Section 16. Offences by management

(1) Where an offence under this Act or rules made thereunder is committed by a management, every person, who, at the time when the offence was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to, the management for the conduct of the business of the management, as well as the management, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly: Provided that, nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any person liable to any punishment, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he has taken due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) where any offence under this Act or rules made thereunder has been committed by a management and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributed to any neglect on the part of any office bearer, officer or servant of the management, such office bearer, officer or servant concerned shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.