Chapter IX OFFENCES AND PUNISHMENT

If any person willfully fails to comply with the order of the Appellate Tribunal, he shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one crore rupees and in case of a second or subsequent offence with fine which may extend to two crore rupees and in the case of continuing contravention with additional fine which may extend to twenty lakh rupees for every day during which such default continues.

If any person, being an entity, markets any notified petroleum, petroleum products or natural gas without a valid registration, or authorisation such person shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to twenty-five crore rupees or with both, and in case of continuing contravention with additional fine which may extend to ten lakh rupees for every day during which the contravention continues.

If a person establishes or operates a liquefied natural gas terminal without registration as required under section 15, such person shall be liable for punishment with an imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or penalty of twenty-five crore rupees or with both, and in case of continuing contravention with additional fine which may extend to ten lakh rupees for every day during which the contravention continues.

If a person lays, builds, operates or expands a common carrier or contract carrier or a city or local natural gas distribution network without obtaining authorisation required under section 19, such person shall be liable for punishment with an imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or penalty of twenty-five crore rupees or with both, and in case of continuing contravention with additional fine which may extend to ten lakh rupees for every day during which the contravention continues.

Every person who willfully removes, destroys or damages any pipeline or city or local natural gas distribution network or other work of the common carrier or contract carrier for supplying petroleum, petroleum products or natural gas shall for each such offence be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to twenty-five crore rupees or with both, and, in case of continuing contravention with additional fine which may extend to ten lakh rupees for every day during which such contravention continues.

(1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who at the time the offence was committed was 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 the offence and 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 this Act, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he has exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act 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 the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. Explanation.—For the purpose of this section,— (a) “company” means any body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals; and (b) “director”, in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm.