(1) No Court shall take cognisance of any offence punishable under section 7 or section 8 except on the complaint in writing of the Chairman of the Committee or the Commissioner, as the case may be.
(2) The Commissioner shall make a complaint only when authorised in writing to do so by the Chairman of the Committee which appointed him.
(3) The Chairman of such Committee or a Commissioner making such complaint shall be deemed to be a public servant acting or purporting to act in the discharge of his official duties within the meaning of proviso (aa) to section 200 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.
Act V of
1898.
Immunities and privileges of witnesses.
10. Every person giving evidence before any Committee to which this Act applies shall enjoy the same immunities and privileges as if he were giving evidence before a Court.
Arrangement to preserve secret character of evidence.
11. Any person who is required to give evidence on any matter or produce any document may object that such evidence or document will disclose information which is likely to expose him or his employer to unfair competition, and, on such objection being made, the Chairman of a Select Committee shall consider whether such objection is valid and if such objection is accepted as valid, the Chairman shall make arrangements to preserve the secret character of such evidence.
Procedure when a person’s conduct is under investigation.
12. If a Committee, appointed by or in pursuance of a Resolution of a Chamber of the Legislature, consider it necessary during the course of the inquiry to investigate the conduct of any person, the Chairman shall give such person a reasonable opportunity to be present at the inquiry, and allow him to take such part in it, either in person or by his duly appointed representative, as the Chairman considers fair to the person concerned and relevant to the investigation.
Power to make rules.