(1) This Act may be called the Marine Aids toNavigation Act, 2021.

(2) It extends to the whole of India including the maritime zones of India as specified in the TerritorialWaters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976 (80 of 1976).

(3) It shall come into force on such date1 as the Central Government may, by notification in the OfficialGazette, appoint; and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act and anyreference in any such provision to the commencement of this Act shall be construed as a reference to thecoming into force of that provision.

1. 31ST March, 2022, vide notification No. S.O.1202(E), dated 17th March, 2022, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec.3 (ii).

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,u2014

(a) u201caccredited training organisationu201d means any organisation which is accredited by the CentralGovernment under section 20 ;

(b) u201caid to navigationu201d means a device, system or service, external to vessels, designed andoperated to enhance safe and efficient navigation of individual vessels and vessel traffic, but shall notbe construed to include a reference to vessel traffic services, unless otherwise specified;

(c) u201cDirector Generalu201d means the Director General of Aids to Navigation appointed undersection 4;

(d) u201cdistrictu201d means an area demarcated as a district for the purposes of this Act undersub-section (1) of section 4;

(e) u201cgeneral aid to navigationu201d means any aid to navigation, which the Central Government may, bynotification in the Official Gazette, declare to be a general aid to navigation for the purposes of thisAct;

(f) u201cheritage lighthouseu201d means an aid to navigation designated as such under section 23;

(g) u201clocal aid to navigationu201d means any aid to navigation which is not a general aid to navigation;

(h) u201clocal authorityu201d means a State Government or other person having superintendence andmanagement over a local aid to navigation;

(i) u201cmarine aids to navigation duesu201d means the dues levied under section 24;

(j) u201cnotificationu201d means a notification published in the Official Gazette of India and the expressionu201cnotifyu201d with its grammatical variation and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

(k) u201cowneru201d means the owner of a vessel including its registered owner, a person to whom a sharein the vessel belongs, bareboat charterer, manager and operator of the vessel;

(l) u201cportu201d means any port as defined in the Indian Ports Act, 1908 (15 of 1908);

(m) u201cprescribedu201d means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(n) u201cproper officeru201d in relation to any functions to be performed under this Act, means the officer ofcustoms who is assigned those functions by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customsconstituted under the Central Boards of Revenue Act, 1963 (54 of 1963), and includes any personappointed by the Central Government to discharge the functions of a proper officer under this Act;

(o) u201cruleu201d means rules made by the Central Government under this Act;

(p) u201cshipu201d includes a sailing vessel;

(q) u201cvesselu201d includes every description of water craft used or capable of being used in the marineenvironment, such as ship, boat, sailing vessel, fishing vessel, submersible, semi-submersible,hydrofoils, non-displacement crafts, amphibious crafts, wing-in-ground crafts, pleasure crafts, barges,lighters, mobile offshore drilling units or mobile offshore units;

(r) u201cvessel traffic serviceu201d means a service implemented under this Act to improve the safety andefficiency of vessel traffic and to protect the environment

(2) Words and expressions used but not defined in this Act, and defined in the Merchant Shipping Act,1958 (44 of 1958), shall have the same meanings respectively assigned to them in that Act.

The Central Government may, by notification inthe Official Gazette, designate any aid to navigation to be a general aid to navigation.

(1) The CentralGovernment shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint,u2014

(a) the Director General;

(b) Deputy Director Generals; and

(c) Directors for districts.

(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the Central Government may demarcate such areas to bedistricts.

(3) Every officer appointed under sub-section (1) shall discharge his functions under the generalsuperintendence and control of the Director General.

The Director General shall advise the Central Government onmatters relating to aids to navigation and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the CentralGovernment under this Act or in any other law for the time being in force.

(1) The Central Government shall, by notification in the OfficialGazette, appoint a Central Advisory Committee.

