Section 22B — Cognizance of offences.

22B. Cognizance of offences.—(1) No Court shall take cognizance of a complaint against any person 

for an offence— 

(a) under clause (a) of section 22 unless an application in respect of the facts constituting such 

offence has been presented under section 20 and has been granted wholly or in part, and the 

appropriate Government or an officer authorised by it in this behalf has sanctioned the making of the 

complaint; 

(b) under clause (b) of section 22 or under section 22A except on a complaint made by, or with 

the sanction of, an Inspector. 

(2) No Court shall take cognizance of an offence— 

(a) under clause (a) or clause (b) of section 22, unless complaint thereof is made within one 

month of the grant of sanction under this section; 

(b) under section 22A, unless complaint thereof is made within six months of the date on which 

the offence is alleged to have been committed.