law: Code of Criminal Procedure Act, 1973
  
  18.Special Metropolitan Magistrates.-
  (1) The High Court may, if requested by the
  
  Central or State Government so to do, confer upon any person who holds or has
  
  held any post under the Government, all or any of the powers conferred or
  
  conferrable by or under this Code on a Metropolitan Magistrate, in respect to
  
  particular cases or to particular classes of cases or to cases generally, in
  
  any metropolitan area within its local jurisdiction:
  
  Provided that no such power shall be conferred on a person unless he possesses
  
  such qualification or experience in relation to legal affairs as the High Court
  
  may, by rules, specify.
  (2) Such Magistrates shall be called Special Metropolitan Magistrates and shall
  
  be appointed for such term, not exceeding one year at a time, as the High Court
  
  may, by general or special order, direct.
  (3) Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Code, a Special
  
  Metropolitan Magistrate shall not impose a sentence which a Judicial Magistrate
  
  of the second class is not competent to impose outside the Metropolitan area.