(1) No witness shall be excused from answering any question as to any matter relevant to a matter in issue in the trial of an election petition up to the g:round that the al}.swer to such question may criminate or may tend to criminate him, or that it • 1965 : Pb. Act 16] PUNJAB HOMOEOPATHIC PRACTITIONERS may expose or may tend to expose him to any penalty or forefeiture :
Provided that- ( a) a witness who answers truly all questions which he is required to answer shall be entitled to receive a certificate of indemni- -. ty from the prescribed authority ; and
(b) an answer given by a witness to a question put by or before the prescribed authority shall not, except in the case of any criminal proceedin~ for p~rjury in respect of the evidence, be admissible in evidence against him in any civil or criminal proceeding.
(2) When a certificate of indeminity has been granted to any witness it may be pleaded by him in any court and shall be a full and complete defence to or upon any charge under Chapter IX -A of the Indian Penal Code (Act No. XL V of 1860), arising out of the matter to which such certificate relates, but it shall not be deemed to relieve him from any disquali fication in connection with any election imposed by this Act or any other Law.
46. The reasonable expenses incurred by any Expenses of wit person in attending to give evidence may be allowed nesses.
by the prescribed authority to such person, and shall, unless the prescribed authority otherwise directs, be deemed to be part of the costs.