49Penalty for obstruction

(1) Whoever obstructs an Inspector in the discharge of his duties under this Act or refuses or wilfully neglects to afford the Inspector any reasonable facility for making any inspection, examination, inquiry or investigation authorised by or under this Act in relation to an establishment shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.

(2) Whoever wilfully refuses to produce on the demand of an Inspector any register or other document kept in pursuance of this Act or prevents or attempts to prevent or does anything which he has reason to believe is likely to prevent any person from appearing before, or being examined by, an Inspector acting in pursuance of his duties under this Act shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.

STATE AMENDMENT

Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh (UTs).--

Insertion of new section--After section 49, insert.--

49A. Compounding of offences.--(1) Any offence punishable under sections 47, 48 and 49 may, either before or after the institution of the prosecution, on an application by the alleged offender, be compounded by payment of compounding amount not more than fifty thousand by such officer or authority as the appropriate Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf:

Provided that the appropriate Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, amend the said specified compounding amount:

Provided further that the offences of the same nature committed by the same offender for more than three occasions shall not be compoundable:

Provided also that such offences shall be compounded only after the alleged offender has acted to the satisfaction of such officer or authority that such offence is not continued any further:

(2) Where an offence has been compounded under sub-section (1), no further proceedings shall be taken against the offender in respect of such offence and the offender, if in custody, shall be released or discharged.

[Vide Union Territory of Ladakh Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020, notification No. S.O. 3774(E), dated (23-10-2020) and Vide Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020, notification No. S.O. 3465(E), dated (5-10-2020). ]