## Policy Analysis Report: Amendment to Notification S.O. 4603(E) regarding Special Courts under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes an amendment to the Government of India's notification S.O. 4603(E), dated November 3rd, 2021, concerning the designation of Special Courts under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The amendment, enacted through notification S.O. 4827(E) on October 7th, 2022, modifies the areas specified for trial of offenses punishable under Section 4 of the PMLA, 2002, by substituting the existing table with a new one that details the jurisdiction of specific Special Courts in Uttar Pradesh. The key finding is a redistribution of geographical areas of jurisdiction across various Special Courts, likely aimed at optimizing case management or addressing regional caseload imbalances.
**2. Introduction:**
The purpose of this report is to provide an informative analysis of the amendment to notification S.O. 4603(E), as published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Subsection ii. This analysis is based solely on the provided text and aims to clarify the nature and potential impact of the changes introduced by the amendment.
**3. Policy Overview:**
* **Original Policy:** The amendment modifies the original notification S.O. 4603(E), dated November 3rd, 2021, which pertained to the designation of Courts of Sessions as Special Courts for the trial of offenses under the PMLA, 2002.
* **Core Objective(s) of Original Policy (Inferred):** The original policy aimed to establish a framework for designated Special Courts to efficiently handle cases related to money laundering offenses within specified geographical areas.
* **Core Objective(s) of the Amendment:** The objective of this amendment is to revise the allocation of geographical jurisdictions among the designated Special Courts.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
This specific amendment appears designed to address potential imbalances or inefficiencies in the case distribution across the existing Special Courts. The substitution of the table suggests a need to realign the jurisdiction of each court, potentially to optimize workload distribution, address emerging crime patterns, or improve case processing times within specific districts. It's possible the initial allocations created bottlenecks or were not adequately responsive to the volume or nature of cases arising in certain regions of Uttar Pradesh.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
The core change introduced by this amendment is the substitution of the table within the original notification.
* **Specific Part Changed:** The "Table" within the original notification S.O. 4603(E) is entirely replaced.
* **New Rule/Provision:** The new "Table" lists the "Court of Sessions designated as Special Court" in column 1, and the "Area specified for trial of offence punishable under Section 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002" in column 2. 12 Special Courts are listed with corresponding geographic areas. For example, "Special Court, AntiCorruption, CBI West, Lucknow" is assigned "Shravasti, Pilibhit, Ambedkar Nagar and Maharajganj."
* **Difference/Effect of Change:** The effect of this change is a *redistribution* of the districts and areas under the jurisdiction of each listed Special Court. Previously assigned districts may now fall under the purview of a different Special Court. For example, it cannot be determined from the provided text if Shravasti, Pilibhit, Ambedkar Nagar and Maharajganj were under the jurisdiction of "Special Court, AntiCorruption, CBI West, Lucknow" prior to this amendment.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
The primary stakeholders affected by this amendment are:
* The Special Courts designated for PMLA cases in Uttar Pradesh.
* The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and other law enforcement agencies involved in investigating and prosecuting money laundering offenses in Uttar Pradesh, as the change in jurisdiction affects where cases must be filed.
* Individuals and entities accused of offenses under Section 4 of the PMLA, 2002, within the specified districts, as the location of their trial may be impacted.
* Legal professionals practicing in the affected jurisdictions.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Central Government, specifically the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance, is responsible for implementing this amendment. The Chief Justice of the High Court of Allahabad was consulted during the process.
* **Timelines/Procedures:** The amendment came into effect upon its notification on October 7th, 2022. No specific timelines or procedures for transitioning cases between courts are mentioned in the provided text. However, some procedural changes will likely be necessary to adapt to the newly defined jurisdictions.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The likely intended outcome of these changes is to:
* Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the judicial process for PMLA cases in Uttar Pradesh by optimizing the distribution of cases among Special Courts.
* Potentially reduce caseload imbalances, leading to faster case resolution and reduced backlogs.
* Ensure appropriate geographical alignment of courts with the locations where money laundering offenses are prevalent or where specific law enforcement agencies operate.
