7Restrictions on disclosure of information

(1) All copies of, and extracts from, registers or other records in relation to any dock work and all other information required by the Chief Inspector or an Inspector or by any one assisting him, in the course of the inspection or investigation carried out for the purposes of this Act or the regulations shall be regarded as confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person or authority unless such disclosure is for the purpose of any action or proceeding under this Act or the regulations or under any other law or unless the Chief Inspector or the Inspector considers such disclosure necessary to ensure the health, safety or welfare of any dock worker.

(2) The Chief Inspector or the Inspector shall not disclose the source of any complaint bringing to his notice a defect or breach of any legal provisions and if any visit or inspection is to be made in connection with such a complaint, he shall give no intimation to the employer that the visit is made in consequence of receipt of such a complaint:

Provided that the restrictions imposed under this sub-section shall not apply to any case where the complainant himself has expressed his willingness to have the source of complaint disclosed.

(3) If the Chief Inspector or an Inspector or any other person referred to in sub-section (1) discloses, contrary to the provisions of this section, any information as aforesaid, the shall he punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.