22-A. Power to establish special Courts. –(1) If the State Government is satisfied that it is necessary for the purpose of providing for speedy trial of offences under this Act in any district or metropolitan area, it may, by notification in the official Gazette and after consultation with the High Court, establish one or more Courts of Judicial Magistrates of the first class, or, as the case may be, Metropolitan Magistrate, in such district or metropolitan area.
(2) Unless otherwise directed by the High Court, a court established under sub-section (1) shall exercise jurisdiction only in respect of cases under this Act.
(3) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), the jurisdiction and powers of the presiding officer of a court established under sub-section (1) in any district or metropolitan area shall extend throughout the district or the metropolitan area, as the case may be.
(4) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this section, a Court established under sub-section (1) in any district or metropolitan area shall be deemed to be a court established under subsection (1) of Section 11, or, as the case may be, sub-section (1) of Section 16 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) and provisions of the Code shall apply accordingly in relation to such courts.
Explanation. -In this section, “High Court” has the same meaning as in clause (e) of Section 2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
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