(1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment provided in this Act if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of or is attributable to any neglect on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Explanation.-For the purposes of this section,-
(a) "company" means a body corporate, and includes a firm or other association of individuals; and
(b) "director" in relation to a firm means a partner in the firm.
26. The Collectors and all officers duly authorised under section 24 shall exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred and imposed on them by or under this Act in accordance with such orders as the State Government may from time to time make.
27. All officers acting under this Act shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.