Section 31. Cognizance of offences.

(1) No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act, save on a complaint made by or with the previous sanction in writing by the Director General of Civil Aviation or Director General of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security or Director General of Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau, as the case may be. (2) The complaint referred to in sub-section (1) shall be made within a period of one year from the date on which the offence came to the knowledge of the Director General of Civil Aviation or the Director General of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security or the Director General of Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau, as the case may be. (3) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (46 of 2023), no court inferior to that of a Judicial Magistrate of the first class shall try the offences under this Act.