The Biological Diversity Act, 2002
57. Offences by
companies.-
1.
Where
an offence or contravention under this Act has been committed by a company,
every person who at the time the offence or contravention 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, shall be deemed to be guilty of the
offence or contravention and shall be liable to be proceeded against and
punished accordingly: Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall
render any such person liable to any punishment provided in this Act, if he
proves that the offence or contravention was committed without his knowledge or
that he had exercised all due diligence o prevent the commission of such
offence or contravention.
2.
Notwithstanding
anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence or contravention under
this Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence or
contravention has been 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 the offence or contravention and
shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. Explanation.-For
the purposes 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.