Section 22: Offences

22. Offences (1) Any person who— (a) in respect of an application for a licence, clearance or authorisation under this Act, gives any information, or submits any document, which is false or misleading in a material particular; (b) obstructs an officer in the exercise of his powers under this Act; (c) except in relation to or on the occasion of a religious ceremony, breeds or fattens an animal and by way of sale, gift or otherwise, gives to another person, other than to the Authority or a person who has been issued with a licence under this Act to operate a slaughterhouse, that animal for killing for meat; (d) without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a direction or requirement or an order made under this Act; or (e) otherwise contravenes this Act, shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 25,000 rupees and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years. (2) In any prosecution for an offence under this Act, the Court may— (a) forfeit any regulated product which is the subject matter of that offence, or any article used in connection with the commission of such offence; (b) order the accused party to destroy such regulated product or article within a specified delay. (3) Where NAPRO is not satisfied that any regulated product or article referred to in subsection (2) has been destroyed within the specified delay, it may apply to the Court for an order authorising it to destroy such product or article. (4) All expenses reasonably incurred by NAPRO pursuant to an order of the Court under subsection (3) shall be recoverable from the person against whom an order was made under subsection (2) (b).