Contempt of Co-operative Tribunal

(1) If any person— (a) when ordered by the Co-operative Tribunal to produce or deliver up any document or to furnish information, being legally bound so to do, intentionally omits to do so; or (b) when required by the Tribunal to bind himself by an oath or affirmation to state the truth, refuses to do so; (c) being legally bound to state the truth on any subject to the Tribunal, refuses to answer any question demanded of him touching such subject by the Tribunal; or (d) intentionally offers any insult or causes any interruption to the Tribunal at any stage of its judicial proceeding, he shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both. (2) If any person refuses to sign any statement made by him when required to do so by the Co-operative Tribunal, he shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both. (3) If any offence under sub-sections (1) or (2) is committed in the view or presence of the Tribunal concerned, the said Tribunal may, after recording the facts constituting the offence and the statement of the accused as provided in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (II of 1974), forward the case to a Magistrate having jurisdiction to try the same, and may require security to be given for the appearance of the accused person before such Magistrate or, if sufficient security is not given, shall forward such person in custody to such Magistrate. The Magistrate to whom any case is so forwarded shall proceed to hear the complaint against the accused person in the manner provided in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (II of 1974). (4) If any person commits any act or publishes any writing which is calculated to improperly influence the Co-operative Tribunal to bring any such Tribunal into disrepute or contempt or to lower its or his authority, or to interfere with the lawful process of the said Tribunal, such person shall be deemed to be guilty of contempt of the said Tribunal. (5) In the case of contempt of itself, the Co-operative Tribunal shall record the facts constituting such contempt, and make a report in that behalf to the High Court. (6) (7) When any intimation or report in respect of any contempt is received by the High Court under sub-section (5) or (8) The High Court shall deal with such contempt as if it were contempt of itself, and shall have and exercise in respect of it the same jurisdiction, powers and authority in accordance with the same procedure and practice as it has and exercises in respect of contempt of itself.