Section 217
Power to call for information.
The Merchant Shipping Act, 2025
About this Act
An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to merchant shipping to ensure compliance with India's obligation under the maritime treaties and international instruments to which India is a party and also to ensure the development of Indian shipping and efficient maintenance of Indian mercantile marine in a manner best suited to serve the national interest and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(1) The Central Government may, for the purpose of transmitting to the Fund, the names and addresses of the persons who under this Chapter are liable to make contributions to the Fund every year and the quantity of contributing oil in respect of which they are so liable, by notice, require any such person to furnish such information, in such manner and within such time, as may be specified therein.
(2) In proceedings by the Fund against any person for the recovery of any contribution due to the Fund under section 214, the particulars contained in any list transmitted by the Central Government to the Fund shall, so far as those particulars are based on information obtained under this section, be admissible as evidence of the facts stated therein, and so far as particulars which are so admissible are based on information given by the person against whom the proceedings are brought, shall be presumed to be accurate until the contrary is proved.
(3) No person shall disclose any information which was furnished to or obtained by him under this section unless the disclosure is made,—
(a) with the consent of the person from whom the information was obtained;
(b) in connection with the compliance of this section;
(c) for the purpose of any legal proceedings arising out of this section or of any report of such proceedings.
(4) A person who,—
(a) refuses or wilfully neglects to comply with a notice under this section; or
(b) makes, while furnishing any information in compliance with a notice under this section, any statement which he knows to be false in a material particular, or recklessly makes any statement which is false in a material particular, shall be liable to penalty under this Act.
(2) In proceedings by the Fund against any person for the recovery of any contribution due to the Fund under section 214, the particulars contained in any list transmitted by the Central Government to the Fund shall, so far as those particulars are based on information obtained under this section, be admissible as evidence of the facts stated therein, and so far as particulars which are so admissible are based on information given by the person against whom the proceedings are brought, shall be presumed to be accurate until the contrary is proved.
(3) No person shall disclose any information which was furnished to or obtained by him under this section unless the disclosure is made,—
(a) with the consent of the person from whom the information was obtained;
(b) in connection with the compliance of this section;
(c) for the purpose of any legal proceedings arising out of this section or of any report of such proceedings.
(4) A person who,—
(a) refuses or wilfully neglects to comply with a notice under this section; or
(b) makes, while furnishing any information in compliance with a notice under this section, any statement which he knows to be false in a material particular, or recklessly makes any statement which is false in a material particular, shall be liable to penalty under this Act.