Political Parties Act, 2017

54. Penalty: (1) If any party commits any of the following acts, the Commission may impose a fine of up to fifty thousand rupees:—

(a) acts contrary to clause (e), (j), (n), (t) or (th) of Section 21,
(b) failing to hold an election for the central committee and the provincial committee in accordance with sub-section (1) of Section 16,
(c) failing to form the organizational structure of the central committee and the provincial committee on the basis of proportionate inclusive representation,
(d) failing to submit the audit report to the Commission for three consecutive years,
(e) failing to submit the account statement of the amount of voluntary financial contributions received and the amount of financial assistance obtained pursuant to this Act, or the records of accounts, within the prescribed period when demanded by the Commission,
(f) failing to comply with the order given to stop the work or proceedings of the party under sub-section (2) of Section 11,
(g) failing to deposit the amount of fine imposed under sub-section (4) of Section 39 within the prescribed period.

(2) If any party commits an act contrary to clause (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g) of sub-section (1), the Commission may order such party to rectify such act or action within six months.

(3) If any party fails to pay the fine imposed under sub-section (1) or fails to rectify the act or action within the period under sub-section (2), the Commission may issue an order preventing such party from participating in the next immediately ensuing election.

(4) If any party commits an offense under sub-section (1) more than once, or fails to comply with the order given under sub-section (2) within one year, or fails to pay the fine, the Commission may cancel the registration of such party in accordance with Section 12.

(5) If a party commits any of the following acts, the Commission shall impose a fine as follows:—

(a) failing to maintain accounts in accordance with Section 40, failing to get accounts audited in accordance with sub-section (1) of Section 41, or failing to submit the audit report to the Commission, or failing to submit an explanation in accordance with sub-section (4), up to twenty thousand rupees,
(b) failing to furnish details or failing to allow inspection in accordance with sub-section (4) of Section 40, up to ten thousand rupees,
(c) failing to make the audit report public in accordance with sub-section (5) of Section 41, up to seven thousand rupees,
(d) failing to submit a statement in accordance with sub-section (2) of Section 42 or failing to publish a statement in accordance with sub-section (2) of Section 43, up to five thousand rupees,
(e) failing to perform any other act required to be done by the party in accordance with this Act or the rules made under this Act, or doing any act that ought not to be done, up to five thousand rupees.

(6) The Commission shall impose a fine on a person or organization giving voluntary financial contributions contrary to Section 38, equal to the amount of such contribution.

(7) The Commission may impose a fine of up to ten thousand rupees on a person who commits any of the following acts:—

(a) using a protected flag or symbol contrary to Section 9 or sub-section (7) of Section 10,
(b) failing to include the details required to be mentioned in the audit report contrary to sub-section (2) of Section 41,
(c) failing to submit a property statement in accordance with sub-section (1) of Section 53.

(8) Before imposing a penalty under this Section, the Commission shall give the concerned party or person seven days' time to submit their defense.