(1) If any woman employed in an establishment is pregnant and gives notice in writing in the prescribed form to the employer that the expects to be delivered of a child within six weeks from the date of such notice, the employer shall permit her, if, she so desires, to absent herself from work up to the day of her delivery ;
Provided that before granting such permission the employer may, at his own cost require the woman to be examined by a qualified medical practitioner or midwife, and if the woman refuses to submit herself to such examination or is certified on such examination as not pregnant or not likely to be delivered of a child within six weeks, he may refuse such permission.
(2) The examination referred to in the proviso to Sub-section (1) shall, if the woman so desires, be carried out by a midwife.