Penalty for obstructing inspection or for failure to produce documents, etc.

Any person who willfully obstructs an Inspector in the exercise of his powers or discharge of his duties under this Act or fails to produce for inspection on demand by an Inspector any registers, record or other documents maintained in pursuance of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder or to supply to him on demand true copies of any such document, shall, on conviction, be punished—

a. or the first offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to Rs. 5,000, or with both; and

b. for a second or subsequent offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to Rs. 10,000, or with both:

Provided that in the absence of special and adequate reasons to the contrary to be mentioned in the judgment of the court, in any case where the offender is sentenced to fine only, the amount of fine shall not be less than Rs. 1,000.