law: Code of Criminal Procedure Act, 1973
  
  3.Construction of references.-
  (1) In this Code, -
  (a) any reference, without any qualifying words, to a Magistrate, shall be
  
  construed, unless the context otherwise requires, -
  (i)in relation to an area outside a metropolitan area, as a reference to a
  
  Judicial Magistrate;
  (ii)in relation to a metropolitan area, as a reference to a Metropolitan
  
  Magistrate;
  (b) any reference to a Magistrate of the second class shall, in relation to an
  
  area outside a metropolitan area, be construed as a reference to a Judicial
  
  Magistrate of the second class, and, in relation to a metropolitan area, as a
  
  reference to a Metropolitan Magistrate;
  (c) any reference to a Magistrate of the first class shall, -
  (i)in relation to a metropolitan area, be construed as a reference to a
  
  Metropolitan Magistrate exercising jurisdiction in that area,
  (ii)in relation to any other area, be construed as a reference to a Judicial
  
  Magistrate of the first class exercising jurisdiction in that area;
  (d) any reference to the Chief Judicial Magistrate shall, in relation to a metropolitan
  
  area, be construed as a reference to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate
  
  exercising jurisdiction in that area.
  (2) In this Code, unless the context otherwise
  
  requires, any reference to the Court of a Judicial Magistrate shall, in
  
  relation to a metropolitan area, be construed as a reference to the Court of
  
  the Metropolitan Magistrate for that area.
  (3) Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference in any enactment
  
  passed before the commencement of this Code, -
  (a) to a Magistrate of the first class, shall be construed as a reference to a
  
  Judicial Magistrate of the first class;
  (b) to a Magistrate of the second class or of the third class, shall be
  
  construed as a reference to a Judicial Magistrate of the second class;
  (c) to a Presidency Magistrate or Chief Presidency Magistrate, shall be
  
  construed as a reference, respectively, to a Metropolitan Magistrate or the
  
  Chief Metropolitan Magistrate;
  (d) to any area which is included in a metropolitan area, as a reference to
  
  such metropolitan area, and any reference to a Magistrate of the first class or
  
  of the second class in relation to such area, shall be construed as reference
  
  to the Metropolitan Magistrate exercising jurisdiction in such area.
  (4) Where, under any law, other than this
  
  Code, the function exercisable by a Magistrate relate to matters-
  (a) which involve the appreciation or sifting of evidence or the formulation of
  
  any decision which exposes any person to any punishment or penalty or detention
  
  in custody pending investigation, inquiry or trial or would have the effect of
  
  sending him for trial before any Court, they shall, subject to the provisions
  
  of this Code, be exercisable by a Judicial Magistrate; or
  (b) which are 
  
  administrative or executive in nature, such as, the granting of a license, the 
  
  suspension or cancellation of a license, sanctioning a prosecution or 
  
  withdrawing from a prosecution, they shall, subject as aforesaid, be exercisable 
  
  by an Executive Magistrate.