A landlord who, except under any special enactment for the time being in force, levies from a tenant anything in excess of the rent legally payable shall, on the application of the tenant, be liable under the order of a Revenue-officer, not below the class of Deputy Commissioner, to pay as penalty such sum as the Revenue-officer thinks fit, not exceeding five hundred rupees, or, when double the amount or value of what is so levied exceeds five hundred rupees, not exceeding double that amount or value. Such sum shall be awarded to the tenant as compensation.