Inquiries

(1) The Highway Authority or the officer authorized by the State Government in this behalf shall, if be desires to make any inquiry for the purposes of this Act, make the inquiry in the prescribed manner. (2) The Highway Authority or an officer authorized by the State Government or the Highway Authority under this Act shall have the power to take the evidence on oath and to summon any person whose attendance he considers necessary either to be examined as a party or to give evidence as a witness or to produce documents for the purpose of the inquiry under sub-section (1). (3) Any person summoned under sub-section (2) shall be bound to attend either in person or by an authorized agent as directed in the summons: - Provided that exemptions under section 132 and 133 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, shall be applicable to requirement for attendance under this Act. (4) Every person summoned under sub-section (2) either to be examined as a party or to give evidence as witness shall be bound- (i) to state the truth upon any subject respecting which he is examined or makes a statement; or (ii) to produce such documents as may be required. (5) Any person summoned merely to produce a document shall be deemed to have complied with the summons by causing the production of such documents instead of attending personally to produce the same.