Powers of adjudicating officer and the appellate authority in relation

to holding enquiry under this Act. –

1. (1) The adjudicating officer and the appellate authority shall, while holding an enquiry, have all the powers of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Central Act V of 1908) while trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely: -
   • (a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of witnesses;
   • (b) requiring the discovery and production of any document;
   • (c) requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court of office;
   • (d) receiving evidence on affidavits; and
   • (e) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents.
2. (2) The adjudicating officer or the appellate authority shall while exercising any power under this Act, be deemed to be a civil court for the purposes of sections 345 and 346 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974).