Chapter V OFFENCES AND PENALTIES

Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this Act or produces a false certificate or makes a false claim regarding his social status shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine or with both. (1) Where a Social Status Certificate has been. cancelled under Section 8, the person obtaining such Certificate shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term. which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to two years and with. fine, which shall not be less than two thousand rupees and which may extend to twenty thousand rupees. (2) No court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under this section except upon a complaint, in writing, made by the High Power Certification Scrutiny Committee or on its behalf by any person so authorized by the High Power Certification Scrutiny Committee for this purpose.

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, l 973, offence, punishable under Section l O of HHs Act shall be cogniznhle, non-bailable and may he tried summarily.

(1) Whoever knowingly makes any false representation or furnishes any false information to any authority for the purpose of obtaining a social status certificate, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to Rs. 20,000 or with both. (2) Whoever being a public servant issues a social status certificate in violation of the provisions laid down in this Act or the rules made thereunder, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to Rs. 20,000 or with both. Any person or authority, performing the functions of Competent Authority under this Act, who intentionally issues a false Social Status Certificate, shall he µunished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to two years and with fine which shall not he less than two thousand rupees and which may extend to twenty thousand (1) Any person or authority, performing the functions of Competent Authority under this Act, who intentionally issues a false Social Status Certificate, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to two years and with fine which shall not be less than two thousand rupees and which may extend to twenty thousand rupees.

The authorities under this Act while holding an inquiry under this Act shall have all the powers of a Civil Court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 and in particular in respect of the following matters, namely:- (a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath; (b) requiring the discovery and production of any document; (c) receiving evidence on affidavits; (d) requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office; (e) issuing commissions for the examination of witness or documents.