(1) Where the occupier of a factory [or owner of a khandasari unit] is a firm or other association of individuals, any one or more of the partners or members thereof may be prosecuted and punished under this Act for any offence for which the occupier of the factory [or owner of the khandasari unit] is punishable:
Provided that the firm or association may give notice to the Collector and the Cane Commissioner that it has nominated one of its partners or members to be occupier of the factory [or owner of the khandasari unit] for the purposes of this Act, and such individual shall be deemed to be the occupier of the factory [or owner of the khandasari unit] for the purposes of this Act until further notice cancelling his nomination is received by the Collector and the Cane Commissioner or until he ceases to be a partner or member of the firm or association, as the case may be.
(2) Where the occupier of a factory [or owner of a khandasari unit] is a company or a co-operative society, any one or more of the directors thereof, or, in the case of a private company, any one or more, of the shareholders thereof, may be prosecuted and punished under this Act for any offence for which the occupier of the factory is punishable:
Provided that the company or co-operative society may give notice to the Collector and the Cane Commissioner that it has nominated a director, and a private company may give notice to the said officers that it has nominated a shareholder, to be the occupier of the factory [or owner of the khandasari unit] for the purposes of this Act and such director or shareholder shall be deemed to be the occupier of the factory [or owner of the khandasari unit] for the purposes of this Act until further notice cancelling his nomination is received by the Collector and the Cane Commissioner or until he ceases to be a Director or shareholder, as the case may be.