(1)The Inspector or the Collector or any officer appointed under section 199 or any other officer or person whom the Government or the Inspector or the Collector may empower in this behalf, may-(a)enter on and inspect any immovable property, or any work in progress, under the control of any Panchayat or any Executive Authority or Commissioner or [Secretary] [Substituted for the words 'Chief Executive Officer' by Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Third Amendment) Act, 1998 (Tamil Nadu Act 28 of 1998).];(b)enter any school, dispensary, vaccination station or choultry maintained by or under the control of any Panchayat or any other institution maintained by or under the control of any Panchayat and inspect any records, registers or other documents kept in any such institution;(c)enter the office of any Panchayat and inspect any records, registers or other documents kept therein.(2)Village Panchayats and their Presidents, executive authorities, Panchayat Union Councils and their Chairmen, Commissioners, District Panchayats and their Chairmen, [Secretaries] [Substituted for the words 'Chief Executive Officer' by Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Third Amendment) Act, 1998 (Tamil Nadu Act 28 of 1998).] and the officers and servants of Panchayats shall be bound to afford to the officers and persons aforesaid, such access, at all reasonable times, to Panchayat property or premises and to all documents as may, in the opinion of such officers or persons, subject to such rules as may be prescribed, be necessary to enable them to discharge their duties under this section.
