law: The Joint-stock Companies Act, 1857
  XXI. Inspection of Register and annual list of share-holders.-
  The Register and annual list of shareholders commencing from and the incorporation of the Company, shall be kept at the registered Office of the Company here in after mentioned; except when the Register is closed as hereinafter mentioned, such Register and annual list shall during business hours, but subject to such reasonable restrictions as the Company in general meeting may impose, so that not less than two hours in each day be appointed for inspection, be opened to the inspection of any shareholder gratis, and to the inspection of any other person on the payment of one Rupee, or such less sum as the Company may prescribe for each inspection; and every such. shareholder or other person may require a copy of such Register and annual list, or of any part thereof, on payment of two annas for every one hundred words required to be copied; if such inspection or copy is refused, the Company shall incur for each refusal a penalty not exceeding Fifty Rupees, and a further penalty not exceeding Twenty Rupees for every day during which such refusal continues.