Section 15. Power to give option to pay costs in lieu of confiscation

15. Power to give option to pay costs in lieu of confiscation. — (1) Whenever any confiscation of any package of cigarettes or any other tobacco products is authorised by this Act, the court adjudging it may, subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order adjudging the confiscation, give to the owner thereof an option to pay, in lieu of confiscation, costs which shall be equal to the value of the goods confiscated. (2) On payment of the costs ordered by the court, the seized packages shall be returned to the person from whom they were seized on condition that such person shall, before making any distribution, sale or supply of such packages of cigarettes or other tobacco products, get the specified warning and indication of nicotine and tar contents incorporated on each such package. — 16. Confiscation not to interfere with other punishments. No confiscation made, costs ordered to be paid under this Act shall prevent the infliction of any punishment to which the person affected thereby is liable under the provisions of this Act or under any other law. — 17. Adjudication. Any confiscation of cigarettes or any other tobacco products may be adjudged or — costs may be ordered to be paid, (a) without any limit, by the principal civil court of original jurisdiction within the local limits of whose jurisdiction such confiscation has been made, costs have been ordered to be paid, (b) subject to such limits as may be specified by the Central Government in this behalf, by such other court, not below a civil court having pecuniary jurisdiction exceeding rupees five thousand, as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, authorise in this behalf.