(2) The Central Government shall consult the Central Advisory Committee in regard tou2014

(a) the establishment or position of aids to navigation or of any works appertaining thereto; or

(b) additions to or the alteration or removal of, any aid to navigation; or

(c) variations to any aid to navigation or of the mode of use thereof; or

(d) the cost of any proposal relating to aids to navigation; or

(e) appointment of any sub-committee under sub-section (3); or

(f) the making or alteration of any rules or rates of marine aids to navigation dues under this Act.

(3) The Central Government may, if it deems necessary, appoint sub-committees for the purposes ofadvising it in regard to any of the matters specified under this Act.

(4) The Central Advisory Committee and the sub-committees referred to in sub-section (3) shallconsist of such persons representing the interests affected by this Act or having special knowledge of thesubject matter thereof.

(5) The procedure and conduct of business of the Central Advisory Committee and the sub-committeesreferred to in sub-section (3) shall be such as may be prescribed.

No act or proceeding ofthe Central Advisory Committee shall be invalidated merely by reason ofu2014

(a) any vacancy in, or any defect in its constitution; or

(b) any defect in appointment of a person acting as its member; or7

(c) any irregularity in its procedure not affecting the merits of the case.

The development, maintenance and management ofall general aids to navigation shall be vested in the Central Government.

(1) The Central Government,shall have the following powers relating to the development, maintenance and management of generalaids to navigation, namely:u2014

(a) establish and maintain aids to navigation;

(b) add to, alter or remove any aid to navigation;

(c) alter or vary any aid to navigation;

(d) authorise to inspect any aid to navigation which may affect the safety of navigation;

(e) authorise to enter any property, whether public or private, for the purposes of inspection of anyaid to navigation;

(f) transport, or cause to be transported, any goods through any property, whether public or private,for any purpose in connection withu2014

(i) the maintenance of an aid to navigation; or

(ii) the establishment of any aid to navigation;

(g) acquire any land as may be necessary for the purposes of this Actu2014

(i) to exercise its powers; or

(ii) for the maintenance of works.

(2) The Central Government shall, for the purposes of exercising its powers under sub-section (1),authorise any of the officers referred to in sub-section (1) of section 4, by general or special order inwriting

(1) The development, maintenance and management ofvessel traffic services shall be vested in the Central Government.

(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the Central Government may, by order, authorise any person asvessel traffic service provider.

The Central Government,shall have the following powers relating to the development, maintenance and management of vesseltraffic services, namely:u2014

(a) declare and authorise vessel traffic service provider to operate a vessel traffic service within anauthorised area;

(b) accredit and approve vessel traffic service training and certification;

(c) establish and operate vessel traffic services, where it deems necessary;

(d) add to or alter or require any person to add to or alter any aspect of a vessel traffic service.

(1) The Central Government shall, for thepurposes of exercising its powers under section 11, appoint a Competent Authority for Vessel TrafficServices by notification in the Official Gazette.

(2) The manner of appointment of the Competent Authority shall be such as may be prescribed.

(3) The Competent Authority shall discharge such functions in such manner, as may be prescribed.

The standards forestablishing and operating vessel traffic services in India shall be such, as may be prescribed.

(1) The Central Government may authorise anyofficer referred to in sub-section (1) of section 4 in writing, to enter upon at any time and inspect anylocal aid to navigation and make such inquiries in respect thereof or of the management thereof as suchofficer thinks fit.

(2) Every person having the charge of, or concerned in the management of, any local aid to navigationshall furnish to the officer authorised under sub-section (1) to inspect such aid to navigation, all suchinformation as the officer may require.

(3) Every local authority shall furnish to the Central Government all such returns and otherinformation in respect of the aids to navigation under its supervision and management, or of any of them,as the Central Government may require.

(1) If the Central Government issatisfied, after an inspection under section 14 or such other inquiry, that a direction under this sub-sectionis necessary or expedient for the safety, or otherwise, in the interests of vessels, it may direct any localauthority

(a) to remove or discontinue or to refrain from moving or discontinuing any aid to navigation underits superintendence and management or to make or refrain from making any variation in the characteror mode of use of any such aid to navigation; or

(b) to erect, place or maintain, or to refrain from erecting, placing or maintaining any aid tonavigation within the local limits within which the local authority exercises its powers.

