Industrial Development Authority Act, 1950

Power of Authority to summon witnesses, etc.

5.—(1) The Authority may for the purposes of their functions do all or any of the following things:—

(a) summon witnesses to attend before them,

(b) examine on oath (which any member is hereby authorised to administer) the witnesses attending before them,

(c) require a witness to produce to the Authority any document in his power or control.

(2) A witness shall not under any circumstances be called upon to disclose any particulars which would involve the divulging of secret manufacturing processes or recipes or of methods peculiar to the particular undertaking of such witness.

(3) The Authority shall not summon a witness to attend before them or require a witness to produce any document or furnish any information without informing the witness of the purpose for which the information is required by them.

(4) A witness before the Authority shall be entitled to the same immunities and privileges as if he were a witness before the High Court.

(5) If any person—

(a) on being duly summoned as a witness before the Authority makes default in attending, or

(b) being in attendance as a witness refuses to take an oath legally required by the Authority to be taken, or to produce any document in his power or control legally required by the Authority to be produced by him, or to answer any question to which the Authority may legally require an answer,

he shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds.

(6) A summons under this section shall be signed by at least one member.

(7) Proceedings for an offence under this section may be brought and prosecuted by the Minister.