Authentication of plans and schemes and custody thereof.

(1) Every Development Plan or town planning scheme which is finally sanctioned by the Government shall be drawn up in duplicate and every such plan or scheme or every page thereof shall be authenticated under the seal and signature of the Secretary to the Government. One such plan or scheme shall be deposited with the member secretary of the Planning and Development Authority and sealed with his seal and the second shall be deposited with the Planning and Development Authority concerned.

(2) The plan or scheme deposited with the member secretary or the Planning and Development Authority under seal shall be kept under lock and key and custody of member secretary and shall not be utilized unless it is required for production in any court or any authority duly empowered in this behalf by the Government for verifying any entry made or alleged to be made in any such plan or scheme, and a certified copy of any plan or scheme or any part thereof may be given to any person on payment of a fee thereof as prescribed.

(3) Where a plan or scheme or any part thereof is produced for verification such plan or scheme or part after the relevant entry or entries therein are duly verified (such verification being made in court, or as the case may be in the Planning Board of any officer duly nominated by him in that behalf) shall be resealed with seal of Planning and Development Authority and then deposited with him in the manner aforesaid.

(4) If any officer or person having custody of a plan, scheme makes or causes to be made any change in such plan, scheme or in any part, such change not being authorized by or under the provisions of this Act, he shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment which may extend to six months and shall also be liable to a fine.