Essential Commodities Act, 1955

Cognizance of offences

11. No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act except on a report in writing of the facts constituting such offence made by a person who is a public servant as defined in section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860)[or any person aggrieved or any recognised consumer association, whether such person is a member of that association or not.]

[Explanation : For the purposes of this section and section 12AA, "recognised consumer association" means a voluntary consumer association registered under the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) or any other law for the time being in force.]