Section 22: Cognizance of offences

No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act or any rules made thereunder except upon complaint in writing made by a person authorised in this behalf by the Central Government or the State Government.

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 22

Pradeep S. Wodeyar v. The State of Karnataka
2021 INSC 79829 November 2021Dismissed
Jayant Etc. v. The State of Madhya Pradesh
2020 INSC 6783 December 2020Disposed of
Union of India v. Ashok Kumar Sharma and Others
2020 INSC 51728 August 2020Disposed of
Justice K. S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India & Ors.
2018 INSC 88026 September 2018Disposed of
State of NCT of Delhi v. Sanjay
2014 INSC 6024 September 2014Disposed of