22. Penalties for certain offences.- Any employer who- (a) pays to any employee less than the minimum rates of wages fixed for that employee's class of work, or less than the amount due to him under the provisions of this Act; or (b) contravenes any rule or order made under section 13, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both: Provided that in imposing any fine for an offence under this section, the court shall take into consideration the amount of any compensation already awarded against the accused in any proceedings taken under section 20. State Amendments Maharashtra -In section 22, in clause (a) after the words "provisions of this Act", add the words "or fails to pay the wages within the time prescribed under sub-section (1) of section 12". After section 22, add the following new section, namely: "22-1A. Penalty for obstructing Inspector.- Whoever willfully obstructs an Inspector in the exercise of any power conferred on hi m by or under this Act, or fails to produce on demand by an Inspector any registers, records or other documents in his custody kept in pursuance of this Act, and which he is required to produce by or under this Act shall, on conviction, be punished with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees. " | 
