Section 14. Penalties

14. Penalties. —[1] [(1)] If any person — (a) in any return to be furnished under this Act makes any statement which is false and which he knows to be false or does not believe to be true, or (b) obstructs any officer of the Board[2] [Committee and Registration Committee] in the exercise of any power, conferred, or the discharge of any duty imposed on him by or under this Act, or (c) having the control or custody of any account book or other record, fails to produce such book or record when required so to do under this Act, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both. 3[(2) If the person committing any offence specified in sub-section (1) is a company, every person who, at the time the offence was committed was in charge of, and 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: Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment provided in 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. (3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), where an offence under sub-section (1) has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed 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 offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. Explanation . — For the purposes 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.] 1. S. 14 renumbered as sub-section (1) of that section by Act 31 of 1953. s. 9 (w.e.f. 25-3-1954). 2.Ins. by the Act 42 of 2006, s. 12 (w.e.f. 1-7-2007). 3. Ins. by the 31 of 1953, s. 9 (w.e.f. 25-3-1954). 1 — [14A. Penalty for contravention of sections 8C and 8E. If any person contravenes the provisions of sections 8C and 8E of this Act or regulations made thereunder or any notification relating to silk-worm seed he shall be punishable with a fine of five thousand rupees which may extend to twenty-five thousand rupees besides suspension or cancellation of the registration to produce silk-worm seeds.] 15. [ Prosecution to be with consent of Central Government .] Omitted by the Central Silk Board (Amendment) Act, 2006 (42 of 2006), s . 14 ( w.e.f. 1-7-2007). 15A . [ Jurisdiction of Courts .] Omitted bys. 14, ibid. ( w.e.f. 1-7-2007) .