(1) All properties to which this Act applies belong to the State Government and no person who holds such property shall sell, transfer, gift, alienate, dispose of or encumber such property or part of it in any way, except the Collector or any other person authorised by the State Government under the provision of this Act with the approval of the Competent Authority.
(2) Any transfer, alienation, disposition or encumbrance made or created, knowingly or otherwise, in contravention of sub-section (1) shall be void.
21. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Act, any person who contravenes the provision of sub-section (2) of section 7, without having preferred the objection within the period of fortnight or an appeal within the period of thirty days as provided for in sub-section (3) of section 7, or contravenes the provisions of sub-section (5) of section 7 or of section 20, shall be guilty of an offence, on conviction whereof, he shall be liable to be punished with imprisonment which may extend to seven years and with fine which may extend to thirty lakh of rupees.
Such offence shall not be compoundable and shall be cognizable and non-bailable.