(1) For the purpose of ascertaining the position of the
working, actual or prospective, of any mine or abandoned mine or for any other purpose connected with
this Act or the rules made thereunder, any person authorised by the 1[Central Government or a State
Government] in this behalf, by general 2*** order, may--
(a) enter and inspect any mine;
(b) survey and take measurements in any such mine;
(c) weigh, measure or take measurements of the stocks of minerals lying at any mine;
(d) examine any document, book, register, or record in the possession or power of any person having the control of, or connected with, any mine and place marks of identification thereon, and take extracts from or make copies of such document, book, register or record;
(e) order the production of any such document, book, register, record, as is referred to in clause (d); and
(f) examine any person having the control of, or connected with, any mine.
(2) Every person authorised by the 1[Central Government or a State Government] under sub-section (1) shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, and every person to whom an order or summons is issued by virtue of the powers conferred by clause (e) or clause (f) of that sub-section shall be legally bound to comply with such order or summons, as the case may be.
(a) enter and inspect any mine;
(b) survey and take measurements in any such mine;
(c) weigh, measure or take measurements of the stocks of minerals lying at any mine;
(d) examine any document, book, register, or record in the possession or power of any person having the control of, or connected with, any mine and place marks of identification thereon, and take extracts from or make copies of such document, book, register or record;
(e) order the production of any such document, book, register, record, as is referred to in clause (d); and
(f) examine any person having the control of, or connected with, any mine.
(2) Every person authorised by the 1[Central Government or a State Government] under sub-section (1) shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, and every person to whom an order or summons is issued by virtue of the powers conferred by clause (e) or clause (f) of that sub-section shall be legally bound to comply with such order or summons, as the case may be.
1. Subs. by Act 38 of 1999, s. 20, for "Central Government" (w.e.f. 18-12-1999).
2. The words "or special" omitted by s. 20, ibid. (w.e.f. 18-12-1999).