If any person required to furnish any information or return under section 151, —
(a) without reasonable cause fails to furnish such information or return as may be required under that section, or
(b) wilfully furnishes or causes to furnish any information or return which he knows to be false, he shall be punishable with a fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees and in case of a continuing offence to a further fine which may extend to one hundred rupees for each day after the first day during which the offence continues subject to a maximum limit of twenty-five thousand rupees.
Introduction
This section provides for penal consequences for failure to furnish information or return as required under section 151 regarding collection of statistics.
Analysis
The section specifies penalty for failure to provide information or return in two circumstances viz.
(a) fails to furnish information or return without reasonable cause; and
(b) furnishing false information wilfully.
The penalty specified is of up to ` 10,000/- and where the offence is continuing a further fine of up to ` 100/- per day subject to maximum of ` 25,000/- under the respective Act.