17A. [ Exemption of members of armed forces, etc. [This section was inserted by section 2 (1) of the Madras Prohibition (Amendment) Act 1949 (Madras Act XXVI of 1949); and the original section 17-A inserted earlier by the Madras Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 1948 (Madrs Act XII of 1948) was omitted by section 2 (2) of the former Act.]
(1)The [State] Government may, by notification and subject to such conditions as they think fit, exempt members of the armed forces of the [Union] [This word was substituted for the words 'Dominion of India' by the Adaption (Amendment) Order of 1950.] or of any other armed forces raised or maintained by the [Union] [This word was substituted for the words 'Dominion of India' by the Adaption (Amendment) Order of 1950.] or attached to or operating with any of its armed forces, and the members of the medical or other staff attached to any of the armed forces aforesaid, from all or any of the provisions of this Act.](2)[ Whoever commits a breach of any of the conditions subject to which the exemption is notified under sub-section (1), [shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees]: [Substituted by Tamil Nadu Act No. 9 of 1979.][***] [Omitted 'Proviso' by Tamil Nadu Act No. 2 of 1989.]]
