Collector, Claims Officer and Compensation Officer to have powers of Civil Court and inquiry conducted by them to be deemed to be judicial proceeding

(1) The Collector for the purposes of inquiries under sections 5, 6, 7, 7-A and 8-A a Claims Officer for the purpose of inquiries under section 20, a Compensation Officer for the purpose of inquiries under Chapters V and VI and Tribunal for the purpose of sections 8-E, 13, 30 and 36 shall have power to summon and enforce the attendance of witnesses or of any person having an interest in the subject matter of such inquiry and to compel the production of documents by the same means and so far as may be, in the same manner as is provided in the case of a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. (2) Every such inquiry conducted by the Collector or a Claims Officer or a Compensation Officer or a Tribunal shall be deemed to be a “judicial Proceeding” within the meanings of sections 193 and 228, and for the purpose of section 196 of the Indian Penal Code and every statement made by any person examined by or before him with reference to such inquiry, whether upon oath or otherwise, shall be taken to be evidence within the meaning of the same Code.