(2) A local authority shall not erect, place, remove or discontinue any aid to navigation or vary thecharacter or mode of use of any aid to navigation, unless it has given to the Central Government at leastone months notice in writing of its intention so to do:Provided that, in cases of emergency, a local authority may take such action as it deems necessary andshall give immediate notice of the same to the Central Government and, so far as is possible, to all vesselsapproaching or in the vicinity of such aid to navigation.

(3) If any local authority

(a) fails to comply with any direction made under sub-section (1); or

(b) fails to exercise or perform, or exercises or performs in an improper, inefficient or unsuitablemanner, any power or duty relating to the superintendence or management of any aid to navigationconferred or imposed upon it by or under any law for the time being in force; or

(c) fails to make adequate financial provision for the performance of any such duty,

the Central Government may, by order in writing, require such local authority to comply with thedirection, or to make arrangements to the satisfaction of that Government for the proper exercise of thepower or performance of the duty, or to make financial provision to the satisfaction of that Governmentfor the performance of the duty, as the case may be, within such period as it may specify.

(4) If the local authority fails to comply with an order made under sub-section (3) within the specifiedperiod or within such further time as the Central Government may allow, the Central Government mayexercise the power or perform the duty or make the requisite financial provision, as the case may be, andthe local authority shall be liable to reimburse to the Central Government any expenditure incurred by itin so doing.

The Central Governmentmay, at the request of a local authority, undertake the superintendence and management of any local aidsto navigation on its behalf, and the local authority shall pay to the Central Government such sums todefray the cost of superintendence and management, as may be agreed.

(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify restrictions on activities thatinterfere with or obstruct the operation of any aid to navigation within the specified distance of such aid tonavigation.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, where thefunctioning of any aid to navigation or vessel traffic service is being obstructed, directly or indirectly, theCentral Government may, if it deems fit, issue such directions as may be necessary for the removal oralteration of such obstruction.

(1) No person shall be allowed to operate or work on, including any ancillary activitiesas may be prescribed, any aid to navigation in any place unless he holds a valid training certificatecertifying that such person has been trained in the operation of such aid to navigation.

(2) No person shall be allowed to operate or work on, including any ancillary activities as may beprescribed, a vessel traffic service in any place unless he holds a valid training certificate certifying thatsuch person has been trained in the operation of vessel traffic services.

(3) A certificate of training issued under this Act shall be valid and effective throughout the territory ofIndia.

A certificate mentioned in sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 18 shall be issued byan accredited training organisation referred to in section 20, in such form, subject to such conditions andin such manner, as may be prescribed

(1) The Central Government shall accredit trainingorganisations for imparting training to, or conduct assessments of, persons in the operation of aids tonavigation and vessel traffic services.

(2) The Central Government shall accredit such training organisations which meet the criteria, as maybe prescribed, for imparting training to trainees or conduct assessment of persons in the operation of aidsto navigation and vessel traffic services.

The Central Government may, if considers necessary, give directions to anyofficer referred to in sub-section (1) of section 4 to mark any wreck in such manner as may be prescribed.

The cost for marking the wreck shall be borne by orrecovered from the owner or the operator of such vessel in such manner as may be prescribed.

(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, designate any aid to navigationunder its control as a heritage lighthouse.

(2) The Central Government shall develop the heritage lighthouses designated under sub-section (1),in addition to their function as aids to navigation or otherwise, for educational, cultural and tourismpurposes, in such manner as may be prescribed.

(1) There shall be levied and collectedthe marine aids to navigation dues, at such rates, as the Central Government may, by notification in theOfficial Gazette, specify from time to time.

(2) The marine aids to navigation dues levied under sub-section (1) shall be collected by the properofficer in respect of every ship arriving at or departing from any port in India, from such person, in suchmanner and at such time, as may be prescribed.

(3) The proceeds of the marine aids to navigation dues collected shall be credited to the ConsolidatedFund of India in such manner as may be prescribed.

