Court competent to try offences under this Act

No court inferior to that of a Magistrate of the first class shall try any offence punishable under this Act. (1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company or a corporate society or association as well as every person incharge or responsible to, the conduct of its business at the time of the commission of the offence 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 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. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained above, where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company or society and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of or that the commission of the offence 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.