Section 20. Courts competent to try offences

20. Courts competent to try offences.— (1) The courts competent to try offences under this Act shall — be the following, (a) in rural areas to which the Delhi Panchayat Raj Act, 1954 (Delhi Act III of 1955) extends, the Panchayati Adalat, constituted under section 50 of that Act, within whose jurisdiction the person committing the offence resides; (b) in other areas, the court of a magistrate having jurisdiction. (2) Any offence triable by the Panchayati Adalat shall be tried in the manner provided for the trial of criminal cases by the Delhi Panchayat Raj Act, 1954 (Delhi Act III of 1955), and any offence triable by a magistrate shall be tried in a summary way. — 21. Cognizance of offences. No court shall take cognizance of an offence under this Act except on the complaint of an attendance authority or any other person authorised in this behalf by the local authority by general or special order. — 22. Certain persons to be public servants. The attendance authority, every person appointed to assist the attendance authority under sub-section (1) of section 7 and every person authorised to make complaints under section 21 shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860). — 23. Protection of action taken in good faith. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Government or any authority or person in respect of anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.