Power to summon witnesses and requisition of documents

(1) Subject to such restrictions, limitations and conditions as may be prescribed, the Registrar and officers subordinate to the Registrar who are authorised by him in this behalf by general or special order in writing, and such other officials engaged in the relief of rural indebtedness or officers of co-operative banks which are registered or deemed to be registered under the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969 (21 of 1969), as the Government may, by notification in the Gazette, authorise in this behalf shall have the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Central Act 5 of 1908), when trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely.- (a) enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath or affirmation; (b) compelling the production of documents; and (c) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses.

(2) Any of the officers authorised by or under sub-section (1) may require any person present before him to furnish any information or to produce any document then and there in his possession or power, and relevant to the inquiry.

(3) Any officer before whom any document is produced under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall have power to take, or to authorise the taking of, such copies of the document or of any entries therein as such officer may consider necessary and the copies so taken shall, when certified in such manner as may be prescribed, be admissible in evidence for any purpose in the same manner and to the same extent as the original document or the entries therein, as the case may be.

(4) Any person who wilfully or without reasonable excuse disobeys any summons, requisition or order issued under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall be punishable with fine which may extend to Rs. 50 and in the case of a continuing disobedience with an additional fine which may extend to Rs. 5 for every day during which such disobedience continues after conviction for the last such disobedience.