Power of debt settlement officer to enforce delivery of possession of property of debtor

(1) Where the creditor fails to return the property to the debtor as required by sub-section (2) of section 14 and the debtor is opposed or impeded in taking possession of the property, the debtor may apply to the debt settlement officer having jurisdiction in the area in which such property is situated or held and on receipt of such application from a debtor, the debt settlement officer shall, if he is satisfied that the applicant is entitled to obtain delivery of possession of the property in question, take, or cause to be taken, such steps for securing the delivery of possession of the property to the debtor, and may, for such purpose, take such assistance as he considers necessary, or use, or cause to be used, such force as may be considered reasonably necessary. (2) Action under sub-section (1) shall be without prejudice to any punishment to which the creditor may be liable under section 17.