16Powers and duties conferrable and imposable on members of the Force

(1) The Central Government may, by general or special order, confer or impose upon any member of the force any of the powers or duties conferred or imposed on a police officer of any class or grade by any law for the time being in force.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898), the Central Government may invest the Commandant or an assistant commandant with the powers of a Magistrate of any class for the purpose of inquiring into or trying any offence committed by a member of the Force and punishable under this Act, or any offence committed by a member of the Force against the person or property of another member:

Provided that—

(i) when the offender is on leave or absent from duty, or

(ii) when the offence is not connected with the offender's duties as a member of the Force, or

(iii) when it is a petty offence, even if connected with the offender's duties as a member of the Force,

the offence may, if the prescribed authority within the limits of whose jurisdiction the offence has been committed, so directs, be inquired into or tried by an ordinary criminal Court having jurisdiction in the matter.