PART I] THE KOLKATA GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, AUGUST 1, 2024 31 CHAPTER - XI Provisions relating to search and seizure 53. Power of search and seizure. – The following officers, in their territorial jurisdiction shall be authorized under this Order to enter, inspect, examine, search and seize the premises related to a licensee:– (i) Principal Secretary, Secretary, Special Secretary, Additional Secretary, Joint Secretary, Deputy Secretary of the department; (ii) All Divisional Commissioners; (iii) All District Magistrates, Additional District Magistrates, Sub-divisional Magistrates; (iv) All Directors, Joint Directors, Deputy Directors, Assistant Directors of the Directorates under this department, (v) All licensing authorities under this Order; (vi) Officer-in-Charge of vigilance or inspection team constituted by the department; (vii) All Chief Inspectors, Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors of Department of Food & Supplies; (viii) Officers on Special Duty of this department; (ix) Any other officer as may be authorized by the State Government; 54. Procedure of search and seizure. – (1) The licensing authority or an officer mentioned in clause 53, either suo moto or on receipt of a complaint or otherwise has reasons to believe that there has been a contravention of the provisions of this Order or any order issued under section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (10 of 1955), may either himself or through an officer not below the rank of Sub-Inspector cause an inspection and search the shop or godown of a licensee together with any other premises or vehicles related to transactions of business of such Dealer or Distributor or any other premises or vehicles which is suspected to be used for storing or transporting public distribution commodities. (2) With a view to securing the equitable distribution of subsidized public distribution commodities and other public distribution commodities and for the purpose of securing compliance with the provisions of this Order or any regulation made there under or any direction issued under such order, any official not below the rank of a Sub-Inspector of the Food and Supplies having jurisdiction in the area, or a vigilance squad or inspection team having been duly constituted for the purpose by the State Government, may- (a) enter any premises or vehicles used or believed to be used for the sale, distribution or storage for sale or distribution or transportation of public distribution commodities and inspect any such premises or vehicles and public distribution commodities therein or thereon; (b) require any person to make any statement or furnish any information or to produce any document or article in his possession or under his control relating to the purchase, sale, distribution or storage or transportation of any public distribution commodities and every persons or required shall comply with the requirement; (c) require any person to render any account or to produce books of accounts or documents believed to be in his possession relating to purchase, sale, storage and transport of public distribution commodities; (d) take or cause to be taken extracts from the copies of any documents relating to the purchase, sale, distribution or storage or transportation of public distribution commodities which is produced under sub-clause (b) or sub-clause (c) above or otherwise found in any such premises; (e) Test or cause to be tested the correctness of any weight or measures used or believed to be used in any transaction relating to the sale or distribution of public distribution commodities; (f) Take or cause to be taken the weight of all or any of the public distribution commodities found in any such premises, prepare weighment chart and cart of physical verification of stock; (g) inspect and seize any stock of public distribution commodities or any document relating to the purchase, sale, distribution or storage or transportation of public distribution commodities in respect of which the concerned official has reason to suspect that a contravention of these orders or of any directions issued under such order has been, is being, or is about to be committed.