Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
PoweT to summon witnesses and requisition docu- ments.-(1) Subject to such restrictions, limitations and condi- tlons 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 m writing, and such other officials en- gaged in the relief of rural indebtedness or officers of co-opera- tive bank.s which are reg1stered or deemed to be regis.ered under the Travancore·Cochin Co-operative Soc1eties Ac~, 1951, ' ' 14 or the Madras Co-operative Societies Act, 1932,·as the;Govern- ment may, by notification in the Gazette authorise In this behalf,. shall have the same powers as are vebted in a court under the Code of Ctvi1 Procedure, 1908 ( 5 of 1908). when trymg a suit,. in respect of the following matters, namely:- (a) enforcing the atfendance of any person. and examin- ing him on oath or affirmation; (b) compelling•the production of documents; and (c) issuing commis:;ions for the ex:ammation of witnesses. (2) Any of the officers authorised by or. under sub-section (1) may require any person pr•·sent be:ore him to furnish any mformation or to produce any document then and. there in llis possession or power, relevant to the inquiry. (3) Any officer before whom any document is produced under sub-section (1) or sub-sect10n (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 or personcmay.·con'sider neCP'>Sary. Copies so taken shall. when certified ·m such manner as may be prescribed, be admissible in evidence for any purpose in the same manner and to the sam~ e"tent as the origmal docu- ment or the entries therem,' as the case may lie. (4) (a) Any person who wilfully or without. reasonable ex- cuse disobey.:;. any summons, requisition or order'issued. under· sub-sec.tion {1) or sub-section <2), shall be punishable Wltll fine· w111ch may extend to fifty rupees, and 1n the ca:o.e~ of a continu- mg disobedience with an adjitional fine wh1ch may extend to five rupees for every day durmg which such dtsob'edience conti- nues after conviction for the last such disobedience. (b) No court inferior·to that of a Magistrate' of the first class ~hall try any offence under clause (a). · (c)· EVery offence under clause (a) shall; for the purposes of the Code of'Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898), be deemed to be non-cognizable. (d) No prosecution shall be, mstituted; unde-r clause: (a), w1thout the previous sanction- · (i) of the Regis~rar in- case the~· summon~ •. requisition or order alleged 1to have been di!>obeyed · was issued by the Registrar or any person subordinate to him or'by, any officer oi a co-operativ'e b'ank·; and 01) ofthe Collector of'ttie district in other ca~es. Such sancti~n shall not be_giyen withaut giving--the party concerned an opportunity to oe heard. (5) The Goverument shall have power to make rules for giV1116 effect to the provisions of .this.~ection.