(1) Whoever obstructs the Chief Inspector, an Inspector or any person authorised under Section 8 in the discharge of his duties under this Act, or refuses or wilfully neglects to afford the Chief Inspector, Inspector or such person any reasonable facility for making any entry, inspection, examination or inquiry authorised by or under this Act in relation to any mine, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.
(2) Whoever refuses to produce on the demand of the Chief Inspector or Inspector any registers or other documents kept in pursuance of this Act, or prevents or attempts to prevent or does anything which he has reason to believe to be likely to prevent any person from appearing before or being examined by an inspecting officer acting in pursuance of his duties under this Act, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to three hundred rupees.
