Under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the Court of a Chief Judicial Magistrate may pass…

Under section 23(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), the Court of a Chief Judicial Magistrate may pass any sentence authorised by law except a sentence of death or of imprisonment for life or of imprisonment for a term exceeding "Seven years". "Three years" is the limit of imprisonment for a Magistrate of the first class under section 23(2) (with fine up to fifty thousand rupees, or community service). "Ten years" was the limit for an Assistant Sessions Judge (formerly s.28(3) CrPC), a post the BNSS has not retained; a Sessions Judge or Additional Sessions Judge may pass any sentence authorised by law under section 22(2). "Five years" is not a limit prescribed for any criminal court.