Section 20. Powers of distrainer to force open doors in the presence of a police officer.

Where a distrainer may have reason to suppose that the property of a defaulter is lodged within a dwelling house, the outer door of which may be shut, or within any apartments, appropriated to women, which, by the usage of the country, are considered private, such distrainer shall represent the same to the officer in charge of the nearest police station. On such representation, the officer in charge of the said station shall send a police officer to the spot, in the presence of whom the distrainer may force open the outer door of such dwelling-house, in like manner as he may break open the door of any room within the house except the zenana. The distrainer may also, in the presence of the police officer, after due notice given for the removal of women within a zenana, and after furnishing means for their removal in a suitable manner (if they be women of rank, who, according to the customs of the country cannot appear in public), enter the zenana apartments for the purpose of distraining the defaulter's property deposited therein, but such property, if found, shall be immediately removed from such apartments after which they shall be left free to the former occupants.