The prescribed authority shall have the powers which are vested in a court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), when trying a suit in respect of following matters:-
(a) discovery and inspection;
(b) enforcing the attendance of witnesses;
(c) requiring the deposit of their expenses;
(d) examining witnesses on oath;
(e) granting adjournments;
(f) reception of evidence taken on affidavit;
(g) issuing commission for the examination of witnesses; and
(h) compelling the production of documents;
and may summon and examine suo moto any person whose evidence appears to it to be material; and shall be deemed to be a civil court within the meaning of sections 345(1) and 346 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).
Explanation.- For the purpose of enforcing the attendance of witnesses the local limits of the jurisdiction of the prescribed authority shall be the limits of the State of Himachal Pradesh.