and Coimbatore, under their state notifications
Since 1 July 2024 these courts are being brought under the Chief Judicial Magistrate framework, but the pace and naming vary by High Court. Check the court name on the case page rather than assuming it has changed.
Powers of a Chief Metropolitan Magistrate
The CMM exercised both judicial and administrative powers. The same powers are now exercised by the Chief Judicial Magistrate under the BNSS sections shown.
Judicial powers
- Pass any sentence authorised by law except death, life imprisonment or imprisonment above seven years (Section 29 CrPC, now BNSS 23). Note that this is a limit on sentence. Which court tries an offence is set by the First Schedule, which lists the court that can try each offence.
- Take cognisance of offences on a police report or complaint (Section 190 CrPC, now BNSS 210)
- Issue summons, warrants and search orders (Section 204 CrPC, now BNSS 227)
- Record confessions and statements (Section 164 CrPC, now BNSS 183)
- Order police or judicial custody on remand (Section 167 CrPC, now BNSS 187)
- Hear bail applications in non-bailable offences triable by magistrates (Section 437 CrPC, now BNSS 480)
- Commit sessions-triable cases to the Court of Sessions
Administrative powers
- Supervise and distribute work among Metropolitan Magistrates
- Make over or withdraw cases among magistrates (Section 410 CrPC, now BNSS 450)
- Inspect and review the functioning of subordinate courts
- Report on performance to the High Court
- Maintain discipline in the metropolitan magistracy
CMM vs CJM vs JMFC: know the difference
The three designations are often confused. Here is how they stood under the CrPC. The BNSS keeps the CJM, JMFC and second class magistrate structure and drops the metropolitan labels.
| Designation | Area | Rank | Appointed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) | Metropolitan area | Senior-most magistrate | High Court |
| Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) | District | Senior-most magistrate | High Court |
| Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) | Metropolitan area | Second rank | High Court |
| Metropolitan Magistrate (MM) | Metropolitan area | Judicial magistrate | High Court |
| Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) | District | Judicial magistrate | High Court |
| Judicial Magistrate Second Class | District | Junior magistrate | High Court |
In short, a CMM was to a metropolitan area what a CJM is to a district. Both were the senior-most judicial magistrates in their area and held the same powers. Our guide to bench types in Indian courts explains how these courts sit in the wider hierarchy.
How to check a CMM court cause list and case status
You can check a CMM court case online by searching the party name or CNR on eCourtsIndia, or by opening the district cause list for your city. These courts publish daily cause lists like any other court, and on eCourtsIndia each list is addressed by state code and numeric district code.
| City (court complex) | Cause list |
|---|---|
| Delhi, Patiala House (New Delhi district) | ecourtsindia.com/causelist/DL/7 |
| Delhi, Tis Hazari (Central and West districts) | DL/8 and DL/9 |
| Delhi, Karkardooma (East, North East and Shahdara) | DL/3, DL/1 and DL/2 |
| Delhi, Rohini (North and North West) | DL/4 and DL/5 |
| Delhi, Saket (South and South East) | DL/10 and DL/11 |
| Delhi, Dwarka (South West) | DL/6 |
| Mumbai CMM Courts (Esplanade, Ballard Estate) | ecourtsindia.com/causelist/MH/23 |
| Kolkata, Bankshall Court (Calcutta district) | ecourtsindia.com/causelist/WB/3 |
| Chennai, Egmore (Chennai district) | ecourtsindia.com/causelist/TN/13 |
| Bengaluru, Mayo Hall (Bengaluru district) | ecourtsindia.com/causelist/KA/20 |
| Hyderabad, Nampally (Hyderabad district) | ecourtsindia.com/causelist/TS/2 |
For Delhi in detail, including every complex and district, see our Delhi district courts guide. If a cause list is new to you, how to read an Indian court cause list walks through each column.
To check a specific case, look it up by its CNR. A CNR is the unique 16-character identifier the eCourts system gives every case, and it stays the same however the case moves between courts. Open ecourtsindia.com/cnr/ followed by the CNR. For example, ecourtsindia.com/cnr/DLSE020085262026 is a case filed in 2026 before the court listed as “Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, South East, Saket Court”, which shows the old name still in use. You can also search by party name at ecourtsindia.com/search and filter by state, district and criminal case types. Our guide CNR Number Decoded explains what each part of the code means.
If you are following a matter, add it to your eCourtsIndia dashboard and switch on WhatsApp or email alerts, so a new order or date reaches you within minutes of the record changing. Tracking costs Rs 5 per case per month and every account gets 50 free credits a month (pricing). The Android and iOS apps put the same search on your phone.
How a case reaches a CMM court
Most criminal matters start with an FIR at a police station, followed by a charge sheet filed in the magistrate’s court. If you need the FIR itself, Crime Reports on eCourtsIndia lets you search FIR PDFs (12 lakh+ from 13 states and union territories so far, Rs 1 per PDF), and our guide on checking FIR status online explains how to follow an FIR into court. The other route is a private complaint, where the magistrate examines the complainant under Section 200 CrPC (now BNSS 223) before deciding whether to issue process. Cheque bounce cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act always begin this way.
