Cognizance of offences

(1) No court inferior to that of a magistrate of the first class shall try any offence under this Act, (2) No prosecution under this Act shall be lodged, except with the previous sanction of the Government in the case of an offence under clause (b) of section 144 and of the Registrar in the case of any other offence under this Act. Such sanction shall not be given except after hearing the party concerned, by an officer authorised in this behalf by the Government by a general or special order.