Section 496 — Offences triable by Special Court

(1) Irrespective of anything contained in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha
Sanhita, 2023 (46 of 2023),—
( a) the offences punishable under this Chapter shall be triable only by the
Special Court, if so designated, for the area or areas or for cases or class
or group of cases, as the case may be, in which the offence has been
committed;
( b) a Special Court may, upon a complaint made by an authority authorised
in this behalf under this Act, take cognizance of the offence for which
the accused is committed for trial.
(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1)(a), the court competent to try offences under
section 520,—
( a) which has been designated as a Special Court under this section, shall
continue to try the offences before it or offences arising under this Act
after such designation;
( b) which has not been designated as a Special Court, may continue to try
such offence pending before it till its disposal.
31. Substituted for “imprisonment which may extend to six months, and shall also be liable to
fine” by the Finance Act, 2026, w.e.f. 1-4-2026.