Procedure before the authorized officer

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and any rules made thereunder, the authorized officer shall decide every election petition as soon as possible and generally within 6 months from the date of its filing under section 163 in accordance with the procedure applicable for the trial of a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908: Provided that the authorized officer shall have discretion, for reasons to be recorded, to refuse to examine any witness or witnesses, if in his opinion their evidence is not material for the decision of the petition or the party producing the witnesses is doing so on frivolous grounds or to delay the proceedings. (2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the provisions of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 shall be deemed to apply in all respects for the trial of an election petition.