55. Cognizance of offences.- No court shall take cognizance of any offence against this Act except on the complaint of any person other than-

(a) the Director of Wild Life Preservation or any other officer authorised in this behalf by the Central Government, or

*[(aa) Member Secretary, Central Zoo authority in matters relating to violation of the provisions of Chapter IVA or]

**[(ab) Member-Secretary, Tiger Conservation Authority; or

(ac) Director of the concerned tiger reserve; or]

(b) the Chief Wild Life Warden, or any other officer authorised in, this behalf by the State Government *[subject to such conditions as may be specified by that Government; or]

*[(bb) the officer incharge of the Zoo in respect of violation of provisions of Section 38J; or]

(c) any person who has given notice of not less than sixty days, in the manner prescribed, of the alleged offence and of his intention to make a complaint to the Central Government or the State Government or the officer authorised as aforesaid.

*[Inserted by Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002]

**[Inserted by Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006]