(1) If any owner, occupier or an association of such owners and occupier of a building or premises fails to appoint Fire Safety Officers referred to in section 15, within the period as may be prescribed, on the receipt of a notice given in this behalf by the nominated authority or the Fire Officer, as the case may be, each one of them shall be deemed to be in default jointly and severally.
(2) If the person referred to in sub-section (1) is deemed to be in default, he shall be liable to a penalty which shall not be less than ten rupees and not exceeding fifty rupees per square metre of area owned or occupied by him including the common areas in the premises as determined by the Government, which shall be recovered from him by way of penalty for each month of default or part thereof.
(3) The amount referred to in sub-section (2) shall be recovered as an arrear of land revenue.