Along with specific penalties, several legislations also levy penalties for violating the Act or rules made under the Act. These provisions provide the executive authorities, who are charged with implementing the Act, the power to ensure that their directions are obeyed. This document lists out some of these legislations and the penalties under them.
| Act | Summary | Penalty provisions | Penalty |
| Indian Ports Act, 1908 | This law was enacted to consolidate the laws relating to ports and port-charges in India | Section 54 – Disobeying any rule or order made by any Government under this Act, if a penalty is not specifically provided for, shall be punishable by a fine | Fine up to Rs. 100. |
| Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and Rules, 2004 | This Act was a follow up to India’s international obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The objectives of the Act are conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use, and sharing of benefits arising from such use. | Section 56 makes the contravention of any direction/order made by the Central Government, State Government, NBA or an SBB (for which no punishment is separately provided) punishable | Fine up to Rs. 1,00,000. Fine up to Rs. 2,00,000 for a second offence, and an additional Rs. 2,00,000 for every day in case of a continuing offence |
| Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 | This law was enacted to regulate the exploitation of mineral resources in the territorial waters, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone and other maritime zones of India | S. 23(3) provides that contravention of any provision of this Act or Rules is liable to be punished | Imprisonment upto 5 years or Fine upto Rs. 1 crore or both.In the case of continuing contravention, additional Rs. 5 lakh per day while contravention continues |
| Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and other Maritime Zones Act, 1976 | This law seeks to reaffirm India’s sovereignty over the territorial waters, the seabed and underlying subsoil, and air space over such waters. It also provides the scope of the Union’s exclusive authority and jurisdiction over these areas. | Section 11 provides that in addition to any action that may be taken under any other law, any violation of this Act or any notification issued under it, shall be punishable. | Imprisonment up to 3 years, or with fine, or both. |
| Marine Products Export Development Authority Act, 1972 | This law provides for the establishment of a Central authority for the regulation of marine products industries. | S. 25 provides that whoever contravenes, attempts to contravene or abets the contravention of the provisions of this Act (except as provided specifically) or any rules made under the Act shall be punishable | Imprisonment upto 6 months, or Fine upto Rs. 1000, or both. In case of a continuing contravention, additional fine upto Rs.50 for every day during continuation |
| Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 | This law was passed to give the State and Central Pollution Control Boards, which were originally established under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, some additional powers and functions for the prevention and control of air pollution. | Section 39 states that the violation of any other provisions of the Act, for which no other specific penalty is provided is also punishable | Imprisonment up to 3 months, or fine up to Rs. 10,000, or both. |
| In case the above violation continues, the violator shall be additionally liable (after the first conviction). | Additional fine of up to Rs. 5000 for every day | ||
| Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 [Including Coastal Regulation Zone 2019, Island Coastal Regulation Zone notification 2019 and Environment Impact Assessment Notification 2006 made under this parent Act] | Enacted by the Parliament of India to create effective enforcement and regulatory mechanisms to address environmental pollution and other hazards. It is considered an umbrella Act under which many rules, notification and guidelines for specific environmental problems have been issued. | Section 15 makes the failure to comply with, or the contravention of, any provision of this Act or rules/orders/directions issued thereunder, punishable | Imprisonment up to 5 years, or fine up to Rs. 1,00,000, or both. |
| In case the failure/contravention continues, it is punishable with an additional fine (after the conviction for the first failure/contravention). | Additional fine of up to Rs. 5000 for every day | ||
| Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 | Through this Act, the Parliament sought to ensure the prevention and control of water pollution through the establishment of Central and State Boards | Section 41(1) – Failure to comply with directions or orders issued by any SPCB under section 20, within such time as specified in the directions/order, shall be punishable | Imprisonment for up to 3 months, or fine up to Rs. 10,000, or both. |
| In case the above failure continues, the offender shall be additionally punishable (after the first conviction). | Additional fine up to Rs. 5000 for every day | ||
| Section 41(2) – Failure to comply with orders issued by the SPCB in exercise of its emergency powers under section 32, or with any order passed by a Court under section 33, or an order passed by the CPCB/SPCB under section 33A, is punishable | Imprisonment of 1.5-6 years and with fine. | ||
| In case the above failure continues, the offender shall be additionally punishable (after the first conviction). | Additional Fine up to Rs. 5000 for every day | ||
| Disaster Management Act, 2005 | This law was enacted by Parliament in the wake of the 2004 tsunami, to provide an effective framework at the central, state and district levels, for disaster management | Section 51 makes the non-compliance of directions issued on behalf of the Central or state governments, or National/State Executive Committee, or District Disaster Management Authority punishable | Imprisonment up to 1 year (2 years, if the non-compliance results in danger to or loss of lives), or fine, or both. |
| Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 | This Act seeks to ensure, in consultation with institutions of local-self government and Gram Sabhas, an inclusive process for land acquisition, and provide just and fair compensation to the affected families and ensure adequate rehabilitation and resettlement. | Providing misleading, fraudulent or mala fide claim, information or document to fulfil a requirement or direction under this Act, or to avail of a rehabilitation or resettlement benefit | Imprisonment for 6 months-3 years, orwith a fine up to Rs. 1,00,000, or both. |
