Penalty

(1) Where the Second Grievance Redressal Authority is of the opinion that the Designated Officer and/or any other official involved in the process of providing such service has failed to provide service without sufficient and reasonable cause, it may impose a lump sum penalty on the Designated Officer and/or any other official involved in the process of providing such service, which shall not be less than Rs. 250 and not more than Rs. 5,000 in each case. (2) Where the Second Grievance Redressal Authority is of the opinion that the Designated Officer and/or any other official involved in the process of providing such service has/have caused undue delay in providing the service, it may impose a penalty up to the rate of Rs. 250 per day for such delay on the Designated Officer and /or any official involved in the process of providing such service, which shall not be more than Rs. 5,000 in each case: Provided that the Designated Officer and/or any other official involved in the process of providing such service shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard before any penalty is imposed under sub-sections (1) and (2). (3) The Second Grievance Redressal Authority may, by an order, give as compensation an amount up to Rs. 1,000 to the appellant to be paid by the Designated Officer or any other official, as the case may be. (4) The Second Grievance Redressal Authority may, if it is satisfied that the Designated Officer and/or any other official involved in the process of providing such service has/have failed to discharge the duties assigned under this Act without sufficient and reasonable cause, recommend disciplinary action against the defaulters under the service rules applicable to them in addition to the penalty imposed under sub-section (1).