Jurisdiction. 27. (1) The court of Judicial Magistrate of the first class or the Metropolitan Magistrate, as the case may be, within the local limits of which-
- (a) the person aggrieved permanently or temporarily resides or carries on business or is employed; or
- (b) the respondent resides or carries on business or is employed; or
- (c) the cause of action has arisen,
shall be the competent court to grant a protection order and other orders under this Act and to try offences under this Act.
(2) Any order made under this Act shall be enforceable throughout India.
Procedure. 28. (1) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, all proceedings under sections 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 and offences under section 31 shall be governed by the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.2 of 1974.
(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall prevent the court from laying down its own procedure for disposal of an application under section 12 or under sub-section (2) of section 23.
Appeal. 29. There shall lie an appeal to the Court of Session within thirty days from the date on which the order made by the Magistrate is served on the aggrieved person or the respondent, as the case may be, whichever is later.
CHAPTER V
MISCELLANEOUS
Protection Officers and members of service providers to be public servants. 30. The Protection Officers and members of service providers, while acting or purporting to act in pursuance of any of the provisions of this Act or any rules or orders made thereunder shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code.45 of 1860.
Penalty for breach of protection order by respondent. 31. (1) A breach of protection order, or of an interim protection order, by the respondent shall be an offence under this Act and shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to twenty thousand rupees, or with both.
(2) The offence under sub-section (1) shall as far as practicable be tried by the Magistrate who had passed the order, the breach of which has been alleged to have been caused by the accused.
(3) While framing charges under sub-section (1), the Magistrate may also frame charges under section 498A of the Indian Penal Code45 of 1860. or any other provision of that Code or the Dowry Prohibition Act, 196128 of 1961., as the case may be, if the facts disclose the commission of an offence under those provisions.
Cogaizance and proof. 32. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 19732 of 1974., the offence under sub-section (1) of section 31 shall be cognizable and non- bailable.
(2) Upon the sole testimony of the aggrieved person, the court may conclude that an offence under sub-section (1) of section 31 has been committed by the accused.
