51. Cognizance of offences.-

(1) No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act except upon a complaint in writing made by an officer of the National Housing Bank, generally or specially authorised in writing in this behalf by the National Housing Bank, and no court other than that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first class or a court superior thereto shall try any such offence.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), a Magistrate may, if he sees reason so to do, dispense with the personal attendance of the officer of the National Housing Bank filing the complaint but the Magistrate may in his discretion, at any stage of the proceedings, direct the personal attendance of the complainant.