Section 22: Offences

22. Offences (1) Any person who— (a) fails to comply with any condition, permit, or prohibition under this Act; (b) obstructs or hinders an authorised officer in the exercise of his functions under this Act; (c) provides information under this Act which is false or misleading in any material particular; (d) otherwise contravenes this Act, shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable— (i) on a first conviction, to a fine not exceeding 50,000 rupees and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years; (ii) on a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding 100,000 rupees and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 4 years. (2) In addition to any penalty under subsection (1), the Court may order the forfeiture of any animal, plant, organism or any article used in, or connected in any way with, the commission of an offence. (S. 22 not in operation.)