18. Penalty on landlord for excess realisation or interference with tenant's possession.
(1)If, in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act, a landlord or his agent realises from a raiyat or tenant anything in excess or the rent lawfully payable or deliverable evicts the tenant from the land or interferes without sufficient cause with the tenant's cultivation of the land, the Revenue Officer may, after making such enquiry as he deems fit, impose on such landlord or his agent or both, a penalty not exceeding five hundred rupees or when double the amount or value of what has been so realised exceeds five hundred rupees not exceeding double the amount or value :Provided that no landlord or his agent shall be liable to the penalty, provided in this Sub-section for any contravention that took place prior to the date of passing of this Act.(2)The Revenue Officer may proceed against the landlord and his agent in the same proceeding and shall award to the raiyat or tenant by way of compensation and cost, such portion of the penalty as he thinks fit;
