22. Offences and penalties

 (1) Whosoever contravenes or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder or any order or direction made or given thereunder, shall, if no interest, penalty or best judgement assessment is provided under this Act for such contravention or failure, be liable to imposition of a penalty, not exceeding two thousand rupees or such other higher amount which shall not be more than five thousand rupees, as may be prescribed, and where such contravention or failure is a continuing one, to a daily penalty not exceeding fifty rupees or such other higher amount which shall not be more than two hundred rupees, as may be prescribed, during the period of continuance of the contravention or failure.

(2) An assessing authority or an officer not below the rank of an Assistant Excise and Taxation Officer may, after affording to the person concerned a reasonable opportunity of being heard, impose the penalty mentioned in sub-section (1).