**9. Conclusion:**
The amendment to notification S.O. 4603(E), enacted through S.O. 4827(E), signifies a realignment of jurisdictional responsibilities among Special Courts designated for PMLA cases in Uttar Pradesh. This amendment is likely intended to optimize case management, reduce caseload disparities, and improve the overall efficiency of the legal process in combating money laundering. The redistribution of districts under each court's jurisdiction represents a significant operational change for the affected courts, law enforcement agencies, and individuals involved in PMLA cases.
Key Entities Referenced
Prevention of Moneylaundering Act, 2002: An Act of the Parliament of India to prevent money-laundering and to provide for confiscation of property derived from, or involved in, money-laundering
High Court of Allahabad: The High Court of Judicature at Allahabad is the high court based in Allahabad that has jurisdiction over the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
Ministry of Finance Department of Revenue: A department of the Government of India, specifically the Ministry of Finance.
Gazette of India: An official publication of the Government of India, publishing notifications, rules, and regulations.
Lucknow: City in Uttar Pradesh, India
Shravasti: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Pilibhit: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Ambedkar Nagar: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Maharajganj: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Kanpur Urban: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Kanpur Rural: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Kushinagar: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Kaushambi: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Kanshiramnagar: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Allahabad: City in Uttar Pradesh, India
Kannauj: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Fatehpur: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Chitrakoot: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Hamirpur: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharajnagar: Former name of Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj district, Uttar Pradesh, India
Azamgarh: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Etawah: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Basti: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Mau: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Bhadohi: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Balrampur: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Bahraich: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Varanasi: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Badaun: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Raebareli: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Faizabad: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Jalaun: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Orai: City in Uttar Pradesh, India
Siddharth Nagar: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Pratapgarh: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Gorakhpur: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Farrukhabad: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Mirzapur: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Unnao: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Sonbhadra: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Sitapur: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Ghazipur: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Deoria: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Barabanki: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Jhansi: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Auraiya: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Chandauli: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Lakhimpur Kheri: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Bareilly: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Hardoi: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Mahoba: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Jaunpur: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Sant