51. Punishment for obstruction, etc.—Whoever, without reasonable cause—
(a) obstructs any officer or employee of the Central Government or the State Government, or a
person authorised by the National Authority or State Authority or District Authority in the discharge
of his functions under this Act; or
(b) refuses to comply with any direction given by or on behalf of the Central Government or the
State Government or the National Executive Committee or the State Executive Committee or the
District Authority under this Act,
shall on conviction be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with
fine, or with both, and if such obstruction or refusal to comply with directions results in loss of lives or
imminent danger thereof, shall on conviction be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may
extend to two years.
52. Punishment for false claim.—Whoever knowingly makes a claim which he knows or has reason
to believe to be false for obtaining any relief, assistance, repair, reconstruction or other benefits
consequent to disaster from any officer of the Central Government, the State Government, the National
Authority, the State Authority or the District Authority, shall, on conviction be punishable with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, and also with fine.
53. Punishment for misappropriation of money or materials, etc.—Whoever, being entrusted with
any money or materials, or otherwise being, in custody of, or dominion over, any money or goods, meant
for providing relief in any threatening disaster situation or disaster, misappropriates or appropriates for his
own use or disposes of such money or materials or any part thereof or wilfully compels any other person
so to do, shall on conviction be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years,
and also with fine.
54. Punishment for false warning.—Whoever makes or circulates a false alarm or warning as to
disaster or its severity or magnitude, leading to panic, shall on conviction, be punishable with
imprisonment which may extend to one year or with fine.
55. Offences by Departments of the Government.—(1) Where an offence under this Act has been
committed by any Department of the Government, the head of the Department shall be deemed to be
guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly unless he
proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he 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 Department of the Government 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 officer, other than the
head of the Department, such officer shall be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be
proceeded against and punished accordingly.
56. Failure of officer in duty or his connivance at the contravention of the provisions of this
Act.—Any officer, on whom any duty has been imposed by or under this Act and who ceases or refuses
to perform or withdraws himself from the duties of his office shall, unless he has obtained the express
written permission of his official superior or has other lawful excuse for so doing, be punishable with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine.
57. Penalty for contravention of any order regarding requisitioning.—If any person contravenes
any order made under section 65, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend
to one year or with fine or with both.
58. Offence by companies.—(1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company
or body corporate, 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,
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shall be deemed to be guilty of the contravention and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished
accordingly:
Provided that nothing 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
exercised 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 was 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 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.
59. Previous sanction for prosecution.—No prosecution for offences punishable under sections 55
and 56 shall be instituted except with the previous sanction of the Central Government or the State
Government, as the case may be, or of any officer authorised in this behalf, by general or special order, by
such Government.
60. Cognizance of offences.—No court shall take cognizance of an offence under this Act except on
a complaint made by—
(a) the National Authority, the State Authority, the Central Government, the State Government,
the District Authority or any other authority or officer authorised in this behalf by that Authority or
Government, as the case may be; or
(b) any person who has given notice of not less than thirty days in the manner prescribed, of the
alleged offence and his intention to make a complaint to the National Authority, the State Authority,
the Central Government, the State Government, the District Authority or any other authority or
officer authorised as aforesaid.