16. (1) No prosecution under this Act shall be instituted except by or with the previous sanction of the District Magistrate or a Magistrate of the first class specially empowered in this behalf by the ic560State Government]1. (2) No offence punishable under this Act shall be tried by any court inferior to that of a Magistrate of the first class.
<span style="margin-left:15px;"></span><span style="margin-left:15px;"></span><b>16.</b> (1) No prosecution under this Act shall be instituted except by or with the previous sanction of the District Magistrate or a Magistrate of the first class specially empowered in this behalf by the ic560State Government]<b><sup>1</sup></b>.<br> <span style="margin-left:15px;"></span><span style="margin-left:15px;"></span>(2) No offence punishable under this Act shall be tried by any court inferior to that of a Magistrate of the first class.<br>