DM Act 51Chapter X · Offences and Penalties
Section 51 · Punishment for obstruction, etc
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Whoever, without reasonable cause---
(a) obstructs any officer or employee of the Central Government or the State Government, or a person authorised by the National Authority or State Authority or District Authority 1[or Urban Authority] in the discharge of his functions under this Act; or
(b) refuses to comply with any direction given by or on behalf of the Central Government or the State Government or the National Executive Committee or the State Executive Committee or the District Authority 1[or Urban Authority] under this Act,
shall on conviction be punishable with 2[imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine, or with both, and if such obstruction or refusal to comply with directions results in loss of lives or imminent danger thereof, shall on conviction be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year].
(a) obstructs any officer or employee of the Central Government or the State Government, or a person authorised by the National Authority or State Authority or District Authority 1[or Urban Authority] in the discharge of his functions under this Act; or
(b) refuses to comply with any direction given by or on behalf of the Central Government or the State Government or the National Executive Committee or the State Executive Committee or the District Authority 1[or Urban Authority] under this Act,
shall on conviction be punishable with 2[imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine, or with both, and if such obstruction or refusal to comply with directions results in loss of lives or imminent danger thereof, shall on conviction be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year].
The offence at a glance
- Maximum punishment
- 1 year
- Fine
- Fine — no statutory ceiling, the court decides
- Cognizable
- Non-cognizable
- Bailable
- Bailable
- Compoundable
- Not compoundable
- Triable by
- Any Magistrate
- Non-cognizable — Police cannot investigate without a Magistrate's order
- Bailable — Bail is your right — it can be granted at the police station
Sub-sections of this section carry different penalties; the maximum is shown.
Derived from the First Schedule Part II rule — not listed section by section
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