(a) If any user having been required to furnish any information or return under clause (e) of sub-section (1) of section 13,-
(i) wilfully refuses or without lawful excuse, neglects to furnish such information or return, or
(ii) wilfully furnishes or causes to be furnished any information or return, which he knows to be false, he shall be punishable, -
(i) for the first offence with fine, which may extend to five hundred rupees; and
(ii) for the second and subsequent offence, with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees;
(b) If any user, -
(i) contravenes or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this Act or any rule made thereunder, or
(ii) obstructs the Ground Water Authority or any other person authorised by it to exercise any of the powers under this Act, he shall be punishable, -- 380
(i) for the first offence with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees; and
(ii) for the second and subsequent offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees, or with both.
Compounding of offences
21. Any offence under this Act as may be prescribed, may, before or after the institution of the proceedings, be compounded by the Ground Water Authority.
Offences by companies
22.(1) Whenever an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who at the time, the offence is committed was in-charge of , or 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.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company 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 offences 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 under 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.
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.
Appeals