The Energy Conservation Act, 2001
48. Default by
companies.-
1. Where
a company makes a default in complying with the provisions of clause (c) or
clause (d) or clause (h) or clause (i) or clause (k) or clause (l) or clause
(n) or clause (r) or clause (s) of section 14 or clause (b) or cause (c) or
clause (h) of section 15, every person who at the time of such contravention
was incharge 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 have acted
in contravention of the said provisions and shall be liable to be proceeded
against and imposed penalty under section 26 accordingly: Provided that nothing
contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable for penalty
provided in this Act if he proves that the contravention of the aforesaid
provisions was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due
diligence to prevent the contravention of the aforesaid provision.
2. Notwithstanding
anything contained in sub-section (1), where any contravention of the
provisions of clause (c) or clause (d) or clause (h) or clause (i) or clause
(k) or clause (l) or clause (n) or clause (r) or clause (s) of section 14 or
clause (b or clause (c) or clause (h) of section 15 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 have
contravened the said provisions and shall be liable to be proceeded for imposition
of penalty accordingly.
Explanation.-For the
purposes of this section, "company" means a body corporate and
includes a firm or other association of individuals.