Section 32: Offences

32. Offences (1) Any person who— (a) contravenes this Act, or any requirement or condition lawfully prescribed; (b) makes a false entry in the National Variety List or makes a document which falsely purports to be a copy of or excerpt from the National Variety List; (c) conducts the business of producing, trading in, importing, exporting or otherwise supplying any seed by himself or by any other person on his behalf, without being registered under this Act; (d) trades, for cultivation, the seed of any variety of any kind of plant not registered with NPVSO; (e) furnishes any particulars in connection with a seed on any container in which it is sold or on a label which is attached to such plant or container, which do not correspond with the true properties thereof; or (f) tampers with any sample taken or any seed, substance or other article seized under this Act, shall commit an offence. (2) Any person who commits an offence shall, on conviction, be liable— (a) for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding 50,000 rupees or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year; (b) for a second offence, to a fine not exceeding 100,000 rupees or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years; (c) for a third or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding 200,000 rupees or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years. (3) Where a person is convicted of an offence, the Court may, in addition to any penalty imposed under subsection (2)— (a) withdraw any certificate of registration or any other right held by that person under this Act; (b) order any seed in respect of which such offence was committed to be forfeited to the State; or S8A – 19 [Issue 10] Seeds Act (c) order that person to compensate the person who has suffered such loss or damage. (S. 32 not in operation.)