Penalty for securing an appointment or election to local bodies etc. on the basis of false community certificate

Whoever not being a person belonging to any of the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes secures an appointment in Government or other institutions referred to in section 16 against the posts reserved for the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes or is elected to any of the elective offices of any local authority or co-operative society against the office reserved for such Castes or the Tribes on the basis of a false community certificate, shall on conviction, be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend upto two years and with fine which shall not be less than Rs. 1,000 but which may extend up to Rs. 5,000:

Provided that the Court may, for adequate and special reasons to be recorded in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a lesser term or fine.