Duty to furnish information of silkworm diseases

(1) Every silkworm rearer, seed rearer and seed producer shall be bound to give information forthwith to the nearest officer who has been duly authorized by the Sericultural Expert in that behalf of the occurrence of any silkworm disease in the seed, silkworm, moth or cocoon, in any premises belonging to him or under his control, which may come to his knowledge. (2) Every such person shall be deemed to have had knowledge of the occurrence of any such disease in any premises belonging to him or under his control, in the absence of reasonable excuse the burden of proving which shall lie upon him.