The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006
50. Offences by
companies.-
1. Where
an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who at
the time the offence 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 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 was committed without his knowledge
or that he has exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such
offence.
2. Notwithstanding
anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has been
committed by a company and it is proved that the offence 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 and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished
accordingly. Explanation.-For the purpose 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.