Section 10. Contravention of directions issued.

(1) If a person (i) acts in contravention of the prohibition or restriction contained in any notification issued under section 3, or (ii) acts in contravention of the direction contained in a notice issued under sub-section (1) of section 4 or fails to render assistance having been called upon to do so by notice issued under the said sub-section, or (iii) acts in contravention of the declaration or direction contained in any notification issued under sub-section (1) of section 8, or (iv) obstructs the entry of any person referred to in section 6 or subsection (2) of section 8, or (v) obstructs the carrying out of the preventive or remedial measures under sub-section (1) of section 7 or sub-section (2) of section 8 ; shall be deemed to have committed an offence under this Act. (2) Any person convicted by a Magistrate of an offence specified in subsection (1) shall be liable to fine not exceeding 1[two hundred and fifty rupees] or in default to simple imprisonment for a period not exceeding ten days. (3) If any person convicted of an offence specified under sub-section (1) commits a like offence afterwards, he shall on conviction be punishable with fine not exceeding 2[five hundred rupees] or in default to simple imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month. (4) If a person has been convicted under this section for a contravention of the prohibition or restriction contained in the notification issued under section 3, the plant or soil or manure, in respect of which such contravention has been committed, may also be forfeited to the Government.