17Power of inspection

(1) The designated agency may appoint, after the expiry of five years from the date of commencement of this Act, as many inspecting officers as may be necessary for the purpose of ensuring compliance with energy consumption standards specified under clause (a) of section 14 or ensure display of particulars on label on equipment or appliance specified under clause (b) of section 14 or for the purpose of performing such other functions as may be assigned to them.

(2) Subject to any rules made under this Act, an inspecting officer shall have power to--

(a) inspect any operation carried on or in connection with the equipment or appliance specified under clause (b) of section 14 or in respect of which energy standards under clause (a) of section 14 have been specified;

(b) enter any place of designated consumer at which the energy is used for any activity and may require any proprietor, employee, director, manager or secretary or any other person who may be attending in any manner to or helping in, carrying on any activity with the help of energy--

(i) to afford him necessary facility to inspect--

(A) any equipment or appliance as he may require and which may be available at such place;

(B) any production process to ascertain the energy consumption norms and standards;

(ii) to make an inventory of stock of any equipment or appliance checked or verified by him;

(iii) to record the statement of any person which may be useful for, or relevant to, for efficient use of energy and its conservation under this Act.

(3) An inspecting officer may enter any place of designated consumer--

(a) where any activity with the help of energy is carried on; and

(b) where any equipment or appliance notified under clause (b) of section 14 has been kept,

during the hours at which such place is open for production or conduct of business connected therewith.

(4) An inspecting officer acting under this section shall, on no account, remove or cause to be removed from the place wherein he has entered, any equipment or appliance or books of account or other documents.