Section Text
(1) All copies of, and extracts from, registers or other recordsappertaining to any mine and all other information acquired by the Chief Inspectoror an Inspector or by any one assisting him, in the course of the inspection 1 [or survey] of any mine under this Act oracquired by any person authorised under section 8 1 [orsection 9 A] in the exercise of his duties there under, shall be regarded asconfidential and shall not be disclosed to any person or authority unless theChief Inspector or the Inspector considers disclosure necessary to ensure thehealth, safety or welfare of any person employed in the mine or in any othermine adjacent thereto.
(2)Nothing in sub-section (1) shall apply to the disclosure of any suchinformation (if so required) to--
(a) anycourt;
2 [(b) a Committee or Court of Inquiry constituted orappointed under section 12 or section 24, as the case may be;]
(c) anofficial superior or the owner, agent or manager of the mine concerned;
(d) aCommissioner for workmen's compensation appointed under the Workmen'sCompensation Act, 1923;
3 [(e) the Controller, Indian Bureau of Mines;
(f) anyregistered or recognised trade union;
(g) suchother officer, authority or organisation as may be specified in this behalf bythe Central Government.]
(3) Ifthe Chief Inspector, or an Inspector or any other person referred to insub-section(1) discloses, contrary to the provisions of this section, any suchinformation as aforesaid without the consent of the Central Government, heshall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year,or with fine, or with both.
(4) Nocourt shall be proceed to the trail of any offence under this section exceptwith the previous sanction of the Central Government.
________________________
1.Inserted by Act 42 of 1983, section 8, (w.e.f. 31-5-1984).
2.Substituted by Act 42 of 1983, section 8, for clause (b) (w.e.f. 31-5-1984).
3.Substituted by Act 42 of 1983, section 8, for clause (e) (w.e.f. 31-5-1984).