Whoever--
         (a) acts in contravention of or fails to comply with any provision of this Act or any requirement imposed under this Act; or
         (b) wilfully deceives or attempts to deceive any statistics officer or any agency or any employee thereof,
shall be punishable with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with a fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or, in the case of a company, with a fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees or with both.