(4) Every owner causing any ship to arrive at or depart from any port in India shall, self-assessing itsliability to pay dues, file a return before the proper officer in such form and manner, as may be prescribed.

The marine aids to navigation dues levied underthis Act shall be utilised for fulfilling the obligations and carrying out the purposes of this Act.

(1) The ownershall credit the marine aids to navigation dues into the account of the Central Government in such manneras may be prescribed.

(2) The payment of marine aids to navigation dues shall be verified by the proper officer in respectof.--

(a) the port at which the marine aids to navigation dues has been paid;

(b) the amount of the payment;

(c) the date on which the marine aids to navigation dues became payable; and

(d) the name, tonnage and other proper description of the ship in respect of which the payment ismade,

for the purpose of granting clearance.

(1) The properofficer to whom the return has been furnished under sub-section (4) of section 24 shall, after making orcausing to be made such inquiry as he thinks fit and after satisfying himself that the particulars stated inthe return are correct, by order, assess the amount of marine aids to navigation dues payable by the owneror the master of the ship.

(2) If the return has not been furnished to the proper officer under sub-section (4) of section 24, heshall, after making or causing to be made such inquiry as he thinks fit, by order, assess the amount ofmarine aids to navigation dues payable by the owner or the master of the ship.

(3) For the purposes of levy of marine aids to navigation dues, the tonnage of a ship or sailing vesselshall be reckoned as under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (44 of 1958), for such dues payable on ashipu2019s tonnage including the tonnage of any space added under the said Act to the tonnage of ships byreason of such space being utilised for carrying cargo.

(4) In order to ascertain the tonnage of any ship for the purpose of levying marine aids to navigationdues, the proper officer may, if he deems it fit, require the production of any documents, the appearanceof any person and the inspection of any vessel, in such manner as may be prescribed.

(1) If the owner of any ship refuses or neglects topay the amount of marine aids to navigation dues payable under this Act in respect of the ship, the properofficer may seize the ship along with its equipment or any part thereof, and detain the same until theamount of the marine aids to navigation dues, together with the costs of the seizure and detention is paid.

(2) If any part of such marine aids to navigation dues remains unpaid after the expiry of thirty daysfollowing the date of the seizure, the proper officer may cause the ship or other thing seized to be sold,and with the proceeds of the sale may satisfy the marine aids to navigation dues remaining unpaid,together with the costs of the sale and shall repay the surplus, if any, to the person by whom the samewere payable.

The officer whose duty it is to grant a port clearance for any shipshall not grant the port clearance until the amount of marine aids to navigation dues payable in respect ofthe ship under this Act and of any fines imposed thereunder has been paid, or until security for thepayment thereof has been given to his satisfaction.

If any dispute arises as to whethermarine aids to navigation dues, expenses or costs are payable in respect of any ship under this Act or as tothe amount of such dues, expenses or costs, such dispute shall, on an application made in this behalf byeither of the disputing parties, be heard and determined by a civil court having jurisdiction at the placewhere the dispute arose.

(1) If the masterof any ship in respect of which marine aids to navigation dues is payable at any port causes the ship toleave such port without having paid such dues, the proper officer at that port may, by writing, require theproper officer at any other port in India to which the ship may proceed, to recover the marine aids tonavigation dues remaining unpaid.

(2) Any proper officer to whom such a requisition is directed, shall proceed to levy such sum as if itwere payable under this Act at the port at which he is the proper officer, and a certificate by the properofficer at the port at which the marine aids to navigation dues first became payable, stating the amountpayable, shall be sufficient proof in any proceeding under this Act that such amount is payable.

The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, exempt.--

(a) any ship belonging to the Central Government or any State Government, which is not carryingcargo or passengers for freight or fares; or

(b) any other ship, or classes of ships or ships performing specified voyages,

from the payment of marine aids to navigation dues either wholly or to such extent as may be specified inthat notification.

Where the marine aids to navigation dues has been paid in respectof any ship in excess of the amount payable under this Act, no claim to refund of such excess paymentshall be admissible, unless it is made within six months from the date of such payment.

