Penalty

(1) Whoever for the purpose of avoiding any payment to be made by himself under this Act or under the scheme or for enabling any other person to avoid such payment knowingly makes or causes to be made any false statement or false representation shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both. (2) Whoever contravenes or makes default in complying with any of the provisions of this Act or the scheme shall, if no other penalty is elsewhere provided by or under this Act for such contravention or non-compliance, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both. (3) No court shall take cognisance of any offence punishable under this Act except on a report in writing of the facts constituting such offence made with the previous sanction of the Board, by the Secretary of the Board or the Managing Director of the Kerala State Co-operative Federation for Fisheries Development or by such officer of the Board or Department of Fisheries not below the rank of Assistant Director of Fisheries, as may be specified in this behalf by the Board.