Section Text
(1) The Chief Inspector and any Inspector may--
(a) makesuch examination and inquiry as he thinks fit in order to ascertain whether theprovisions of this Act and of the regulations, rules and bye-laws and of anyorders made thereunder are observed in the case of any mine;
(b) withsuch assistants, if any, as he thinks fit, enter, inspect and examine any mineor any part thereof at any time by day or night;
Providedthat the power conferred by this clause shall not be exercised in such a manneras unreasonably to impede or obstruct the working of the mine;
(c)examine into, and make inquiry respecting, the state and condition of any mineor any part thereof, the ventilation of the mine, the sufficiency of thebye-laws for the time being in force relating to the mine, and all matters andthings connected with or relating to the health, safety and welfare of the personsemployed in the mine, and take whether on the precincts of the mine orelsewhere, statements of any person which he may consider necessary forcarrying out the purposes of this Act;
(d)exercise such other powers as may be prescribed by regulations made by theCentral Government in this behalf:
Providedthat no person shall be compelled under this sub-section to answer any questionor make any statement tending to incriminate himself.
(2) TheChief Inspector and any Inspector may, if he has reason to believe, as a resultof any inspection, examination or inquiry under this section, that an offenceunder this Act has been or is being committed, search any place and takepossession 1 [of any material or anyplan, section register or other record] appertaining to the mine, and theprovisions of the 2 [Code ofCriminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)] shall, so far as may be applicable applyto any search or seizure under this Act as they apply to any search or seizuremade under the authority of a warrant issued under 2 [section 94] of that Code.
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1. Substituted by Act62 of 1959, section 5, for "of any register or other record" (w.e.f. 16-1-1960).
2. Substituted by Act.42 of 1983, section 5 (w.e.f. 31-5-1984).