Kabir Nagar: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Shahjahanpur: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Gonda: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Lalitpur: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Ballia: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Sultanpur: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Banda: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Gautambuddha Nagar: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Aligarh: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Rampur: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Ghaziabad: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Mainpuri: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Moradabad: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Bijnor: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Hathras: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Hapur: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Sambhal: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Saharanpur: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Amroha Jyotiba Phule Nagar: District in Uttar Pradesh, India. Also called Jyotiba Phule Nagar.
Etah: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Bulandshahr: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Mathura: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Kasganj: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Agra: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Muzaffarnagar: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Baghpat: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Meerut: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Firozabad: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Shamli: District in Uttar Pradesh, India
Vivek Mishra: Under Secretary.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-12102022-239573
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CG-DL-E-12102022-239573
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
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स.ं 4617] नई दिल्ली, मगं लिार, अक्त बू र 11, 2022/आजि न 19, 1944
No. 4617] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2022/ASVINA 19, 1944
जित्त मत्रं लाय
(रािस्ट्ि जिभाग)
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 7 अक्त ूबर, 2022
का.आ. 4827(अ) – केन्द रीय सरकार, धन-िोधन जनिारण अजधजनयम, 2002 (2003 का 15) की धारा 43 की
उपधारा (1) द्वारा प्रित् त िजक्त यक का प्रयोग करत े ए ए र ालाबाबाि उ च न्द यायालय के म्य न्द यायमूतित क के परामि क स े
भारत सरकार के जित् त मंत्रालय (रािस्ट् ि जिभाग) की भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग-2, खण्ड-3, उपखण्ड (ii) म,ें
का.आ. स.ं 4603(अ), तारीख 3 निंबर, 2021 द्वारा प्रकाजित अजधसूचना का जनम्न जलजखत र संिोधन करती ब,
अर्ाकत:्-
उक्त अजधसूचना की सारणी के स्ट् र्ान पर जनम्न जलजखत सारणी रखी िाएगी, अर्ाकत्:-
“सारणी
क्र.स.ं धन-िोधन जनिारण अजधजनयम, 2002 के अधीन जििषे धन-िोधन जनिारण अजधजनयम, 2002 की
न्दय ायालय के प प म ेंअजभजबत सिे न न्दय ायालय धारा 4 के अधीन िडं नीय अपराधक के
जिचारण के जलए जिजनर्िष्क ट ्त्रे
1 2 3
1 जििेष न्द यायालय, भ्रष्ट ाचार जनिारण, सी.बी.आई., लखनऊ, श्रािस्ट् ती पीलीभीत, अंबेडकर नगर
(पज चम), लखनऊ र मबारािगंि
2 जििेष न्द यायालय, भ्रष्ट ाचार जनिारण, सी.बी.आई., कानप्र िबरी, कानप्र ग्रामीण, क्िीनगर,
6879 GI/2022 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
क्र.स.ं धन-िोधन जनिारण अजधजनयम, 2002 के अधीन जििषे धन-िोधन जनिारण अजधजनयम, 2002 की
न्दय ायालय के प प म ेंअजभजबत सिे न न्दय ायालय धारा 4 के अधीन िडं नीय अपराधक के
जिचारण के जलए जिजनर्िष्क ट ्त्रे
1 2 3
(केन्द रीय), लखनऊ कौिांबी र कािीरामनगर
3 जििेष न्द यायालय, भ्रष्ट ाचार जनिारण, सी.बी.आई., ालाबाबाि, कनौि, फतेबप्र, जचत्रकूट,
न्द यायालय सं. 1, लखनऊ बमीरप्र र छत्रपजत िाहूिी मबाराि नगर
4 जििेष न्द यायालय, भ्रष्ट ाचार जनिारण, सी.बी.आई., आिमगढ़, ाटािा, बस्ट् ती, महू, भिोबी,
न्द यायालय सं. 2, लखनऊ बलरामप्र र बबरााच
5 जििेष न्द यायालय, भ्रष्ट ाचार जनिारण, सी.बी.आई., िाराणसी, बािायूं, रायबरेली, फ िाबाि, उरई
न्द यायालय सं. 3, लखनऊ जस्ट् र्त िालौन, जसद्धार्कनगर र प्रतापगढ़
6 जििेष न्द यायालय, भ्रष्ट ाचार जनिारण, सी.बी.आई., गोरखप्र, फर्रकखाबार, जमिाकप्र, उन्द नाि,
