Section 85 · Power of officers of appropriate Government to impose penalty in certain cases

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 84, for the purpose of imposing penalty under subsections (3), (5), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11) and (20) of section 86 and sub-section (7) of section 89, the appropriate Government may appoint any officer not below the rank of Under Secretary to the Government of India or an officer of equivalent rank in the State Government, as the case may be, for holding enquiry in such manner, as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

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(2) While holding the enquiry, the officer referred to in sub-section (1) shall have the power to summon and enforce attendance of any person acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case to give evidence or to produce any document, which in the opinion of such officer, may be useful for or relevant to the subject matter of the enquiry and if, on such enquiry, he is satisfied that the person has committed any offence under the provisions referred to in sub-section (1), he may impose such penalty as he thinks fit in accordance with such provisions.

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(3) Where a person fails to pay the penalty referred to in sub-section (2) within a period of ninety days from the date of receipt of the copy of the order, he shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but may extend up to two lakh rupees.

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