Penalty for issuing false Certificate

(1) Whoever, being the Competent Authority, intentionally issues a false Caste Certificate shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend up to three years and with fine which shall not be less than Rs. 10,000 but which may extend up to Rs. 50,000: Provided that the person who abets the production of false documents on the basis of which the Competent Authority issues the Caste Certificate, such person shall also be liable. (2) Whoever, not being the Competent Authority, intentionally issues a Caste Certificate shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend up to three years and with fine which shall not be less than Rs. 10,000 but which may extend up to Rs. 50,000. (3) No court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under this section except with the previous sanction of the Government