Livestock Marts Act, 1967

Powers of officers of Minister.

7.—(1) An officer of the Minister shall, for the purposes of the execution of this Act, have power to do all or any of the following things, that is to say—

(a) to enter, inspect and examine at all reasonable times by day a place where the business of a livestock mart is carried on;

(b) to require the production of any documents, required to be kept in pursuance of regulations under this Act, and to inspect, examine and copy any of them;

(c) to make such examination and inquiry as may be necessary to ascertain whether the provisions of this Act and the regulations thereunder and the enactments for the time being in force relating to public health are complied with, so far as respects the place;

(d) to require the person who carries on the business of a livestock mart at the place or any person holding a responsible position of management at the place or, in the absence of any such person, any person whom he finds in the place and whom he has reasonable cause to believe to be employed in the place to give such information as it is in his power to give as to who is carrying on the business of a livestock mart in the place;

(e) to exercise such other powers as may be necessary for carrying this Act into effect.

(2) If any person wilfully delays an officer of the Minister in the exercise of any power under this section, or fails to comply with the requisition of such an officer in pursuance of this section, or to produce any document which he is required in pursuance of regulations under this Act to produce, or wilfully withholds any information he is required in pursuance of this Act to give, that person shall be deemed to obstruct an officer of the Minister in the execution of his duties under this Act.

(3) Where an officer of the Minister is obstructed in the execution of his powers or duties under this Act the person obstructing the officer of the Minister shall be guilty of an offence.

(4) An officer of the Minister performing functions under this Act shall be furnished with a certificate of his authorisation to perform those functions, and when visiting a place where the business of a livestock mart is carried on shall, if so required, produce the said certificate to the person who carries on such business or any other person holding a responsible position of management at the place.