Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
(1) No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act, except on complaint in writing made by an officer authorised by the Government in this behalf: [Provided that an offence under section 117A shall, notwithstanding anything contained in the [Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974), be cognizable.] (2) No court inferior to that of [a Judicial Magistrate of the first class] shall try any offence punishable under this Act. Added by Act 35 of 1969 dt. 01/01/1970. Substituted by Act 15 of 1976 dt. 25/03/1976.