Subs. by the A. O. 1950 for [Province]. — THE UNITED PROVINCES COTTON (STATISTICS) ACT, 1947

4. Subs. by the A. O. 1950 for [Province]. Use of return required under section 3 or information obtained under section 4 5. The Economic Adviser may use the returns furnished under section 3 or information obtained under section 4 for such purposes as he may deem fit and may in particular use such returns or information for the purpose of supplying any statistics required by the Indian Central Cotton Committee. Restriction on the publication of returns and information Penalties Penalties for improper disclosure of information and returns Cognizance of an offence 6. (1) No individual return made under section 3 and no part of such return and no information obtained under section 4 shall, without the previous consent in writing of the trader or owner, as the case may be, by whom the return or information was furnished or given, or his authorized agent, be published in such manner as would enable any particulars to be identified as referring to a particular cotton ginning factory or cotton pressing factory or the business of any particular trader. (2) Except for the purposes of a prosecution under this Act or under the Indian Penal Code, 1860, no person not engaged in connection with the collection of statistics required under this Act shall be permitted to see any individual return or information referred to in sub-section (1). 7. If any person— (a) willfully refuses or without lawful excuse neglects to furnish the return required under section 3; or (b) willfully furnishes or causes to be furnished any such return which he knows to be false; or (c) refuses to answer or willfully gives a false answer to any question asked in exercise of the powers conferred by section 4; or (d) impedes the right of access to relevant record or document or the right of entry conferred by section 4; he shall be punishable with fine which may extend to rupees five hundred, and in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine which may extend to rupees two hundred for each day after the first during which the offence continues; and in respect of a false return or answer the offence shall be deemed to continue until the true return or answer has been given or made. 8. If any person engaged in connection with the collection of statistics under this Act willfully discloses any information or the contents of any return given or made under this Act otherwise than in the execution of his duties under this Act or for the purpose of the prosecution of an offence under this Act or under the Indian Penal Code, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both, imprisonment and fine. 9. No prosecution under section 7 shall be instituted except with the previous sanction in writing of the [State Government]. 1 1. Subs. by the A. O. 1950 For [provl. Govt.] Protection for Acts done under this Act No suit or other legal proceedings shall be instituted against any person in respect of anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act. Power to make rules (1) The [State Government] 1 may, subject to the condition of previous publication, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing powers, such rules may provide for the following matters, namely :– (a) the form of return to be furnished under section 3 ; and (b) the exercise of the right of access to documents and the right of entry conferred by section 4.

Section 4