(1) If any employer--

(a) engages as an apprentice a person who is not qualified for being so engaged, or

(b) fails to carry out the terms and conditions of a contract of apprenticeship, or

(c) contravenes the provisions of this Act relating to the number of apprentices which he is required to engage under those provisions,

he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine or with both.

(2) if any employer or any other person--

(a) required to furnish any information or return-

(i) refuses or neglects to furnish such information or return, or

(ii) furnishes or causes to be furnished any information or return which is false and which he either knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be true, or

(iii) refuses to answer, or gives a false answer to any question necessary for obtaining any information required to be furnished by him, or

(b) refuses or wilfully neglects to afford¹[the Central or the State Apprenticeship Adviser or such other persons, not below the rank of an Apprenticeship Adviser as may be authorised by the Central or the State Apprenticeship Adviser in writing in this behalf], any reasonable facility for making any entry, inspection, examination or inquiry authorised by or under this Act, or

(c) requires an apprentice to work overtime without the approval of the Apprenticeship Adviser, or

(d) employs an apprentice on any work which is not connected with his training, or

(e) makes payment to an apprentice on the basis of piece-work, or

(f) requires an apprentice to take part in any out-put bonus or incentive scheme,

he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine or with both.

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1. Substituted by Act 27 of 1973, s. 22 for "the Central or the State Apprenticeship Adviser" (w.e.f. 1-12-1974)