The Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002
29. Procedure and
powers of Special Courts.-
1. Subject
to the provisions of section 50, a Special Court may take cognizance of any
offence, without the accused being committed to it for trial, upon receiving a
complaint of facts that constitute such offence or upon a police report of such
facts.
2. Where
an offence triable by a Special Court is punishable with imprisonment for a
term not exceeding three years or with fine or with both, the Special Court
may, notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) of section 260 or
section 262 of he Code, try the offence in a summary way in accordance with the
procedure prescribed in the Code and the provisions of sections 263 to 265 of
the Code, shall so far as may be, apply to such trial: Provided that when, in
the course of a summary trial under this sub-section, it appears to the Special
Court that the nature of the case is such that it is undesirable to try it in a
summary way, the Special Court shall recall any witnesses who may have been
examined and proceed to re-hear the case in the manner provided by the
provisions of the Code for the trial of such offence and the said provisions
shall apply to and in relation to a Special Court as they apply to and in
relation to a Magistrate: Provided further that in the case of any conviction
in a summary trial under this section, it shall be lawful for a Special Court
to pass a sentence of imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year and with
fine which may extend to rupees five lakh.
3. Subject
to the other provisions of this Act, a Special Court shall, for the purpose of
trial of any offence, have all the powers of a Court of Session and shall try
such offence as if it were a Court of Session so far as may be in accordance
with the procedure prescribed in the Code for the trial before a Court of
Session.
4. Subject
to the other provisions of this Act, every case transferred to a Special Court
under section 25 shall be dealt with as if such case had been transferred under
section 406 of the Code to such Special Court.
5. Notwithstanding
anything contained in the Code, but subject to the provisions of section 299 of
the Code, a Special Court may, if it thinks fit and for reasons to be recorded
by it, proceed with the trial in the absence of the accused or his pleader end
record the evidence of any witness, subject to the right of the accused to
recall the witness for cross-examination.