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71. Offences and penalties

(1) Any person who-

(a) being an assessee under this Act, fails to submit a return as required by the provisions of this Act, or Rules made thereunder, or

(b) being a person obliged to register himself as a dealer under this Act, does not get himself registered, shall on conviction by a Magistrate be liable to fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.

(2) Any person who collects any amount by way of tax or purporting to be by way of tax under this Act in contravention of the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 40 shall, on conviction by a Magistrate be liable to fine which may extend to one thousand rupees.

(3) Any person who-

(a) Wilfully submits an untrue return, or not being already an assessee under this Act, fails to submit a return as required by the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder, or

(b) fraudulently evades the payment of any tax assessed on him or any fee or other amount due from him under this Act, or

(d) being a person obliged to keep and maintain true and correct account and record under sub-section (1) of section 64 fails to keep and maintain such account or record, or keeps any books of account at any place in contravention of sub-section (2) of section 64, or; moves the goods from one place to another in pursuance of a sale or purchase or otherwise in contravention of the provisions of sub-section (3)of section 64 without a bill of sale or delivery note or such other documents as may be prescribed, or;

(e) willfully acts in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act, or

(f) after purchasing any goods in respect of which he has made a declaration fails without reasonable excuse to make use of the goods for the declared purpose; or

(g) makes any statement or declaration in the application for registration, submitted to the registering authority, which he knows or has reason to believe to be false, or

(h) willfully acts in contravention of the undertaking given under sub-section (9) of section 67 shall on conviction by a Magistrate, be liable to a fine which may extend to two thousand rupees and in the event of a second or subsequent conviction, to simple imprisonment which may extend to six months or a fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or both

(4) Any person who prevents or obstructs an officer from exercising his powers or discharging his duties under section 65 or section 66 shall, on conviction, be liable to simple imprisonment which may extend to six months, or a fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or both.

(5) (a) any owner or other person in charge of a boat or a goods vehicle who fails to carry with him any of the records or documents specified in section 68 or section 69, as the case may be, shall, on conviction, be liable to simple imprisonment which may extend to six months or fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or both.

(b) the owner of the boat or the goods vehicle, if he was not in charge of the boat or the goods vehicle, at the time of the commission of an offence under clause (a) shall also be liable to be punished with the punishment provided for the offence under clause (a) unless he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercises all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.

(6) If the driver or any other person in-charge of any goods vehicle or boat, refuses on demand by the officer in-charge of the check-post or barrier or the officer empowered under sub-section (2) of section 67 to give his name and address or the name and address of the owner of the vehicle or boat or of the consignor and consignee of the goods or gives any name and address which he knows or has reason to believe to be false, or if the driver refuses on demand by such officer, to produce for inspection his driver's license, he shall, on conviction, be liable to simple imprisonment, which may extend to six months or a fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or both.

(7) Any person who makes any statement or declaration in any of the records or documents specified in section 68 or section 69 as the case may be, which statement or declaration he knows or has reason to believe to be false, shall, on conviction, be liable to simple imprisonment which may extend to six months, or a fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or both.

(8) Any person who is in any way knowingly concerned in any fraudulent evasion or attempt at evasion or abetment of evasion of any tax, payable in respect of the sale or purchase of any goods under this Act, shall, on conviction, be liable to simple imprisonment which may extend to six months or a fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or both.

(9) Any person who knowingly issues a false bill, voucher, declaration, certificate or other document with a view to support any dealer to claim input tax credit exemption or reduction in rate of tax on the sale or purchase of any goods under this Act, shall, on conviction, be liable to simple imprisonment which may extend to three months and in the event of a second or subsequent conviction to rigorous imprisonment for six months.