Sanskaram University LLM Admissions 2025
100+ Industry collaborations | 10+ Years of legacy
Difference Between Judge and Magistrate: The Judiciary is one of the pillars of democracy meant to uphold the law of the land. In this regard, a judge and a magistrate may appear to be the same but there are differences present between the two terms. The difference between magistrate and judge lies in the fact that judges preside over the courts namely - the supreme court, high court or the sessions court and pass judgements to resolve conflicts between parties that may have a bearing on the law of the land in the country. Their jurisdiction is much wider.
A magistrate, on the other hand, has limited powers and is appointed by the high court on instructions from the state government after due deliberation. They are usually selected from the judicial service exam of the state including judicial officers such as first class magistrate and second class magistrate.
Section 19 of the Indian Penal Code defines a judge as any person who is officially designated as a judge. The judge also refers to any person who is empowered to give a definitive judgement in a legal proceeding, which if not contested would be considered definitive. The order of the judge has finality or authoritativeness. They possess a degree in LLB and have vast experience in a career in the legal field. Judges of the high courts and the Supreme Court are appointed by the President of India on the recommendations of the collegium.
Examples of judges can include:
A collector having authority in a case under Act 10 of 1859 is a judge
A Magistrate with jurisdiction over an offence for which he has the authority to impose a fine or term of imprisonment, with or without appearance, is a Judge
Section 11 of the Code of Criminal Procedure states that :
In every district (not being a metropolitan area) there shall be established as many Courts of Judicial Magistrates of the first class and of the second class, and at such places, as the State Government may, after consultation with the High Court, by notification, specify.
The provision mentioned above comes with a condition that the State Government may, after consultation with the High Court, establish, for any local area, one or more Special Courts of Judicial Magistrates of the first class or of the second class to try any particular case or particular class of cases. Further, it states that, where any such Special Court is established, no other Court of Magistrate in the local area shall have jurisdiction to try any case or class of cases for the trial of which such Special Court of Judicial Magistrate has been established
The presiding officers of such Courts shall be appointed by the High Court.
The High Court may, whenever it appears to it to be expedient or necessary, confer the powers of a Judicial Magistrate of the first class or of the second class on any member of the Judicial Service of the State, functioning as a Judge in a Civil Court.
Section 12 of the Code of Criminal Procedure states that the high court can also appoint a judicial magistrate of the first class to be the chief judicial magistrate.
Section 13 of the Code of Criminal Procedure states that when requested by the state or central government, the high court can also grant to a person who currently holds or has held a position in the government in the past all the powers that can be conferred on a judicial magistrate. Such persons are called special magistrates and are appointed for a term not exceeding one year. These powers are granted with the condition that the said person possesses the qualification as the high court may specify in its rules.
A judge and a magistrate are distinct roles within the legal system, each playing an important part in court proceedings. While both are responsible for making key decisions in legal matters, they differ in several aspects, such as their appointment, qualifications, the types of cases they oversee, the scope of their jurisdiction, their authority in making judgments, and the severity of the penalties they can impose on offenders..
Particulars | Magistrate | Judge |
Appointment | Appointed by state government or High Court | By President of India |
Education qualification | Degree from a recognized university | Law degree is mandatory |
Jurisdiction | Limited jurisdiction within the state | Wider jurisdiction includes power to impose death sentence on a guilty |
Nature of cases | Magistrate handles small cases | Judge due to his wider jurisdiction and power handles more complex cases |
Who is more powerful, the judge or magistrate? To answer this, it is important to see their jurisdiction!
Section 14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure states that the jurisdiction of the judicial magistrate will cover the entire district or within the limits as specified by the Chief judicial magistrate
Section 15 of the Code of Criminal Procedure states that every chief judicial magistrate will be subordinate to the sessions judge and that every judicial magistrate will be subordinate to the chief judicial magistrate subject to the regulation of the sessions judge. The chief judicial magistrate will from time to time frame rules or issue orders for the business to be conducted by the judicial magistrate
As per section 28 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, a high court or a session judge can pass the following sentences:
Any sentence permitted by law may be imposed by the High Court.
