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Powers of Disciplinary Committee as to taking evidence etc.
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19.—(1) The Disciplinary Committee shall, on an inquiry held by them, have the powers, rights and privileges, vested in the High Court or a judge thereof on the occasion of an action, in respect of—
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(a) the enforcement of the attendance of witnesses and their examination on oath or otherwise, and
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(b) the compelling of the production of documents,
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and a summons signed by a member of the Disciplinary Committee may be substituted for and shall be equivalent to any formal process capable of being issued in an action for enforcing the attendance of witnesses and compelling the production of documents.
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(2) Where the Disciplinary Committee hold an inquiry and a person—
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(a) on being duly summoned as a witness at the inquiry makes default in attending,
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(b) being in attendance as a witness at the inquiry refuses to take an oath legally required by the Disciplinary Committee to be taken, or to produce any document in his power or control legally required by the Disciplinary Committee to be produced by him or to answer any question to which the Disciplinary Committee may legally require an answer, or
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(c) does any other thing which, if the Disciplinary Committee were a court of law having power to commit for contempt, would be contempt of the court,
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the offence of that person may, by certificate signed by two members of the Disciplinary Committee, be certified to the High Court and the High Court may thereupon inquire into the alleged offence and, after hearing any witnesses who may be produced against or on behalf of the person charged with the offence and any statement that may be offered in defence, punish or take steps for the punishment of that person in like manner as if he had been guilty of contempt of the High Court.
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(3) A witness at an inquiry held by the Disciplinary Committee shall be entitled to the same immunities and privileges as if he were a witness before the High Court.
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