Government and officers and authorities to have certain powers of civil courts.

The Government or any officer or authority empowered by the Government under subsection (1) of section 17 or the District Collector, while holding an inquiry under this Act, shall have all the powers of a civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Central Act 5 of 1908), in respect of the following matters, namely:— (a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath; (b) requiring the discovery and production of any document; (c) reception of evidence on affidavits; (d) requisitioning any public record from any court or office; (e) issuing commissions for examination of witnesses.