Conferring, granting or issuing colourable imitations of degrees, diplomas or licences to be an offence

(1) Save as otherwise expressly provided in any special law for the time being in force, no person other than- (a) a university established by law, (b) x x x (c) an authority specified or notified under the Indian Medical Degrees Act, 1916, (d) an authority authorised under any law for the time being in force in relation to the qualifications and registration of Homoeopathic practitioners in any part of the State, or (e) an authority empowered or recognised as competent, by the State Government, to confer, grant or issue any degree, diploma, licence, certificate or any other like award, shall confer, grant or issue or hold himself out as entitled to confer, grant or issue any degree, diploma, licence, certificate or any other like award. (i) which states or implies that the holder, grantee or recipient thereof is qualified to practise any system of medicine, or (ii) which is identical with, or is a colourable imitation of, any degree, diploma, licence, certificate or award granted by a body or institution specified in clause (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) of this sub-section. (2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1), and where any such contravention is committed by an association, every member of such association who knowingly or wilfully authorises or permits the contravention, shall, on conviction, be punished - (i) for a first offence, with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees;