Section 87: Cognizance of offences

(1) No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Code, save on a complaint made by or under the authority of the appropriate Government.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), no court inferior to that of the Metropolitan Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate of the first class shall try the offences under this Code.

Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 14 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 87

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