(1)Subject to the provisions of sub-section (3), no Gram Panchayat shall take cognizance of any offence under the Indian Penal Code, 1860, in which either complainant or the accused is a public servant.(2)When information relating to the commission of a cognizable offence triable by a Gram Panchayat has been given to an officer incharge of a police station, he shall forthwith send a copy of the First Information Report, to the Gram Panchayat competent to try such an offence and such Gram Panchayat shall not proceed to try any complaint relating to the same facts nor shall it issue any summons in the matter, until the officer has intimated in writing that the investigation has been concluded:Provided that such an officer shall send the information to the Gram Panchayat after the conclusion of the investigation.(3)No criminal cases shall be heard, by any Gram Panchayat when criminal case on substantially the same facts against the same person has been heard and finally decided by the competent court or Gram Panchayat or is pending therein, or before it.