न्द यायालय सं. 4, लखनऊ सोनभर, सीताप्र, गािीप्र, िेिररया र
बाराबंकी
7 जििेष न्द यायालय, भ्रष्ट ाचार जनिारण, सी.बी.आई., झांसी, ओर या, चंिौली, लखीमप्र, खीरी,
न्द यायालय सं. 5, लखनऊ बरेली, बरिोई र मबोबा
8 जििेष न्द यायालय, भ्रष्ट ाचार जनिारण, सी.बी.आई., िौनप्र, संत कबीर नगर, िाबिबॉंप्र, गकडा,
न्द यायालय सं. 6, लखनऊ लजलतप्र, बजलया, स्ल् तानपर् र बांिा
9 जििेष न्द यायालय, भ्रष्ट ाचार जनिारण, सी.बी.आई. गौतमब्द्धनगर, अलीगढ, रामपर् र म नपर् ी
(पज चम), गाजियाबाि
10 जििेष न्द यायालय, भ्रष्ट ाचार जनिारण, सी.बी.आई. गाजियाबाि, म्रािाबाि, जबिनोर, बार्रस,
न्द यायालय सं. 1, गाजियाबाि बाप्ड़ र संभल
11 जििेष न्द यायालय, भ्रष्ट ाचार जनिारण, सी.बी.आई. सबारनप्र, अमरोबा (ज्य ोजतबा फूले नगर),
न्द यायालय सं. 2, गाजियाबाि एटा, ब्लंििबर, मर््रा र कासगंि
12 जििेष न्द यायालय, भ्रष्ट ाचार जनिारण, सी.बी.आई. आगरा, म्िफ्फरनगर, बागपत, मेरि
न्द यायालय सं. 3, गाजियाबाि (निगरित) दफरोिाबाि, र िामली ।”
[फा.सं. के-11022/65/2021-एडी ईडी]
जििेक जमश्रा, अिर सजचि
रटप्प ण:- मूल अजधसूचना भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग-2, खण्ड-3, उपखण्ड (ii) म,ें का.आ. स.ं 4603(अ), तारीख
3 निंबर, 2021 द्वारा प्रकाजित की गई र्ी ।
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(Department of Revenue)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 7th October, 2022
S.O. 4827(E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 43 of the Prevention of
Money-laundering Act, 2002 (15 of 2003) and in consultation with the Chief Justice of High Court of Allahabad, the
Central Government hereby makes the following amendments in the notification of the Government of India, Ministry
of Finance (Department of Revenue), published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section
(ii), vide number S.O. 4603(E), dated the 3rd November, 2021, namely:-[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
In the said notification for the Table, the following Table shall be substituted, namely:-
“TABLE
Court of Sessions designated as Special Court Area specified for trial of offence punishable
Sl.
under the Prevention of Money-laundering Act, under section 4 of the Prevention of Money-
No.
2002. laundering Act, 2002.
(1) (2) (3)
Special Court, Anti-Corruption, CBI (West), Lucknow, Shravasti, Pilibhit, Ambedkar Nagar and
1.
Lucknow Maharajganj.
Special Court, Anti-Corruption, CBI (Central), Kanpur Urban, Kanpur Rural, Kushinagar,
2.
Lucknow Kaushambi and Kanshiramnagar.
Special Court, Anti-Corruption, CBI Court No. 1, Allahabad, Kannauj, Fatehpur, Chitrakoot, Hamirpur
3.
Lucknow and Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharajnagar.
Special Court, Anti-Corruption, CBI Court No. 2, Azamgarh, Etawah, Basti, Mau, Bhadohi, Balrampur
4.
Lucknow and Bahraich.
Special Court, Anti-Corruption, CBI Court No. 3, Varanasi, Badaun, Raebareli, Faizabad, Jalaun at
5.
Lucknow Orai, Siddharth Nagar and Pratapgarh.
Gorakhpur, Farrukhabad, Mirzapur, Unnao,
Special Court, Anti-Corruption, CBI Court No. 4,
6. Sonbhadra, Sitapur, Ghazipur, Deoria and
Lucknow
Barabanki.
Special Court, Anti-Corruption, CBI Court No. 5, Jhansi, Auraiya, Chandauli, Lakhimpur Kheri,
7.
Lucknow Bareilly, Hardoi and Mahoba.
Special Court, Anti-Corruption, CBI Court No. 6, Jaunpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Shahjahanpur, Gonda,
8.
Lucknow Lalitpur, Ballia, Sultanpur and Banda.
Special Court, Anti-Corruption, CBI (West), Gautambuddha Nagar, Aligarh, Rampur and
9.
Ghaziabad Mainpuri.
Special Court, Anti-Corruption, CBI Court No. 1, Ghaziabad, Moradabad, Bijnor Hathras, Hapur and
10.
Ghaziabad Sambhal.
Special Court, Anti-Corruption, CBI Court No. 2, Saharanpur, Amroha (Jyotiba Phule Nagar), Etah,
11.
Ghaziabad Bulandshahr, Mathura and Kasganj.
Special Court, Anti-Corruption, CBI Court No. 3, Agra, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Meerut, Firozabad
12.
Ghaziabad and Shamli”.
[F. No. K-11022/65/2021-Ad.ED]
VIVEK MISHRA, Under Secy.
Note:- The principal notification was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-
section (ii), vide, notification number S.O. 4603(E), dated the 3rd November, 2021.
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