Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007
30. Power of Reserve
Bank to impose fines. -
1.
Notwithstanding
anything contained in section 26, if a contravention or default of the nature
referred to in sub-section (2) or sub-section (6) of section 26, as the case
may be, the Reserve Bank may impose on the person contravening or committing
default a penalty not exceeding five lakh rupees or twice the amount involved
in such contravention or default where such amount is quantifiable, whichever
is more, and where such contravention or default is a continuing one, a further
penalty which may extend to twenty-five thousand rupees for every day after the
first during which the contravention or default continues.
2.
For
the purpose of imposing penalty under sub-section (1), the Reserve Bank shall
serve a notice on the defaulter requiring him to show cause why the amount
specified in the notice should not be imposed as a penalty and a reasonable
opportunity of being heard shall also be given to such defaulter.
3.
Any
penalty imposed by the Reserve Bank under this section shall be payable within
a period of thirty days from the date on which notice issued by the Reserve
Bank demanding payment of the sum is served on the defaulter and, in the event
of failure of the person to pay the sum within such period, may be recovered on
a direction made by the principal civil court having jurisdiction in the area
where the registered office of the defaulter company or the official business
of the person is situated: Provided that no such direction shall be made,
except on an application made by an officer of the Reserve Bank authorised by
it in this behalf.
4.
The
Reserve Bank may recover the amount of penalty by debiting the current account,
if any, of the defaulter or by liquidating the securities held to the credit of
the defaulter or in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
5.
The
court which makes a direction under sub-section (3) shall issue a certificate
specifying the sum payable by the defaulter and every such certificate shall be
enforceable in the same manner as it were a decree made by the court in a civil
suit.
6.
Where
any complaint has been filed against any person in any court in respect of the
contravention or default of the nature referred to in sub-section (2), or, as
the case may be, sub-section (4) of section 26, then, no proceeding for the
imposition of any penalty on the person shall be taken under this section.