Section 26
Cognizance of offences.
The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972
About this Act
An Act to regulate the export trade in antiquities and art treasures, to provide for the prevention of smuggling of, and fraudulent dealings in, antiquities, to provide for the compulsory acquisition of antiquities and art treasures for preservation in public places and to provide for certain other matters connected therewith or incidental or ancillary thereto.
(1) No prosecution for an offence under sub-section (1) of section 25
shall be instituted except by or with the sanction of such officer of Government as may be prescribed in
this behalf.
(2) No court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) of section 25 except upon complaint in writing made by an officer generally or specially authorized in this behalf by the Central Government.
(3) No court inferior to that of a Presidency Magistrate or a Magistrate of the First Class shall try any offence punishable under this Act.
(2) No court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) of section 25 except upon complaint in writing made by an officer generally or specially authorized in this behalf by the Central Government.
(3) No court inferior to that of a Presidency Magistrate or a Magistrate of the First Class shall try any offence punishable under this Act.