Any legal sentence may be imposed by a Sessions Judge or Additional Sessions Judge, but the High Court must affirm any death sentence imposed by the Sessions or additional sessions judge.
An Assistant Sessions Judge may impose any legal punishment, with the exception of the capital penalty, life in prison, and sentences that last longer than ten years.
Section 29 of the Code of Criminal Procedure specifies the sentences which a sessions judge can pass
Any legal punishment may be imposed by the Court of a Chief Judicial Magistrate, with the exception of the death penalty, life in prison, and sentences of more than seven years.
A sentence of up to three years in prison, a fine of up to 10,000 rupees, or both may be imposed by the court of a magistrate of the first class.
A punishment of up to one year in prison, a fine of up to two thousand rupees, or both may be imposed by the Court of Magistrate of the Second Class.
The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court shall have all of the authority of the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court, the Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, and the Court of a Magistrate of the First Class.
Also check - Difference Between a Lawyer an Advocate
As per data from the Department of Justice, under Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, the salary of the top judges is as follows
Chief Justice of India | Rs. 2,80,000 pm |
Judges of Supreme Court | Rs. 2,50,000 pm |
Chief Justice of High Court | Rs. 2,50,000 pm |
Judges of High Court | Rs. 2,25,000 pm |
The district judge earns a salary of around Rs. 1.88 Lakhs per month as per the second judicial pay commission.
Often, the Civil Judge (Jr. Division) recruited under the judicial service acts as First Class Magistrate and Civil Judge (Sr. Division) recruited under the judicial service acts as Chief judicial magistrate. State governments also appoint retired government officers who possess law degrees to act as special magistrates.
On the recommendation of the Second Judicial Pay Commission, the salary for judicial officers has been revised. The salary of a Civil Judge (Jr. Division ) is around 1 Lakh per month, while the salary of the Civil Judge (Sr. Division) will be Rs 1.35 lakh per month. Special magistrates will have a minimum remuneration of Rs 30000 per month.
Also Read: How to Become a Judge in India After LLB
As per Section 19 of the Indian Penal Code, a judge refers to any person who is empowered to give a definitive judgement in a legal proceeding, which if not contested would be considered definitive. The order of the judge has finality or authoritativeness.
A magistrate is a person appointed by the high court and subordinated to the district sessions judge with limited powers and jurisdiction to preside over cases.
The judge has wider jurisdiction and more powers. The magistrate works under the sessions judge.
The payscale of the judge is higher than the magistrate.
No, magistrate and judge are different from each other. A magistrate is a judicial officer with limited powers compared to a Judge.
Law courses in India are governed by the Bar Council of India . At present, law courses have a specific time frame and a validity period. Since you completed your 2nd year way back in 1975, your registration with the university and BCI would have lapsed. Unfortunately, it is not possible to directly resume the same course after such a long gap. However, you can consider enrolling fresh into a 3-year LLB program again, provided you meet the age and eligibility criteria of the university. Some universities may have age relaxations. You should contact the law college or university where you studied earlier, they can guide you about re-admission options.
Thank you for your question!
Yes, there was a Spot Round for BA LLB admissions at IPU. It serves as a last-chance allotment stage after the regular counselling rounds for students who could not secure a seat earlier. In this round, vacant seats are filled purely on the basis of merit and availability. For 2025, Spot Round 1 has already taken place, and it was the final phase of the admission process. Students were required to register, pay the spot round fee, and physically report for seat allotment.
Hello,
As a working professional, pursuing an LLB (Bachelor of Law) in Bangalore or Hosur is absolutely possible, but you should carefully choose the right format. In India, LLB is offered in two ways – 3-year LLB after graduation or 5-year integrated course after 12th. Since you are already a working professional, the 3-year LLB would be suitable. In Bangalore, reputed colleges like Bangalore University, Christ University, National Law School (for higher entrance-based study), and private colleges like KLE Society Law College offer the course. In Hosur, the options are fewer, but you may still find affiliated law colleges under Tamil Nadu state universities. Since you are working, I would recommend looking for evening or part-time LLB programs (though note, Bar Council of India usually requires regular attendance). If full-time is difficult, some universities offer flexible schedules. Admission is mostly merit-based or through simple entrance tests.
