Chapter IV COMMISSIONER OF PAYMENT

1. (1) The Government shall, for the purpose of payment of compensation under section 5, by notification in the Gazette, appoint an officer not below the rank of a District Collector as the Commissioner of Payment of Compensation.
2. (2) The Government may appoint such other officers as they may think fit to assist the Commissioner in the exercise of the powers conferred on the Commissioner under this Act.
3. (3) The salaries and allowances of the Commissioner and other persons appointed under this section shall be defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund of the State of Kerala.

1. (1) Any person having a right to compensation under section 5 shall prefer a claim before the Commissioner in such manner and within such period as may be prescribed.
2. (2) The Commissioner shall examine each claim with relevant details and after giving the affected person an opportunity of being heard and by applying the principles for payment of compensation, determine the amount payable and such payment shall be made in the manner prescribed.
3. (3) The Commissioner shall have the powers to regulate his own procedure in all matters arising out of the exercise of his powers in payment of compensation and for the purpose of making any investigation under this Act, and shall have the same powers as are vested in a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Central Act 5 of 1908), while trying a suit in respect of the following matters, namely:—
   • (a) the summoning and enforcing the attendance of any witness and examining him on oath;
   • (b) the discovery and production of any document or other material object producible as evidence;
   • (c) the issuing of any Commission for the examination of witnesses;
   • (d) such other matters as may be prescribed.

Any claimant who feels aggrieved by the decision

of the Commissioner under section 7 may prefer an appeal within thirty days from the date of knowledge of the decision in writing to the Principal District Court of Thiruvananthapuram.