Notice of accidents and inquiries

Notice of accidents and inquiries.-(1) If any accident occurs in connection with the generation, transmission, supply or use of energy in or in connection with any part of the electric supply-lines or other works of any person and the accident results or is likely to have resulted in loss of human or animal life or in any injury to a human being or an animal such person shall give notice of the occurrence and of any such loss or injury actually caused by the accident in such form and within such time as may be prescribed, to the Electric Inspector to such other authorities as the Government may by general or special order, direct.

1. (2) The Government may, if it thinks fit, require any Electric Inspector, or any other competent person appointed by it in this behalf, to inquire and report-
   • (a) as to the cause of any accident affecting the safety of the public, which may have been occasioned by, or in connection with the generation, transmission, supply or use of energy, or
   • (b) as to the manner in, and extent to, which the provisions of this Act or of any licence or rules thereunder, so far as those provisions affect the safety of any person, have been complied with.
2. (3) Every Electric Inspector or other person holding an enquiry under sub-section
3. (2) shall have all the powers of a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, Samvat 1977, for the purpose of enforcing the attendance of witnesses and compelling the production of documents and material objects; and every person required by the Electric Inspector or by such other person as aforesaid to furnish any information shall be deemed to be legally bound to do so within the meaning of section 176 of the Ranbir Penal Code, Samvat 1989. Explanation.-For purposes of this section an Electric Inspector shall be a person not below the rank of an Executive Engineer.