Powers to enforce attendance of witnesses in certain matters and application of Code of Civil Procedure.

(1) The Settlement Officer (Consolidation), Consolidation Officer and the Assistant Consolidation Officer shall have all such powers and rights and privileges as are vested in a civil court on the occasion of any action in respect of the following matters- (a) the enforcing of the attendance of witnesses and examining them on oath, affirmation or otherwise and the issue of a commission or request to examine witness abroad; (b) compelling any one for the production of any document; (c) the punishing of persons guilty of contempt, and a summons signed by such officer may be substituted for and shall be equivalent to any formal process capable of being issued in any action by a civil court for enforcing the attendance of witnesses and compelling the production of any document. (2) Subject to any conditions or restrictions that may be prescribed, the Settlement Officer (Consolidation), Consolidation Officer or Assistant Consolidation Officer may, by written order, require any person to produce such documents, papers and registers or to furnish such information as the Settlement Officer (Consolidation), Consolidation Officer or Assistant Consolidation Officer, as the case may be, may deem necessary for the proper exercise of his powers or the proper discharge of his duties under this Act. (3) Every person required to produce any document, paper or register to furnish an information under this section shall be deemed legally bound to do so within the meaning of sections 175 and 176 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (45 of 1860). (4) A proceeding before a Settlement Officer (Consolidation), Consolidation Officer or Assistant Consolidation Officer shall be deemed to be judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 and 228 and for the purposes of section 196 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (45 of 1860). (5) Unless otherwise expressly provided by or under this Act, the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), shall apply to all proceedings including appeal and application under this Act. (6) The Assistant Consolidation Officer shall, for delivering possession to the person or persons to whom land has been allotted, have all the powers as regards contempt, resistance and the like as are exercisable by a civil court in execution of a decree for delivering possession of immovable property.