law: Payment of Wages Act, 1936
  21.
  
  Procedure in trial of offences
  (1)
  
  No court shall take cognizance of a complaint against any person for an offence
  
  under sub-section (1) of section 20 unless an application in respect of the
  
  facts constituting the offence has been presented under section 15 and has been
  
  granted wholly or in part and the authority empowered under the latter section
  
  or the appellate Court granting such application has sanctioned the making of
  
  the complaint.
  (2)
  
  Before sanctioning the making of a complaint against any person for an offence
  
  under sub-section (1) of section 20 the authority empowered under section 15 or
  
  the appellate Court as the case may be shall give such person an opportunity of
  
  showing cause against the granting of such sanction and the sanction shall not
  
  be granted if such person satisfies the authority or Court that his default was
  
  due to -
  (a) a bona fide error or bona fide dispute as to the amount payable to
  
  the employed person or
  (b) the occurrence of an emergency or the existence of exceptional
  
  circumstances such that the person responsible for the payment of the wages was
  
  unable though exercising reasonable diligence to make prompt payment or
  (c) the failure of the employed person to apply for or accept payment.
  (3)
  
  No Court shall take cognizance of a contravention of section 4 or of section 6
  
  or of a contravention of any rule made under section 26 except on a complaint
  
  made by or with the sanction of an Inspector under this Act.
  (3A)
  
  No Court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under sub-section (3)
  
  or sub-section (4) of section 20 except on a complaint made by or with the
  
  sanction of an Inspector under this Act.
  (4)
  
  In imposing any fine for an affiance under sub-section (1) of section 20 the
  
  court shall take into consideration the amount of any compensation already
  
  awarded against the accused in any proceedings taken under section 15.