Cognizance of offences
Section 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 deals with cognizance of offences. No court shall take cognizance of an offence under this Act except on a complaint made by--- (a) the National Authority, the State Authority, the Central Government, the State Government, the District Authority [, the Urban Authority] or any other authority or officer authorised in this behalf by th The Act came into force on 28 Jul 2006.
No court shall take cognizance of an offence under this Act except on a complaint made by---
(a) the National Authority, the State Authority, the Central Government, the State Government, the District Authority 1[, the Urban Authority] or any other authority or officer authorised in this behalf by that Authority or Government, as the case may be; or
(b) any person who has given notice of not less than thirty days in the manner prescribed, of the alleged offence and his intention to make a complaint to the National Authority, the State Authority, the Central Government, the State Government, the District Authority 1[, the Urban Authority] or any other authority or officer authorised as aforesaid.
Section 60, The Disaster Management Act, 2005 (Act 53 of 2005).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Referred to by 1
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Sri Lokesh v. State of Karnataka
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Quash petition allowed applying cognizance/notice standards under Disaster Management Act s.60: prosecution could not proceed without compliance with the statutory bar on cognizance except on complaint by authorised persons (Roth/Shivakumar line).
On this section: s.60 — Cognizance of offences; complaint by authorised officer required
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Made under this section, and citing it
1 instrument names this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 60
What have the courts held on Section 60 of the Disaster Management Act?
Sri Lokesh v. State of Karnataka (23 Jul 2025) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: s.60 — Cognizance of offences; complaint by authorised officer required.
How do I find court cases under Section 60 of the Disaster Management Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Disaster Management Act 2005 60, section 60 Disaster Management Act 2005, section 60 of the Disaster Management Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Sri Lokesh v. State of Karnataka (23 Jul 2025).
What should I read with Section 60 of the Disaster Management Act, and has it changed?
1 other provision in this corpus refers back to it. One instrument names it without being made under it, most recently The Disaster Management (Notice of Alleged Offence) Rules, 2007 (2007).
When did Section 60 of the Disaster Management Act come into force?
Section 60 of the Disaster Management Act, cited as Disaster Management Act 2005 60, came into force on 28 Jul 2006, having been enacted on 23 Dec 2005. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 2. Definitions1200 words
- 30. Powers and functions of District Authority861 words
- 6. Powers and functions of National Authority703 words
- 42. National Institute of Disaster Management566 words
- 66. Payment of compensation533 words
- 18. Powers and functions of State Authority473 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 18 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.