Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
Procedure to be followed by Magistrates.—(1) In all trials for offences under this Act, the Magistrate shall follow the procedure prescribed in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, for the trial of summary cases in which an appeal lies: Provided that if in respect of any case, the Magistrate, for reasons to be recorded in writing, decides that it is not desirable to follow such procedure, he shall follow the procedure prescribed in Chapter XX or Chapter XXI of the said Code, according as the case is, a summons case or a warrant case. (2) Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, all investigations, arrests, detentions in custody and searches shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898: Provided that no search shall be deemed to be illegal by reason only of the fact that witnesses for the search warrant are not inhabitants of the locality in which the place searched is situated. 34