Penalty for preparation and submission of false reports by the expert agency

(1) Any officer or group of officers performing the functions of the Expert Agency under this Act, who intentionally prepares any report and submits the same to any authority or to the Government, where by any person who is not a member of any Scheduled Caste or the Scheduled Tribe happens to secure community certificate from the Competent Authority or secure any benefits exclusively intended for Scheduled Caste or the Scheduled Tribes, as the case may be, or intentionally prepare and submit a report to any authority or to the Government to deprive a member of any Scheduled Caste or the Scheduled Tribe of the benefits due, as such member of any Scheduled Caste or the Scheduled Tribe, as the case may be, 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 also with fine which shall not be less than Rs. 1,000 but which may extend upto 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.

(2) No court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under this section except with the previous sanction of the Government.