Section 23:
Power of entry, search, seizure and arrest without warrant or authorisation.
(1) Any such
subordinate officer to the enforcement officer as is authorised in this behalf by general or special order by
the Central Government or any such subordinate officer to the enforcement officer as is authorised in this
behalf by general or special order of the State Government, if he has reason to believe from personal
knowledge or information given by any person and taken down in writing, that any goods in relation to
which an offence punishable under Chapter VI has been committed or any document or goods which may
furnish evidence of the commission of such offence is kept or concealed in any industry, building,
conveyance or place, may, between sunrise and sunset,--
(a) enter into and search any such industry, building, conveyance or place;
(b) in case of resistance, break open any door and remove any obstacle to such entry;
(c) seize such Chemical Weapons, Chemical Weapons Production Facilities, riot control agents,
Old Chemical Weapons, Abandoned Chemical Weapons, Toxic Chemicals or Precursors or Discrete
Organic Chemicals including those Discrete Organic Chemicals containing elements of phosphorous,
sulphur or fluorine, all goods and any conveyance which he has reason to believe to be liable to
confiscation under this Act and any document or other goods which he has reason to believe may
furnish evidence of the commission of any offence punishable under Chapter VI relating to such
Chemical Weapons, Chemical Weapons Production Facilities, riot control agents, Old Chemical
Weapons, Abandoned Chemical Weapons, Toxic Chemicals, Precursors or Discrete Organic
Chemicals including those Discrete Organic Chemicals containing elements of phosphorous, sulphur
or fluorine; and
(d) detain and search, if he thinks proper, arrest any person whom he has reason to believe to have
committed any offence punishable under Chapter VI relating to such Chemical Weapons, Chemical
Weapons Production Facilities, riot control agents, Old Chemical Weapons, Abandoned Chemical
Weapons, Toxic Chemicals or Precursors or Discrete Organic Chemicals including those Discrete
Organic Chemicals containing elements of phosphorous, sulphur or fluorine:
Provided that if such subordinate officer has reason to believe that search warrant or authorisation
cannot be obtained without affording opportunity for the concealment of evidence or facility for the
escape of an offender, he may enter and search such industry, building, conveyance or place at any time
between sunset and sunrise after recording the grounds of his belief.
(2) Where an officer takes down any information in writing under sub-section (1) or records grounds
for his belief under the proviso thereto, he shall forthwith send a copy thereof to his immediate superior
officer.