- Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, no person shall be tried for any offence against this Act or any rule or bye-law made thereunder unless complaint is made within three months of the commission of the offence by the police, [the Village Panchayat] [Inserted by Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Amendment) Act, 1999 (Tamil Nadu Act 2 of 1999).], the Executive Authority, the Panchayat Union Council, the Commissioner, the District Panchayat, the [Secretary] [Substituted for the words 'Chief Executive Officer' by Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Third Amendment) Act, 1998 (Tamil Nadu Act 28 of 1998).] or a person expressly authorised in this behalf by the Village Panchayat, Panchayat Union Council, District Panchayat, Executive Authority or Commissioner or the [Secretary] [Substituted for the words 'Chief Executive Officer' by Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Third Amendment) Act, 1998 (Tamil Nadu Act 28 of 1998).], but nothing herein shall affect the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974) in regard to the power of certain Magistrates to take cognizance of offence upon information received or upon their own knowledge or suspicion:Provided that failure to take out a licence or obtain permission under this Act shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed to be a continuing offence until the expiration of the period, if any, for which the licence or permission it required and if no period is specified, complaint may be made at any time within twelve months from the commencement of the offence.
