When attendance of witnesses to be dispensed with, and procedure in such cases

A Police Officer or any Prohibition authority vested with the powers of an officer in charge of a police-station shall, instead of summoning to appear before him any person who, from sickness or other infirmity, may be unable so to do or whom, by reason of rank or sex, it may not be proper to summon, proceed to the residence of such person and thereto require him to answer such questions as he may consider necessary with respect to such inquiry; and such person shall be bound so to answer accordingly.