Offences for failure to comply with provisions of section 21 and for failure to pay penalty

(1) Whoever fails to comply with the provisions of section 21, shall, in respect of each such failure, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year and six months but which may extend to six years and with fine, and in case the failure continues, with an additional fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees for every day during which such failure continues after the conviction for the first such failure. (2) If the failure referred to in sub-section (1) continues beyond a period of one year after the date of conviction, the offender shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than two years but which may extend to seven years and with fine. (3) Where any person fails to pay the penalty or the additional penalty, as the case may be, imposed under the provisions of this Act within ninety days of such imposition, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine which may extend to twice the amount of the penalty or additional penalty so imposed or with both. (4) Where any offence under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) has been committed by a company, every person who, at the time the offence was committed, was directly in charge of, and was responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of such offence and he shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly: Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment provided in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) or sub-section (3), if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence. (5) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (4), where an offence has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,— (a) “company” includes body corporate, firm, trust, society and any other association of individuals; (b) “director” includes director of the company, partner of the firm, members of the society or trust or member of any association of individuals, as the case may be.