(1) The Commissioner, the Additional Commissioner a Regional Joint Commissioner, a Deputy Commissioner or an Assistant Commissioner having jurisdiction or any other person authorized by the Commissioner in this behalf, may with due regard to the religious practices and usages of the institutions, inspect any charitable or religious institution or endowment, all movable and immovable property belonging to and all records, correspondence plans, accounts and other documents relating to such institution or endowment for the purpose of satisfying himself that the provisions of this Act and the rules made there under are duly carried out:
Provided that in the case of any religious institution or endowment or place of worship, the person so inspecting or authorized to inspect shall be a Hindu.
(2) Every person exercising the power of inspection under sub-section (1) or for the purpose of exercising any other power conferred or performing any function entrusted, by or under this Act shall have the right to enter the premises of any charitable or religious institution or endowment or any place of worship:
Provided that before making such entry for any purpose as aforesaid, the person exercising such power shall give reasonable notice to the trustee or head of the institution or endowment or archaka on duty and shall while making the entry, have due regard to the practices and usages of the institutions or endowments:
Provided further that in the case of a religious institution or endowment or place of worship where the custom or usage does not permit the entry of any person other than the archaka or a person authorized by such Powers of Commissioner etc., to enter and inspect institutions and endowments.
[Act No. 30 of 1987] 19 custom or usage, into the sanctum, sanctorum or garbhalaya or any other place held specially sacred within the premises of such institution or endowment or place of worship, the person exercising the powers under this section shall not make the entry himself, unless he is a person authorized by such custom or usage in that behalf but may authorize any archaka or other person authorized by such custom or usage to make the entry for the purpose of this section.