Common case types heard by CMM courts
- Criminal cases (CC): complaints and charge sheets for IPC and BNS offences within the magistrate’s jurisdiction. Our IPC to BNS mapping gives the new numbers for the common offences.
- Bail applications (BA): regular bail under Section 437 CrPC, now BNSS 480, for offences triable by a magistrate.
- Anticipatory bail: usually handled by the Sessions Court or High Court; the magistrate deals with bail after arrest.
- Criminal miscellaneous applications (CRL_MA): production warrants, release of property and procedural applications.
- Domestic violence cases (DV): under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.
- Summary trials: for petty offences under Section 260 CrPC, now BNSS 283.
- Cheque bounce cases: under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act.
Case type codes vary a little by state. The Case Status Dictionary explains the status codes you will see against each case.
Procedure before a CMM court
- Cognizance: the magistrate takes cognizance on a police report, a complaint or information received (Section 190 CrPC, now BNSS 210).
- Summons or warrant: process issues under Section 204 CrPC, now BNSS 227.
- Charge or plea: in warrant cases, charges are framed after hearing the accused. A plea of guilty can end the trial early.
- Prosecution evidence: examination and cross-examination of prosecution witnesses.
- Statement of the accused: recorded under Section 313 CrPC, now BNSS 351.
- Defence evidence: if the accused chooses to lead it.
- Final arguments by both sides.
- Judgment: delivered under Section 353 CrPC, now BNSS 392, ending in conviction or acquittal.
- Sentencing: if convicted, a hearing on the quantum of sentence.
- Appeal: to the Sessions Court under Section 374 CrPC, now BNSS 415.
Appeal route from a CMM court
Appeals from these courts run in this order: the CMM court (now the CJM court), then the Court of Sessions on appeal (Section 374 CrPC, now BNSS 415), then the High Court in revision (Section 397 CrPC, now BNSS 438) or on further appeal, and finally the Supreme Court by special leave under Article 136 of the Constitution.
Finding a criminal lawyer for a CMM court matter
If you need an advocate who actually appears in your court, the verified advocate directory lets you filter by State Bar Council, area of practice (for example Bail Application or Criminal Complaint Case) and the court they practise at. Profiles there are verified against Bar Cards, and we don’t rate or rank anyone. Before you hire, our guide on checking a lawyer’s track record shows how to confirm they are active in that court.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM)?
A Chief Metropolitan Magistrate was the senior-most judicial magistrate of a notified metropolitan area, created under Section 17 CrPC and equal in rank to a Chief Judicial Magistrate. The BNSS, in force from 1 July 2024, drops the metropolitan tier, and the CJM provision is BNSS 10. Many court names on the record still say CMM. Check any such case at eCourtsIndia.
Is a CMM higher than a CJM?
No. A CMM and a Chief Judicial Magistrate held equal rank and the same judicial powers. The difference was geographic: a CMM presided over a notified metropolitan area, while a CJM heads a district. Under the BNSS the metropolitan tier is not continued, so the CJM framework now covers both. You can research the judges of either court on eCourtsIndia judge search.
What is the maximum sentence a CMM or CJM can pass?
Any sentence authorised by law except death, life imprisonment or imprisonment for more than seven years, under Section 29 CrPC, now BNSS 23. This is a limit on sentence, not on which cases the court tries, which is set by the First Schedule. Offences such as murder are committed to the Court of Sessions. Our CrPC to BNSS guide has more.
How do I check CMM court case status online?
Search by party name or CNR on eCourtsIndia search and filter by state and district, or open the case directly at ecourtsindia.com/cnr followed by its 16-character CNR. For daily hearings, open your city’s cause list, for example DL/7 for New Delhi or MH/23 for the Mumbai CMM Courts, from the eCourtsIndia cause list page.
Which CrPC section let a CMM withdraw or transfer cases between magistrates?
Section 410 CrPC, which covers withdrawal of cases by Judicial Magistrates. Its BNSS successor is Section 450. Section 411 CrPC is sometimes cited instead, but it deals with Executive Magistrates and maps to BNSS 451. You can read both texts on IndiaCode on eCourtsIndia, which links each BNSS section to its CrPC predecessor.
How do I file a case before a CMM court?
A criminal case reaches the court either through an FIR, which the police follow with a charge sheet, or through a private complaint, where the magistrate examines the complainant under Section 200 CrPC, now BNSS 223. Cheque bounce cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act are always filed as complaints. Our FIR status guide explains the police route.
Can a CMM grant bail for murder?
Generally no. Murder, under Section 302 IPC and now Section 103 BNS, is triable only by the Court of Sessions, so the magistrate commits the case to Sessions rather than trying it. Regular bail in such cases is usually dealt with by the Sessions Court or the High Court. See our IPC to BNS mapping for other offences.
Related reading
- India Courts and eCourts Access Directory
- Bench Types in Indian Courts Explained
- Case Status Dictionary: All 71 Codes
- CrPC to BNSS Mapping for Lawyers
Sources
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (in force 1 July 2024), texts and section mappings from the eCourtsIndia statute book and IndiaCode on eCourtsIndia, checked 23 September 2026.
- eCourts court establishment and district names (including “Mumbai CMM Courts” and Delhi CMM establishments), eCourtsIndia district list, 23 September 2026.