Powers of Fish Seed Inspectors

(1) A Fish Seed Inspector may:-(a) enter and inspect any place where he has reason to believe that an offence under this Act has been or is being committed, at all reasonable times, with such assistance, if any, as he considers necessary, and search any fish seed in respect of which such offence has been or is being committed, and order in writing the person in possession of such fish seed not to dispose of any fish seed for a period not less than fifteen days if he is unable to trace the source of such fish seed or if the offence alleged cannot be cleared by the person himself in possession; (b) stop or seize the fish seeds of any kind or category notified under this Act from any person who:-(i) is a 'hatchery' or 'fish seed farm' or is carrying on fish seed distribution or has kept for distribution; or (ii) is transporting or holding for delivery or preparing for delivery for the purpose of getting it delivered to a person who is buying or receiving such fish seed; (iii) from any person after having received it for supplying or delivering to a buyer; (kn) submit such seized seeds to the Fish Seed Quality Inspector for inspection; (Un) apprehend any person if he has sufficient reason to believe that such person is providing evidence that an offence under this Act has been committed after inspecting any document, register, material or other target object found from any place mentioned in clause (F); (C) exercise such other powers as may be necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act or the rules made thereunder. (2) While collecting the fish seed of any kind or category notified under clause (F) of sub-section (1), the Fish Seed Inspector shall pay the cost calculated at the rate at which fish seed is generally sold to the public, if the person from whom it is taken so requires. (3) The power conferred under this section includes the power to open any package containing fish seed of any kind or category notified under this Act or stored for distribution from a hatchery or pond: Provided that the power to collect fish seeds from a hatchery or fish seed farm under sub-section (3) shall be exercised only if the owner or any other person in charge present there provides permission to do so. (4) The Fish Seed Inspector shall, while taking any action under clause (F) of sub-section (1), require at least two people to be present at the place where such action is taken to the extent possible, and record their signatures in a mahassar prepared in such form as may be prescribed. (5) The Fish Seed Inspector shall report the matter in writing in the prescribed manner to the Appropriate Authority. (6) The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974) shall apply to the searches and seizures made under Section 94 of the said Code.