Railways Act, 1924

General powers of the railway tribunal.

18.—(1) For the purposes of this Act the railway tribunal shall have full power and jurisdiction to hear and determine all matters, whether of law or fact, which shall be duly brought before them under this Act, and shall not be subject to be restrained in the execution of their powers under this Act by the order of any other court, nor shall any proceedings before them be removed by certiorari into any other court.

(2) The railway tribunal with respect to the following matters, that is to say:—

(a) enforcing the attendance of witnesses (after a tender of their expenses), the examination of witnesses orally or by affidavit, and the production of deeds, books, papers, and documents; and

(b) punishing persons refusing to give evidence or to produce documents, or guilty of contempt in the presence of the railway tribunal or any of them sitting in open court; and

(c) the enforcement of their orders; and

(d) other matters necessary or proper for the due exercise of their several jurisdictions under this Act or otherwise for carrying this Act into effect;

shall have all such powers, rights, and privileges as are vested in the High Court for such or the like purposes, and all proceedings before the railway tribunal shall in law be deemed to be judicial proceedings before a court of record.

(3) Save as otherwise provided by this Act the costs of and incidental to every proceeding before the railway tribunal shall be in the discretion of the railway tribunal, who may order by whom and to whom the same are to be paid and by whom the same are to be taxed and allowed.