Offences by Government Departments

(1) Where an offence under this Ordinance has been committed by any Department of Punjab Government within such period, as may be prescribed after the commencement of this Ordinance, the concerned service provider employed or engaged by such Department shall be deemed to be guilty of such offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished according to the provisions of this Ordinance and the rules made thereunder: Provided that nothing contained in this section shall render such service provider liable to any punishment 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. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), whereby an offence under this Ordinance has been committed by a Department of Punjab Government and it is proved that the offence has been committed by a service provider with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of any officer, such officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished according to the provisions of this Ordinance and the rules made thereunder.