(1) If the person committing an offence under this Act is a company, the company as well as every person in charge of, and responsible to the company for the conduct of its business at the time of the commission of the offence 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 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 section has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or that the commission of the offence 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 purpose of this section,—
(a) “Company” means any 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.]1
1. Sections 82A and 82B inserted by Act 12 of 1998 w.e.f. 11.5.1998.
CHAPTER X PROVISIONS RELATING TO SANDALWOOD 1[83. Rights of certain persons entitled to sandal trees.- (1) All persons who by the terms of their sannads, grants, or by judicial decision or otherwise are, prior to the commencement of this Act, legally entitled to the sandal trees in their lands shall not fell or sell such sandal tree or convert or dress sandal wood obtained from such tree or possess, store, transport or sell the sandal wood so obtained except in accordance with the provisions of the rules made under this Act.
(2) On or after the commencement of the Karnataka Forest (Amendment) Act, 2001 every occupant or holder of land shall be legally 1964: KAR. ACT 5] Forest 399 entitled to the sandal tree in his land except where such sandal tree is declared to be the property of the State Government in any grant, lease, contract or other instrument, but such occupant or holder shall not fell or sell such sandal tree or convert or dress sandal wood obtained from such tree or posses, store, transport or sell the sandal wood so obtained except in accordance with the provisions of the rules made under this Act.]1
1. Substituted by Act 20 of 2001 w.e.f. 5.9.2002.