Duty of certain persons to assist enquiry.

Duty of certain persons to assist enquiry. (1) All officers, members and past members of the society in respect of whom an inquiry is held, and any other person who, in the opinion of the officer holding the inquiry is in possession of the information, books and papers relating to the society, shall furnish such information as is in their possession and produce all books and papers relating to the society which are in their custody or power, and otherwise give to the officer holding an inquiry all assistance in connection with the enquiry which they can reasonably give. (2) If any such person refuses to produce before the Registrar or any person authorized by him under sub-section (1) of section 59 any book or papers which it is his duty under sub-section (1) to produce or to answer any question which is put to him by the Registrar or the person authorized by the Registrar in pursuance of sub-section (1), the Registrar or the person authorized by the Registrar may certify the refusal and the Registrar may, after hearing, any statement which may be offered in defense punish the defaulter with a penalty not exceeding five thousand rupees. Any sum imposed as penalty under this section shall, on the application by the Registrar or the person authorized by him, to a Magistrate, having jurisdiction, be recoverable by the Magistrate as if it were a fine imposed by himself.