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Section 22 of THE MATERNITY BENEFIT ACT, 1961

Whoever fails to produce on demand by the Inspector any register or document in his custody kept in pursuance of this Act or the rules made thereunder or conceals or prevents any person from appearing before or being examined by an Inspector shall be punishable with imprisonment

2[which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees], or with both.

Summary

This part of the law sets out the punishments for anyone who obstructs an Inspector trying to do their job.
It makes it a crime to refuse to show an Inspector any register or document that the law requires you to keep.
It is also illegal to hide an employee or stop any person from speaking to or being questioned by an Inspector.
The punishment for breaking these rules can be a jail sentence of up to three months.
A person could also face a fine of up to five hundred rupees instead of jail time.
The court has the power to order both the jail time and the fine together for these offences.

Practical examples

1On August 14, 2024, an Inspector visits a garment factory and asks the owner, Amit, for the mandatory employee register. Amit claims he lost the key to the cabinet and refuses to hand over the document, which leads to a fine.

2A factory supervisor named Sunita knows an Inspector is coming on October 2, 2025, to check on working conditions. She tells three pregnant workers to hide in the staff cafeteria and forbids them from speaking to the official, risking up to three months in prison.

FAQ

1. What is the penalty for hiding an employee from an Inspector under Section 22 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961?

Under Section 22 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, hiding an employee or preventing them from being examined by an Inspector can result in up to three months in prison, a fine of up to five hundred rupees, or both.

2. Does Section 22 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 punish employers who refuse to share records?

Yes, Section 22 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 specifically punishes anyone who fails to produce a demanded register or document kept under the rules of the law.

3. Can a business owner go to jail for ignoring an Inspector under Section 22 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961?

Yes, under Section 22 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, obstructing an Inspector by failing to produce records or preventing an examination can lead to up to three months of imprisonment.

Test yourself

Q1.Under Section 22 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, what is the maximum fine a person can face for preventing someone from being examined by an Inspector?

Q2.Under Section 22 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, which of the following actions is specifically listed as a punishable offence?

Q3.What combination of punishments is possible for obstructing an Inspector under Section 22 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961?

Q4.Under Section 22 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, what is the maximum length of imprisonment for failing to produce a document to an Inspector?

21PreviousSection 21 Penalty for contravention of Act by employer.23NextSection 23 Cognizance of offences.

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