Structural requirements for factories

(1) In every cotton ginning factory the construction of which is commenced after the coming into force of this Act— (a) gin-houses shall be provided with separate entrances and exits for the bringing in of unginned and the taking out of ginned cotton, respectively; and (b) construction shall be in accordance with the plan and specifications previously approved by the prescribed authority: Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to any factory in which only single roller gins are used and where the number of such gins is not more than four. (2) In any cotton ginning factory whether erected before or after the commencement of this Act:— (a) no alterations or additions whether structural or in plant or in machinery shall be made so as to reduce the degree of compliance of the factory as a whole with the requirements set out in clauses (a) and (b) of sub-section (1); and (b) every alteration or addition, whether structural or in plant or in machinery made after the commencement of this Act shall be in accordance with the plan and specifications previously approved by the prescribed authority: Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to any factory in which, after any alteration or addition has been made, only single roller gins are used and where the number of such gins is not more than four. (3) The owner of every cotton pressing factory in which cotton is handled on the ground floor shall cause the press-house to be paved or provided with other suitable flooring to the satisfaction of the prescribed authority. (4) If the owner of any factory fails to comply with any provisions of this section, he shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two hundred and fifty rupees. (5) Where the owner of a factory has been convicted under sub-section (4) the prescribed authority may serve on the owner of the factory an order in writing directing that such alterations shall be made in the factory, before a specified date, as are, in the opinion of the said authority necessary to secure compliance with the provisions of sub-section (1), sub-section (2), or sub-section (3) as the case may be. (6) Where the alterations are not made in accordance with the order served under sub-section (5) the prescribed authority may serve on the owner, an order in writing directing that the work of ginning or pressing cotton in such factory shall be suspended until the alterations have been made in accordance with the said order, and the owner shall be punishable with fine which may extend to fifty rupees for each day on which cotton is ginned or pressed in the factory in contravention of the order served under this sub-section.