The fees to be charged for providing assistance to ships for rendering special services tovessels shall be at such rates as may be prescribed.

The Central Government shall cause to be maintained a separateaccount of all amounts received by way of marine aids to navigation dues, expenses, costs and fines underthis Act and of all expenditure incurred for the purposes of this Act, and shall cause such account to belaid before the Central Advisory Committee, as soon as possible after the close of each financial year.

(1) The Central Government shall cause to be laid before the Central AdvisoryCommittee before the close of each financial year a statement of the estimated receipts under, andexpenditure for the purposes of this Act, during the forthcoming year.

(2) The statement of estimated receipts and expenditure shall be prepared in consultation with theComptroller and Auditor-General of India, in such manner as may be prescribed.

(1) Whoever,intentionally commits any act or omits to do any act, which results in obstruction of, or reduction in, orlimitation of, the effectiveness of, any aid to navigation or vessel traffic service, shall be liable toimprisonment for a term which may extend up to six months or with fine which may extend up to onelakh rupees, or with both.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), no person shall be liable for punishment, ifthat.--

(a) act or omission was necessary to save a life or a vessel; and

(b) such person took all reasonable steps to avoid the obstruction, reduction or limitation

(1) Whoever, negligentlycommits any act or omits to do any act, which results in obstruction of, or reduction in, or limitation of,the effectiveness of, any aid to navigation or vessel traffic service, shall be liable to imprisonment for aterm which may extend up to three months or with fine which may extend up to fifty thousand rupees, orwith both.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), no person shall be liable for punishment, ifthat.u2014

(a) act or omission was necessary to save a life or a vessel; and

(b) such person took all reasonable steps to avoid the obstruction, reduction or limitation

(1)Whoever, intentionally commits any act or omits to do any act, which results in damage to or destructionof any aid to navigation or vessel traffic service, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term which mayextend up to twelve months or with fine which may extend up to five lakh rupees, or with both.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), no person shall be liable for punishment, ifthatu2014

(a) act or omission was necessary to save a life or a vessel; and

(b) such person took all reasonable steps to avoid the damage or destruction

(1)Whoever, negligently commits any act or omits to do any act, which results in damage to or destruction ofany aid to navigation or vessel traffic service, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term which mayextend up to six months or with fine which may extend up to one lakh rupees, or with both.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), no person shall be liable for punishment, ifthatu2014

(a) act or omission was necessary to save a life or a vessel; and

(b) such person took all reasonable steps to avoid the damage or destruction.

(1) Whoever, commits any act or omits to do any act,which results in damage to or destruction of any heritage lighthouse, shall be liable to imprisonment for aterm which may extend up to six months or with fine which may extend up to one lakh rupees, or withboth.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), no person shall be liable for punishment, ifthat.u2014

(a) act or omission was necessary to save a life or a vessel; and

(b) such person took all reasonable steps to avoid the destruction, fouling, damage, reduction orlimitation.

Every owner or master ofa ship, who fails to comply with any direction issued by a vessel traffic service provider relating to avessel traffic service under this Act, shall be liable to fine which may extend up to one lakh rupees.

Every owner or master ofa ship, who fails to comply with any direction issued by a vessel traffic service provider relating to avessel traffic service under this Act, shall be liable to fine which may extend up to one lakh rupees.

(1) No court shall take cognizance of any offence under this Act,except upon a complaint in writing made by any officer authorised in this behalf by the CentralGovernment.

(2) No court inferior to that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first class shalltry any offence under this Act.

Whoever, commits any offence under this Act or anyrules made thereunder, may ordinarily be inquired into and tried by a court within whose localjurisdictionu2014

(a) such offence was committed; or

(b) such person may be found; or

(c) in any court which the Central Government may, by notification, direct in this behalf; or

(d) in any court in which he might be tried under any other law for time being in force.

