Section 7 in The East Punjab Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1947
7. Penalties and Procedure
(1)Any person found guilty of an offence under this Act shall on conviction by a competent criminal court be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to [three years] [East Punjab Act 37 of 1948, Section 2(b).] and shall also be liable to fine.(2)Where the person accused of an offence under this Act is a company or other body corporate, every director, manager, secretary or other officer thereof shall, unless he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised due diligence to prevent the commission of the offence, be liable to the punishment provided for the offence.(3)No court shall take cognizance of an offence under this Act except upon complaint in writing made by a person authorised in this behalf by the [State] [East Punjab Act 37 of 1948, Section 2(b).] Government.(4)Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898), an offence under this Act shall be cognizable.(5)[ Any magistrate or bench of magistrates empowered for the time being to try in a summary way the offence specified in sub-section (1) of Section 200 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1898, may, if such magistrate or bench of magistrates think(s) fit, on application in this behalf made by the prosecution, try any offence under this Act in accordance with the provisions contained in Sections 262 to 265 of the said Code] [East Punjab Act 37 of 1948, Section 2(b).].
