7. Duties and powers of the Competent Authority and Inspector.
(1)The Competent Authority shall be responsible for the administration of these Rules throughout the State of Bihar, except mines.(2)Every Inspector shall discharge his duties within the area assigned to him by the State Government and shall act under the supervision and control of the Competent Authority.(3)[ Every Inspector shall at each inspection of an establishment verify and satisfy himself-] [Substituted by S. O. 1135 dated 15.7.1974.](a)whether due action has been taken on every notice given under Section 6;(b)whether the Muster Roll prescribed under Rule 3 is correctly maintained;(c)whether there have been any cases discharge or dismissal or notices of discharge or dismissal in contravention of the provisions of Section 12 since the last inspection;(d)whether the provisions of sub-section (1) of Section 4, sub-sections (5) and (6) of Section 6, Sections 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 19 have been complied with and whether amounts due have been paid within the prescribed time;(e)whether there have been any cases of deprival of maternity benefit or medical bonus in contravention of sub-section (2) of Section 12; and(f)how far irregularities pointed out a previous inspection have been remedied and how far orders previously issued have been complied with.(4)Without any prejudice to the powers conferred by Section 15 of the Act an Inspector may-(a)carry out such inspection, investigation and enquiry and require the production of such papers, records, registers or documents as he may consider necessary to ascertain that the provisions of the Act and these rules are being complied with and are not or have not been contravened;(b)ask an employer in writing to furnish such information within a specified time, as may be relevant to the enforcement of the Act and these Rules and as may be required in connection with any complaint made to him or with any contravention reported to him or brought to his notice;(c)ask an employer in writing to furnish such figures and statistics within a specified time, as may be required for the compilation of any statistics or data relating to the employment of woman of enforcement of the Act and these rules;(d)issue an inspection note to the employer mentioning therein the defects, irregularities or violations observed by him, or issue an order directing the employer or rectify or remove within a specified time any defect, irregularity or contravention observed by him, and to report compliance to him, whether any prosecution in respect thereof is instituted or not; and(e)institute and conduct any prosecution in any Court of Law against any employer for any contravention of any of the provisions of the Act and these Rules.
