JUDGMENT

Santosh Hegde, J.-Heard learned counsel for the parties.

Leave granted.

2. This appeal is preferred against the judgment and order made by the High Court of Judicature : Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad on 18.2.2003 whereby the High Court dismissed the criminal petition filed by the appellants under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (the Code). The prayer of the appellants in the said petition was to quash the criminal proceedings initiated against them in CC No. 201/2000 on the file of the II Metropolitan Magistrate, Vijayawada.

3. The challenge of the appellants before the High Court in the said petition was based on the ground that the cognizance of the alleged offence taken by learned Magistrate was barred by limitation under Section 469 of the Code. It was also urged that the Magistrate could not have taken cognizance of the offence based on a complaint made by Drug Inspector, Zone I, Vijayawada who was not one of the authorised officers under the Notification issued by the Government of Andhra Pradesh under the provisions of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 [the Central Act of 1954].

4. The High Court considering the said object