Appointment and powers of Labour Inspectors and Inspectors

(1) The Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint officers in the Labour Department not below the rank of an Assistant Labour Officer (Grade II) as Labour Inspector for the purposes of this Act and may define the local limits within which they shall exercise their jurisdiction. (2) A Labour Inspector appointed under sub-section (1) may for the purpose of ascertaining whether any of the provisions of this Act has been violated or to prevent such violations,— (a) either suo motu or on a written complaint made in this behalf by an employer or any person aggrieved, enter any establishment or any premises connected therewith or any place at any reasonable time and with such assistance as he thinks necessary for the inspection, examination or enquiry with regard to such violations or apprehended violations; (b) require an employer or any worker or any person to furnish such information as he may consider necessary; (c) make copies of or to take extracts from, any book, register or other documents maintained in relation to the work carried out; (d) exercise such other powers as may be prescribed. (3) The Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint officers in the Police Department of and above the rank of a Sub Inspector as Inspectors for the purposes of this Act and may define the local limits within which they shall exercise their jurisdiction. (4) An Inspector appointed under sub-section (3) may for the purpose of ascertaining whether any of the provisions of this Act has been violated or to prevent the commission of an offence,— (a) either suo motu or on a written complaint made in this behalf by an employer or any person aggrieved, enter any establishment or any premises connected therewith or any place at any reasonable time and with such assistance as he thinks necessary for the examination or enquiry or investigation into the alleged offence under this Act; (b) require an employer or any worker or any person to furnish such information as he may consider necessary; (c) make copies of or to take extracts from, any book, register or other documents maintained in relation to the work carried out; (d) exercise such other powers as may be prescribed. (5) Every Labour Inspector or Inspector appointed under sub-section (1) or sub-section (3) as the case may be shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (45 of 1860). (6) Any person required to produce any document or thing or to give any information by a Labour Inspector or Inspector under this section shall be legally bound to do so within the meaning of sections 175 and 176 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (45 of 1860).