(1) (a) The Assistant Inspectors of Labour, Office of the Labour Officer (Enforcement) for Puducherry region, Assistant Inspectors of Labour, Office of the Labour Officer, Karaikal for Karaikal region, Assistant Inspector of Labour, Mahe and Yanam in their respective regions, Labour Officer (Enforcement), Puducherry for Puducherry, Yanam and Mahe regions and the Labour Officer, Karaikal for Karaikal region shall act as Inspectors for the purpose of this Act.
(b) The Labour Officer, Puducherry Unorganised Labourers Welfare Society, Puducherry shall be the Registering Officer for registration of loading and unloading workers and the Labour Officer (Enforcement), Puducherry for Puducherry, Mahe and Yanam regions and Labour Officer, Karaikal, for Karaikal region shall be the Registering Officers for registration of employers.
(2) An Inspector appointed under sub-section (1) may for the purpose of ascertaining whether any of the provisions of this Act has been violated or not and to prevent the commission of an offence,— 154
(a) either suo moto or on a written complaint made in this behalf by an employer or any person aggrieved, enter any establishment or any premises connected therewith or any place at any reasonable time and with such assistance as he thinks necessary for the inspection, examination or enquiry with regard to such violations or apprehended violations;
(b) require an employer or any worker or any person to furnish such information as he may consider necessary;
( c ) make copies of or to take extracts from, any book, register or other documents maintained in relation to the work carried out;
(d) exercise such other powers as may be prescribed.
(3) Every Inspector or the Registering Officers appointed under sub-section (1) shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Central Act 45 of 1860).
(4) Any person required to produce any document or thing or to give any information to an Inspector under this section shall be legally bound to do so within the meaning of sections 175 and 176 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Central Act 45 of 1860).
CHAPTER–VIII PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE Penalty for committing unfair practices
23. Whoever commits any unfair practices other than item 13 of the Schedule shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which shall not be less than one thousand rupees and which may extend to five thousand rupees or with both.
Penalty for obstruction and damage
24. Whoever commits any unauthorised entry into the property of an employer or any other person and creates any obstruction or hindrance to the work or activity or process to be carried out or commits any mischief or destruction or damage to the land or property of the employer or any person, shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to two years or with fine which shall not be less than one thousand rupees and which may extend to ten thousand rupees or with both.
Penalty for obstruction of duties
25. Whoever obstructs any Inspector or any other officer appointed under this Act in the discharge of his duties or refuses or willfully neglects to afford him reasonable facilities for making any entry, inspection, examinations or enquiry authorised by or under this Act, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine which shall not be less than one thousand rupees and which may extend to ten thousand rupees or with both.
155 General provisions for punishment of other offences
26. Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this Act or of any rule or order made thereunder shall, if, no other penalty is provided for such contravention by this Act, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or with both.
Compounding of offences