Power to enter premises

(1) Any officer not below the rank of a Junior Engineer authorised in this behalf by the competent authority may, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. enter into any premises for the purpose of inspecting any water installation. (2) If such officer is, at any such time, refused admittance into such premises for the purpose specified in sub-section (1) or is prevented from making such inspection the competent authority may, after giving the consumer an opportunity of being heard, cut off the supply of water to that premises: Provided that if any such premises is an apartment in the actual occupancy of a woman who, according to the custom does not appear in public, such officer shall, before entering such apartment, give notice to such woman that he is at liberty to withdraw and shall afford her every reasonable facility for withdrawing and may then enter the apartment.