Power of entry and inspections

Power of entry and inspections.--

1. (1) The driver shall cause the vehicle to stop and remain stationary when required so to do by any [Assessing authority] in order to enable the said authority to carry out any duty imposed by or under this Act, and the said authority may also enter and travel in the motor vehicle.
2. (2) A person authorised under sub-section
3. (1) shall wear such uniform or such other distinguishing insignia as may be prescribed, may enter and inspect any motor vehicle and may, if necessary, examine the ticket and countersign any ticket produced for inspection.
4. (3) The [Assessing authority] may, in order to ensure that any portion of this Act is not being evaded by the owner of a motor vehicle, inspect and, if necessary, seize the log book from the driver of such motor vehicle and give a temporary acknowledgment therefor to the driver until the log book is returned to him.
5. (4) All accounts, registers and other documents of an owner of a motor vehicle shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by the Commissioner, assessing authority or any other officer authorised by the Commissioner in this behalf and the Commissioner, assessing authority or the authorised officer may take copies of such accounts, registers, documents and books.
6. (5) If the Commissioner, assessing authority or any authorised officer has reasons to suspect that any owner of a motor vehicle is attempting to evade payment of tax under this Act, the Commissioner, assessing authority, or the authorised officer may, for reasons to be recorded, seize such accounts, registers or other documents of the owner as may be necessary for the purpose of any proceeding under this Act and shall grant a receipt for the same. The said accounts, registers and other documents shall not be retained by an officer other than the Commissioner for a period exceeding one month unless prior approval of the Commissioner has been obtained.
7. (6) For the purposes of sub-sections
8. (4) and (5), the Commissioner, assessing authority or the authorised officer, as the case may be, may enter any place of business of the owner of a motor vehicle.