Referendum Act, 1942

Production of documents by the referendum returning officer.

39.—(1) At the trial of a referendum petition, the court shall be entitled to require the referendum returning officer to produce and deliver to the court all or any of the documents in his possession relating to the referendum, including reports, packets, and documents sent to him by local returning officers.

(2) All documents delivered to the court under the foregoing sub-section of this section shall be retained by the court until the relevant provisional referendum certificate has become final and shall then be returned to the referendum returning officer.

(3) While any documents are retained by the court under this section, it shall be lawful for the court to authorise any particular person or persons to inspect all or any of such documents and, where necessary, to open sealed packets, and it shall be lawful for the court to impose such conditions and restrictions as it shall think proper in respect of any such inspection.