(1) The Director or the Chief Fire Officer or the nominated officer may, after giving three hours’ notice to the occupier or if there is no occupier, to the owner of any place or building or part thereof, enter and inspect such place or building or part thereof, at any time between sunrise and sunset where such inspection appears necessary for ascertaining the adequacy or contravention of fire prevention and life safety measures:
Provided that, the Director or the Chief Fire Officer or the nominated officer may enter into and inspect any such place or building or part thereof at any time if an industry is working or an entertainment is going on at such place, building or part thereof, or if it appears to him to be expedient and necessary to do so in order to ensure safety of life and property.
(2) The Director or the Chief Fire Officer or the nominated officer shall be provided with all possible assistance by the owner or occupier, as the case may be, of such place or building or part thereof for carrying out the inspection under sub-section (1).
(3) The owner or occupier or any other person shall not obstruct or cause any obstruction to the entry of a person empowered or authorised under this section into or upon any land or building or shall not molest such person after such entry for inspection.
(4) When any such place or building or part thereof used as a human dwelling is entered under sub-section (1) due regard shall be paid to the social and religious sentiments of the occupiers; and before any flat, apartment or a part of such building in the actual occupancy of any woman, who, according to the custom does not appear in public, is entered under sub-section (1), notice shall be given to her that she is at liberty to withdraw and every reasonable facility shall be afforded to her for withdrawing.
(5) Where the inspection is carried out by the nominated officer under the preceding provisions of this section, he shall give a report of any such inspection to the Director and the Chief Fire Officer of the authority concerned.