Submission of records, etc. and consequences of non-submission

(1) It shall be the duty of every holder of a hereditary village office— (a) to deliver all records maintained by him in the capacity of such holder; and (b) to settle all accounts appertaining to his office. (2) Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of any of the clauses of sub-section (1) within thirty days from the appointed date or such further period as the Collector may allow, shall be punishable on conviction with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees and in the case of a continuing failure with an additional fine which may extend to twenty-five rupees for every day during which such failure continues after the conviction for the first such failure. (3) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (2) any failure as specified therein shall, on an order specifically made in that behalf by the Collector, debar the holder of such office from claiming any right to any of the benefits under section 5: Provided that no such order shall be made without giving the person affected a reasonable opportunity of being heard. (4) The Collector may for the purpose of recovering the records specified in clause (a) of sub-section (1) issue a search warrant and exercise all such powers with respect thereto as may be lawfully exercised by a Magistrate under Chapter VII of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898,