(1) Where a person committing any offence punishable under this Act, it company as defined in the Companies Act, 1956 or a firm or other association body of persons, whether incorporated or not, every person who, at the time offence was committed was in charge of, and was responsible to the company, fine or association, or body of persons, as the case may be, for the conduct of its business as well as the company, firm or association or body of persons, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be process against and punished accordingly ;
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any person liable to any punishment if he proves that the offence took place with his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent such offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company or a firm and it is proved by the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or it attar table to any neglect on the part of, any officer of the company as defined in the section (30) of section 2 of the Companies Act, 1956 or of any partner in the firm such officer or partners the case may be shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
18. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the State Government or any officer or servant of the State Government, or against person acting under the direction of the State Government or an officer or survey of the State Government or aiding or assisting the State Government or officer or servant of the State Government, in respect of anything which is good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act or any or order made thereunder.