Jammu, November 4: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has conferred the powers of a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) upon Civil Judges (Junior Division) appointed under Government Order No. 13833-JK(LD) of 2026 dated October 27, 2026.
According to an order issued by the Office of the Registrar General at Jammu, the powers will come into effect from the date of their positioning in their respective districts and will be exercised strictly for specified purposes under the applicable statutory provisions and rules.
As per the order, the Civil Judges (Junior Division) have been authorised to exercise the following three specific functions:
1. Recording of Statements: The judges will be empowered to record confessions and statements under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, or Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, as applicable.
2. Supervision of Sealing and Sampling of Contraband: They will supervise the drawing, packing and sealing of representative samples of seized narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and controlled substances under Section 52A of the NDPS Act, 1985, and the applicable 2022 rules.
3. Attestation of Affidavits: The judges will also be authorised to administer oaths and affirmations for affidavits under the Oaths Act, 1969.
The order further clarifies that Civil Judges (Junior Division) presently attached to the J&K Judicial Academy will exercise these powers from the date their positioning orders in the courts are issued.
The order has been issued by M.K. Sharma, Registrar General, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, and circulated to the concerned judicial authorities and departments for information and necessary action.
