Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
Cognizance of offences.―No Court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act except on a report in writing of the facts constituting such offence made by a person who is a public servant as defined in section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of I860) 5[or any person aggrieved or any recognised consumer association, whether such person is a member of that association or not]. 6[Explanation.―For the purposes of this section and section 12AA, “recognised consumer association” means a voluntary consumer association registered under the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) or any other law for the time being in force.] 7[12. Special provision regarding fine.―Notwithstanding anything contained in section 29 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), it shall be lawful for any Metropolitan Magistrate, or any Judicial Magistrate of the first class specially empowered by the State Government in this