Offences by Government department

Where an offence under this Act has been committed by any department of the Government or any local or other authority, the head of the department of the Government, or as the case may be, the Chief Executive Officer (by whatever name called) who is in charge of such local or other authority shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:

Provided that nothing contained in this section render such head of the department or as the case may be, the Chief Executive Officer liable to any punishment if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.