Section 5. Cognizance of offences.

(1) No Magistrate inferior to a Magistrate of the Second Class shall try any offence under this Act. (2) No Magistrate shall take cognizance of any offence under this Act except,- (i) upon a complaint in writing made by the person on whom couching was performed or an attempt to perform couching was made; or (ii) upon a report of a police officer not below the rank of a Sub-Inspector; or (iii) upon a report of any person or class of persons authorised by the State Government in this behalf. (3) No Magistrate shall take cognizance of any offence under this Act, unless the prosecution is instituted within six months from the date on which the offence is alleged to have been committed.