(1) Whoever for the purpose of avoiding any payment to be made by himself under this Act or under the Scheme or for the purpose of enabling any other person to avoid such payment knowingly makes or causes to be made any false statement or false representation shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees or with both.
(2) Whoever contravenes or makes default in complying with any of the provisions of this Act or of the Scheme shall, if no other penalty is elsewhere provided by or under this Act for such contravention or non-compliance, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees or with both.
(3) No court shall take congnisance of any offence punishable under this Act except on a report in writing of the facts constituting such offence made with the previous sanction of the State Government or such authority as may be specified in this behalf by the State Government.