Section 46: Liability of the Principal Employer in certain cases

If any allowance required to be paid under section 14 or section 15 to the migrant workmen employed in an establishment to which this Act applies is not paid by the contractor or if any facility specified in section 16 is not provided for the benefit of such migrant workman, such allowance shall be paid, or, as the case may be , the facility shall be provided, by the Principal Employer within fifteen days of the expiry of the time allowed to the contractor under the rules except where otherwise provided for in the relevant rules :

Provided that in the case of ailment requiring urgent medical attention or hospitalisation, as the case may be, the Principal Employer shall provide the same immediately on the failure of the contractor to do so.