Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972
Section 26: Cognizance of offences
(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.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 26
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