24Offences and penalties

(1) Whoever--

(a) except in conformity with the provisions of this Act emigrates; or

(b) contravenes the provisions of section 10 or section 16; or

(c) by intentionally furnishing any false information or suppressing any material information obtains a certificate or a permit or an emigration clearance under this Act; or

(d) without lawful authority makes or causes to be made any alteration in any certificate or permit or in any document or endorsement by way of emigration clearance issued or made under this Act; or

(e) disobeys or neglects to comply with any order of the Protector of Emigrants under this Act; or

(f) collects from an emigrant any charges in excess of the limits prescribed under this Act; or

(g) cheats any emigrant;

shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years and with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees:

Provided that in the absence of any special and adequate reasons to the contrary to be mentioned in the judgment of the court, such imprisonment shall not be less than six months and such fine shall not be less than one thousand rupees.

(2) Whoever attempts to commit any offence under sub-section (1) shall be punishable with the punishment provided for such offence under that sub-section.

(3) Whoever contravenes any term or condition subject to which any emigration clearance has been given under this Act, shall, if no other punishment is provided elsewhere in this Act for such contravention, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or with both.

(4) Whoever abets any offence punishable under this Act shall, if the act abetted is committed in consequence of the abetment, be punishable with the punishment provided for that offence.

(5) Whoever, having been convicted of an offence under any provision of this Act is again convicted of an offence under the same provision, shall be punishable, for the second and for each subsequent offence, with double the penalty provided for that offence.