(1) The Central Government may, after previouspublication, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules mayprovide for all or any of the following matters, namely:u2014

(a) duties of the Director General under section 5;

(b) procedure and conduct of business of Central Advisory Committee and sub-committeesconstituted under sub-section (5) of section 6;

(c) manner of appointment of the Competent Authority under sub-section (2) and its functionsunder sub-section (3), of section 12;

(d) standards for establishment and operation of vessel traffic services under section 13;

(e) ancillary activities relating to aids to navigation under sub-section (1) and ancillary activitiesrelating to vessel traffic services under sub-section (2), of section 18;

(f) form and manner of certificate, to be issued and the conditions subject to which such certificateis to be issued by the accredited training organisation and validated by the Director General undersection 19;

(g) criteria for accreditation of training organisation under sub-section (2) of section 20;

(h) manner of marking wrecks under section 21;

(i) manner of recovering cost from the owner of the vessel for marking the wreck under section 22;

(j) development of heritage lighthouses designated under sub-section (2) of section 23;

(k) manner of, collection of marine aids to navigation dues by proper officer levied under subsection (2) and crediting the proceeds of the dues so collected under sub-section (3), of section 24;

(l) form and manner of filing return under sub-section (4) of section 24;

(m) manner of payment of marine aids to navigation dues to the Central Government under subsection (1) of section 26;

(n) manner of production of documents, appearance of any person and inspection of any vessel byproper officer under sub-section (4) of section 27;

(o) rates of fees for special services under section 34;

(p) form and manner of statement of estimated receipts and expenditure to be prepared inconsultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India under sub-section (2) of section 36;

(q) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed, for the purposes of carrying outthe purposes of this Act.

The Central Government may delegate to anyof its officers all or any of the functions and powers conferred upon it under this Act.

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained inthis Act, the Director General shall, in the discharge of his functions and duties under this Act, be boundby such directions on questions of policy as the Central Government may give to him in writing fromtime to time.

(2) The decision of the Central Government whether a question is one of policy or not shall be final.

No suit, prosecution or other proceedings shall lieagainst the Central Government or any officer appointed under this Act for anything done or in good faithpurporting to be done under this Act or the rules made thereunder.

(1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions ofthis Act, the Central Government may, by order, published in the Official Gazette, make such provisionsnot inconsistent with the provisions of this Act as may appear to be necessary or expedient for removingthe difficulty:

Provided that no such order shall be made under this section after the expiry of three years from thecommencement of this Act.

(2) Every order made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before eachHouse of Parliament.

Every rule made and every notificationissued under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made or issued, before each House ofParliament while it is in session for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session orin two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following thesession or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in such rule,or notification or both Houses agree that the rule, should not be made or the notification should not beissued, the rule or notification shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, asthe case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to thevalidity of anything previously done under that rule or notification.

(1) The Lighthouse Act, 1927 (17 of 1927) is hereby repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding the repeal of the Lighthouse Act, 1927 (17 of 1927) (herein referred to as therepealed Act), u2014

(a) any notification, rule, regulation, bye-law, order or exemption issued, made or granted under therepealed Act shall, until revoked, have effect as if it had been issued, made or granted under theprovisions of this Act;

(b) any office established or created, officer appointed and anybody elected or constituted under therepealed Act shall continue and shall be deemed to have been established, created, appointed, elected,or constituted, as the case may be, under this Act;

(c) any document referring to the repealed Act shall be construed as referring to this Act or to theprovision of this Act;

(d) any fine levied under the repealed Act may be recovered as if it had been levied under this Act;

(e) any offence committed under the repealed Act may be prosecuted and punished as if it had beencommitted under this Act;

(f) any proceeding pending before any court under the repealed Act may be tried or disposed ofunder the corresponding provisions of this Act;

(g) the officers appointed under the provisions of the repealed Act and continuing during thecommencement of this Act shall continue as if they have been appointed under this Act;

(h) any person appointed under or by virtue of the repealed Act shall be deemed to have beenappointed to that office under or by virtue of this Act;

(i) any inspection, investigation or inquiry ordered to be done under the provisions of the repealedAct shall continue to be proceeded with as if such inspection, investigation or inquiry was ordered tobe done under the corresponding provisions of this Act.