38B. Obligation to produce documents and provide information.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other law for the time being in force, any person required to maintain the record under the Act, on demand by an officer, not below the rank of a Deputy Collector of Sales Tax, by notice in writing, as and when specified in the notice, shall,–

(a) produce for examination, such documents or records which the officer of Sales Tax considers necessary or relevant to the audit, inquiry or investigation under the Act;

(b) allow the officer of Sales Tax to take extracts from or make copies of such documents or records; and

(c) appear before the officer of Sales Tax and answer any question put to him concerning the documents and records relating to the audit or inquiry or investigation referred to in clause (a) above.

(2) An officer of Sales Tax conducting an audit, inquiry or, as the case may be, an investigation under the Act, may require in writing any person, department, company or organization to furnish such information as is held by that person, department, company or organization, which, in the opinion of the officer of Sales Tax, is relevant to such audit, inquiry or investigation.

(3) The Board may require, in writing, any person, department, company or organization, as the case may be, to provide any information or data held by that person, department, company or organization, which, in the opinion of the Board, is required for purposes of formulation of policy or administering the Customs, Sales Tax, Federal Excise or Income Tax.

(4) Every person, department, company or organization shall furnish the information requisitioned by the Board or the officer of Sales Tax under sub-section (2) or (3), within the time specified in the notice issued by the Board or, as the case may be, the officer of Sales Tax.