Assam: Magisterial powers given to co-district commissioners in state

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: As of today, the state government has delegated magisterial powers to the Co-District Commissioners (CDCs) in the state. The magisterial powers have been delegated under Section 14(2) of The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.

This was stated in a notification issued on Thursday by the state government’s Department of Personnel (Personnel A) in Dispur. Moreover, the notification says that sub-districts were created for ‘administrative expediency’ and within their respective administrative districts, vide notifications dated September 12, 2023, and September 28, 2024.

Also, that the nomenclature of the ‘Sub-Districts’ was subsequently changed to ‘Co-Districts’, and the Additional District Commissioner in charge of the Co-District was designated as Co-District Commissioner (CDC) through a notification dated October 1, 2024.

Moreover, it is stated that as per Section 14(2) of the BNSS 2023, “The State Government may appoint any Executive Magistrate to be an Additional District Magistrate, and such Magistrate shall have such of the powers of a District Magistrate under this Sanhita or under any other law for the time being in force as may be directed by the State Government.”

The notification goes on to state that magisterial powers have been delegated to the Co-District Commissioners (CDCs) in exercise of powers conferred under Section 14(2) of the BNSS 2023. While exercising the magisterial powers, the Co-District Commissioners shall act as Additional District Magistrates (ADMs) of the Co-District within the District. They are to use the designation as ADMs cum CDCs while issuing orders under BNSS.

There are a total of 39 co-districts in 21 districts in the state notified by the state government as of date.

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