law: Maternity Benefit Act,1961 
  21. Penalty for contravention of Act by
  
  employer 
  (1) If any employer fails to pay any amount of maternity benefit
  
  to a woman entitled under this Act or discharges or dismisses such woman during
  
  or on account of her absence from work in accordance with the provisions of
  
  this Act, he shall be punishable with imprisonment which shall not be less than
  
  three months but which may extend to one year and with fine which shall not be
  
  less than two thousand rupees but which may extend to five thousand rupees:
  PROVIDED  that the court may, for sufficient reasons to
  
  be recorded in writing, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a lesser term or
  
  fine only in lieu of imprisonment.
  (2) If any employer contravenes the provisions of this Act or
  
  the rules made thereunder, he shall, if no other penalty is elsewhere provided
  
  by or under this Act for such contravention, be punishable with imprisonment
  
  which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to five thousand
  
  rupees, or with both:
  PROVIDED  that where the contravention is of any
  
  provision regarding maternity benefit or regarding payment of any other amount
  
  and such maternity benefit or amount has not already been recovered, the court
  
  shall, in addition, recover such maternity benefit or amount as if it were a
  
  fine and pay the same to the person entitled thereto.]