Substitution of section 7 of Parliament Act 28 of 1961.

For section 7 of the principal Act, the following section shall be substituted, namely :-

"7. Cognizance of offences.-- Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), -

(a) no court inferior to that of a Judicial Magistrate of the first class shall try any offence under this Act;

(b) no court shall take cognizance of any such offence except on a complaint made by any party to the marriage or her father, mother or brother or a Gazetted Officer specially authorized by the State Government in this behalf, within a period of one year from the date of the marriage ;

(c) no court shall take cognizance of any such offence except with the previous sanction of the District Magistrate or of such officer as the State Government may, by general or special order, specify in this behalf;

(d) no enquiry shall be got made through any police officer below the rank of a Deputy Superintendent of Police;

(e) no woman shall be called to a police station for the purpose of an enquiry regarding any offence under this Act.".