Thank you, and best wishes for balancing work and studies.
Hello Fasiha
The admission fees for LLB for BMS College of Law, Bangalore is approximately 75,000 per year, making it about 2,25,000 in total for the whole 3 year course of LLB.
If you are doing an integrated degree like BA LLB or BBA LLB, the fee will be 3,75,000 for the whole 5 year course.
To know more about BMS College of Law: BMSCL by CAREERS360
Hope this answer helps! Thank You!!!
Hello,
The LLB (3-year) course fee at BMS College of Law, Bangalore is around Rs. 2,25,000 to Rs. 2,30,000 for the full course. In addition, you need to pay admission and other charges of about Rs. 10,000–Rs. 15,000 .
If you opt for hostel, the cost is around Rs. 65,000–Rs. 80,000 per year (including mess charges).
So, the total cost will depend on whether you choose hostel and other facilities.
Hope it helps !
A lawyer advises clients on legal matters, represents them in court, and drafts legal documents. They work in various fields like criminal, corporate, or family law. Key skills include communication, research, and analytical thinking. To become a lawyer in India, one must complete a law degree, clear entrance exams, register with the Bar Council, and pass the All India Bar Examination.
A civil lawyer handles non-criminal legal disputes like family, property, and contract issues. They represent clients in court, draft documents, and advise on legal rights. To practice in India, one needs an LLB degree and Bar Council enrollment. Civil lawyers work in firms, government, or independently, with growing demand across various specialisations.
Individuals in the human rights lawyer career path are legal professionals responsible for advocating for people whose inherent dignity has been violated and who have suffered a lot of injustice. They take cases to defend the human rights of minorities, vulnerable populations, the LGBTQI community, indigenous people and others.
A criminal lawyer defends individuals or organisations accused of crimes, ensuring fair trial and legal rights. They analyse cases, represent clients in court, conduct legal research, and negotiate plea deals. Strong communication, analytical, and ethical skills are essential. After earning a law degree, gaining experience, and registering with a Bar Council, they can practise independently or with law firms.
Family lawyers are required to assist a client in resolving any family-related problem. In general, family lawyers operate as mediators between family members when conflicts arise. Individuals who opt for a career as Family Lawyer is charged with drafting prenuptial agreements to protect someone's financial interests prior to marriage, consulting on grounds for impeachment or civil union separation, and drafting separation agreements.
A cyber lawyer handles legal issues related to the internet, such as cybercrimes, data breaches, and online privacy. They prepare legal documents, represent clients in court, and advise businesses on cybersecurity compliance. The career requires a law degree, specialisation in cyber law, and strong tech knowledge.
An immigration lawyer is responsible for representing the individuals (clients) involved in the immigration process that includes legal, and illegal citizens and refugees who want to reside in the country, start a business or get employment.
A Government Lawyer represents the government in legal matters, provides legal advice to officials, drafts legislation, and prosecutes or defends cases. The role requires strong research, communication, and analytical skills. To pursue this career, one must obtain an LLB, pass the Bar Exam, gain court experience, and apply for government positions. Career progression includes roles from junior to senior government lawyer.
700+ Campus placements at top national and global law firms, corporates and judiciaries
18 years of shaping legal professionals | In-house judicial coaching | Proven success in National Moot Court Competitions
NAAC A+ Grade | Among top 100 universities of India (NIRF 2024) | 40 crore+ scholarships distributed
Ranked as India’s #1 Not for profit pvt. University by India Today.
North India's Largest Educational Group | NIRF Ranked 86 | NAAC A+ Grade | Highest Package 1.6 Cr | Applications Closing on 20th Aug'25
Ranked #28 amongst Institutions in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in India for Academic Reputation by QS Rankings | 16.6 LPA Highest CTC | Last Date to Apply: 31st August | Admissions Closing Soon