Section 57: Cognizance of certain offences.

(1) No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under Chapter IX save on a complaint made by the Board or by any investigating agency directed by the Central Government.

(2) No court inferior to that of a Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or of a Chief Judicial Magistrate shall try any offence punishable under Chapter IX.

(3) Every offence punishable under sections 44, 45, 46 and 47 shall be cognizable.