Any person who wilfully obstructs an Inspector in the exercise of any power conferred on him under this Act, or any person lawfully assisting an Inspector in the exercise of such power or who fails to comply with any lawful direction made by an Inspector, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to 1[five hundred rupees]1.
1. Substituted by Act 25 of 1997 w.e.f. 12.2.1998.
1[33-A Compounding of offences.- (1) The jurisdictional Labour Officer in lieu of Prosecution may compound the offences punishable under this Act or the rules made thereunder, except the offences punishable under sections 24 and 25, at the option of the offending employer before or after the institution of the prosecution by levying a sum not exceeding rupees two thousand but not less than rupees one thousand for the first offence and for the second or subsequent same offence, a sum not exceeding rupees five thousand but not less than rupees two thousand.]1
1. Inserted by Act 12 of 2007 w.e.f.
CHAPTER IX MISCELLANEOUS