The Chief Judicial Magistrate has complete independent authority separate from the Sessions Judge.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate is himself subordinate to the Sessions Judge, so ultimate supervisory control rests with the Sessions Judge.

The rules made by the Chief Judicial Magistrate for distributing work can override the Sanhita.

Any such rules or special orders must be consistent with the Sanhita; they cannot conflict with it.

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 13

Subordination of Judicial Magistrates

(1) Every Chief Judicial Magistrate shall be subordinate to the Sessions Judge; and every other Judicial Magistrate shall, subject to the general control of the Sessions Judge, be subordinate to the Chief Judicial Magistrate.§

(2) The Chief Judicial Magistrate may, from time to time, make rules or give special orders, consistent with this Sanhita, as to the distribution of business among the Judicial Magistrates subordinate to him.§

Why this exists

Criminal courts at the district level need a clear hierarchy so that administrative control, case allocation, and supervision work smoothly without confusion about who reports to whom. This provision (carried forward from Section 15 of the old Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973) ensures the Sessions Judge, as the senior-most judicial officer in a district, has ultimate oversight, while day-to-day administrative distribution of work is delegated to the Chief Judicial Magistrate for efficiency.

Common misconceptions

Myth: The Chief Judicial Magistrate has complete independent authority separate from the Sessions Judge.
Fact: The Chief Judicial Magistrate is himself subordinate to the Sessions Judge, so ultimate supervisory control rests with the Sessions Judge.
Myth: The rules made by the Chief Judicial Magistrate for distributing work can override the Sanhita.
Fact: Any such rules or special orders must be consistent with the Sanhita; they cannot conflict with it.