Chapter VIII Chapter VIII

Whoever wilfully disobeys any direction lawfully given by any person or authority empowered under this Act to give such direction, or obstructs any person or authority in the discharge of any functions that such person or authority is required or empowered under this Act to discharge, or, being required by or under this Act to supply any information, withholds such information or gives such information which he knows to be false or which does not believe to be true shall, on conviction, be punished with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.

Whoever erects, alters or extends any building, or makes any excavation, or constructs any means of access to or from a highway or does any other work in contravention of the provisions of section 9 shall, on conviction, be punished— (a) with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, and (b) with further fine which may extend to one hundred rupees for each day after such conviction, during which the offending structure or work is not removed, demolished or cleared and the site not restored to its original conditions.

Whoever— (a) occupies or makes any encroachment on any highway in contravention of the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 21, or (b) fails to comply with the notice served on him under sub-section (1) of section 23 for no valid reason— shall on conviction be punished— (a) for a first offence with fine which may extend to two hundred and fifty rupees. (b) for a subsequent offence in relation to the same encroachment with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees plus a further fine not exceeding fifty rupees per day on which such occupation of the highway or encroachment continues.

Whoever in contravention of sub-section (1) or section 54 wilfully causes, or allows any vehicle or animal in his charge to cause any damage to any highway, shall, on conviction, be punished with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees.

Whoever contravenes any provision of this Act or of any rule or order made thereunder shall, if no other penalty is provided for the offence under this Act, on conviction, be punished— (a) for a first offence with fine which may extend to fifty rupees, (b) for a subsequent offence with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.

Any offence committed under this Act may be compounded by the Highway Authority and if any proceedings have been instituted against any person in any criminal court, then on the terms of the compromise being carried out, the composition shall be held to amount to an acquittal and in no case shall any further proceedings be taken against such person or any property of such person with reference to the same facts.

The Government may at any time call for and examine the records relating to any order passed or proceeding taken under this Act by the Highway Authority or any officer subordinate to the Highway Authority for the purpose of satisfying itself as to the legality or correctness of such order or proceeding and may pass such order in preference thereto as it thinks fit: Provided that no order shall be modified, annulled or reserved unless notice has been served on the parties interested and opportunity given to them for being heard.