Section 31 - Indian Antarctic Act, 2022

The Indian Antarctic Act, 2022

31. Inspection of international facilities.-

(1) The Committee shall constitute an inspection team consisting of such number of observers as it may deem necessary and shall designate one of them as the head of the team, for the purposes of carrying out inspections in Antarctica in such manner as may be prescribed.

(2) The Committee may designate any of its officer having such qualifications and experience as may be prescribed, to be an Analyst who shall be a part of the inspection team.

(3) The Analyst shall collect and examine any sample or matter and perform such other duties as may be delegated to him by the head of the inspection team.

(4) The inspections in Antarctica may be carried out jointly with one or more Parties, if deemed necessary.

(5) The inspection team may inspect any station after giving prior notice to the Party or Parties whose station it proposes to inspect.

(6) The inspection team may, at any reasonable time, enter any place including vessel, aircraft, container, platform anchored at sea, shipping container or conveyance, managed by India in Antarctica to which it has reasonable grounds to believe that the provisions of this Act apply:

Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to such vessel or aircraft which is not part of an Indian expedition.

(7) The inspection team may, at any reasonable time, board or travel in a vessel or an aircraft in Antarctica and may carry out inspection of such vessel or aircraft or its communication system after giving prior notice to the Party concerned.

(8) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the inspection team shall not inspect any station, installation, equipment, platform anchored at sea, shipping container or conveyance that is owned by a person who is neither a citizen of India nor a part of Indian expedition unless due notice for inspection of the property or installation has been served to the Party who is the owner of such property or installation.

(9) The owner of a place or a person-in-charge of a place being inspected under this Act and every person found in the place shall give all reasonable assistance to enable the inspection team to carry out its functions under this Act and provide with any information as may be required by it.