Powers and jurisdiction of an Inspecting Officer

(1) Subject to any rules made by the State Government in this behalf, an Inspecting Officer may within the limits of his jurisdiction — (a) enter, during such hours as may be prescribed and with such assistance, if any, as may be necessary, any premises which is, or which he has reasons to believe is, an establishment; (b) inspect, or take extracts from any prescribed registers, records and notices maintained under this Act or the rules made thereunder or seize such records, registers or notices as he may consider relevant in respect of an offence under this Act which he has reason to believe to have been committed by an employer; (c) take on the spot or otherwise the statement of any person which he may consider necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act : Provided that no person shall be compelled to answer any question or give any evidence tending to incriminate himself; and (d) exercise such other power as may be prescribed for carrying out the purposes of this Act. (2) The Inspecting Officer shall for the purposes of any inquiry under this Act have same power regarding the summoning and attendance of witnesses and compelling the production of documents as a Civil Court has under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (V of 1908). Establishments of the Food Corporation of India situated in the State of Bihar. (Exempted from: All provisions.)