Section 31 in The M.P. Shram Kalyan Nidhi Adhiniyam, 1982
31. Penalty for obstructing Inspector in discharge of Inspector's duties or for failure to produce documents, etc.
(1)[Re-numbered by M.P. Act No. 11 of 1996.] Any person, who wilfully obstructs an Inspector in the exercise of his powers or discharge of his duties under this Act or fails to produce for inspection on demand by an Inspector any registers, records or other documents maintained in pursuance of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder or to supply him on demand true copies of any such documents, shall, on conviction, be punished,-(a)for the first offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both; and(b)for a second or subsequent offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both :Provided that where the offender is sentenced to a fine only, the amount of fine shall not be less than one hundred rupees.(2)[ If an employer,-(a)fails to pay the contribution or any sum which he is liable to pay under this Act; or(b)is guilty of any contravention or non-compliance with any of the requirements of this Act or the Rules or the Regulations made thereunder, in respect of which no penalty is provided, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or with both.(3)(a)Any person alleged with an offence under this Act, before or after the institution of prosecution may be allowed to compound the offence on payment of such amount as may be fixed by the State Government, by notification in the official Gazette and the State Government may also notify and thereby authorise any officer not below the rank of an Assistant Labour Officer for the purpose of compounding and determination of its amount.(b)On payment of the amount of contribution due and payable under the Act, if any, and on payment of such amount of compounding, as determined by the authorized officer under provision of clause (a),(i)the offender shall not be liable to any prosecution; and(ii)if any prosecution has already been instituted, the compounding shall amount to acquittal of the offender.
