Chapter II OFFENCES AND PENALTIES

Any 'act of violence’ as defined under clause

1. (a) of sub-section

1. (1) of section 2, against an Advocate or his family members, shall be an offence.

Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force,-

1. (1) whoever commits or abets or conspires the commission of an 'act of violence’, against an advocate or his family members, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall be not less than six months but which may extend to three years and with fine which shall not be less than rupees twenty five thousand and which may extend to rupees fifty thousand.
2. (2) whoever attempts to commit the act of violence shall be punishable with half of the punishment provided under sub-section (1). (3)
   • (i) Any person found to have initiated malicious prosecution against an Advocate, shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to rupees twenty five thousand or with both
   • (ii) such person shall be liable to pay compensation of such amount as may be determined by the Court. (4)
   • (i) Whoever, being an advocate, misuses the provisions of this Act or uses the same for malicious prosecution or makes false or vexatious complaint shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three years or fine which may extend to rupees twenty five thousand or with both.
   • (ii) Such advocate shall also be liable to pay compensation of such amount as may be determined by the Court.

Whoever, having been convicted of an offence under this Act, is again convicted for the second or subsequent offence, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to seven years and with fine which shall not be less than rupees fifty thousand and which may extend to rupees one lakh

1. (1) The victims of 'act of violence’ or their dependents are entitled to compensation in accordance with the provisions of sections 395 and 396 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 or the Telangana Victim Compensation Scheme.
2. (2) Upon failure to pay the compensation awarded under sub-section
3. (1) hereinabove, such amount shall be recovered as arrears of fine as per the provisions of section 461 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 or arrears of land revenue under the Telangana Revenue Recovery Act, 1864.

In addition to the punishment specified in sections 11 and 12, the offender, in appropriate cases, shall also be liable to pay damages for loss or damage to the person or property of the victim as may be determined by the Court and the same shall be recovered as fine as per the provisions under section 461 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 or arrears of land revenue under the Telangana Revenue Recovery Act, 1864.

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 or any other law for the time being in force,-

1. (i) all offences punishable under this Act shall be cognizable and non-bailable;
2. (ii) any case registered under the provisions of this Act shall be investigated by a police officer not below the rank of a Deputy Superintendent of Police or Assistant Commissioner of Police;
3. (iii) investigation of a case registered under the provisions of this Act shall be completed within a period of sixty days from the date of registration of the First Information Report or within such time as may be extended by the concerned Commissioner of Police or Superintendent of Police for the reasons to be recorded in writing;
4. (iv) the offences under this Act shall be tried by the Chief Judicial Magistrate;
5. (v) in every inquiry or trial, the proceedings shall be continued from day-to-day until all the witnesses in attendance have been examined, unless the Court finds the adjournment of the same beyond the following day to be necessary, for reasons to be recorded;
6. (vi) every inquiry or trial shall be made to ensure that concluded as expeditiously as possible preferably within a period of six months from the date of appearance of the accused:

Compounding of offences Notwithstanding anything contained in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the offences punishable under this Act shall be compoundable by the aggrieved person with the permission of the Court.