(1) The State Commission shall, while inquiring into any matter referred to in clauses (b) and (e) of sub-section (6) of section 16, have all the powers of a civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, and, in particular, in respect of the following matters, namely:—
(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;
(b) discovery and production of any document;
(c) receiving evidence on affidavits;
(d) requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office; and
(e) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents.
(2) The State Commission shall have the power to forward any case to a Magistrate having jurisdiction to try the same and the Magistrate to whom any such case is forwarded shall proceed to hear the complaint against the accused as if the case has been forwarded to him under section 346 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
21. No act or proceeding of the State Commission shall be invalid merely by reason of—
(a) any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of, the State Commission; or
(b) any defect in the appointment of a person as the Chairperson or a Member of the State Commission; or
(c) any irregularity in the procedure of the State Commission not affecting the merits of the case.
CHAPTER VIII OBLIGATIONS OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT FOR FOOD SECURITY