Report No. 165

16. Courts competent to try offences under the Act.-

(1) The Courts competent to try offences under section 15 of this Act shall be the following,-

(a) the Panchayat Adalat - by whatever name called, in respect of offences within their jurisdiction;

(b) Where there are no Panchayat Adalats - by whatever name called - and where the offence takes place outside the jurisdiction of such Panchayat-Adalats, the court of a magistrate having jurisdiction over the area.

(2) Any offence triable by the Panchayat Adalat shall be tried in the manner provided for the trial of criminal cases by the concerned Panchayat Raj Act, and any offence triable by a magistrate shall be tried in a summary way.