Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
16. (1) 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 the District Magistrate or by a public servant other than a District Magistrate with the previous sanction in writing of the District Magistrate. (2) No court inferior to that of a Magistrate of the First Class shall try any offence punishable under this Act.