(1) Subject to the provisions contained
in sub-section (2), the Committee may exercise all or any of the
powers which an industrial tribunal, constituted under the Industrial
Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947), exercises for the adjudication of an
industrial dispute referred to it and shall, subject to the provisions
contained in this Act and the rules, if any, made thereunder, have
power to regulate its own procedure.
(2) Any representations made to the Committee and any documents
furnished to it way of evidence, shall be open to inspection on
payment of such fee as may be prescribed, by any person interested in
the matter.
(3) If in the course of any inquiry it appears to the Committee
that it is necessary to examine any accounts or documents or obtain
any statements from any person, the Committee may authorise any
officer of the Central Government (hereinafter referred to as the
authorised officer) in that behalf; and the authorised officer shall,
subject to the directions of the Committee, if any, examine the
accounts or documents or obtain the statements from the person.
(4) The authorised officer may, subject to the directions of the
Committee, if any, exercise all or any of the powers which an
industrial tribunal may exercise under sub-section (2) or sub-section
(3) of section 11 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947).
(5) Nothing in sub-section (1) of section 54 of the Indian
Income-tax Act, 1922 (11 of 1922), or in any corresponding provision
in any other law for the time being in force relating to the levy of
any tax shall apply to the disclosure of any of the particulars
referred to therein in any report made to the Committee by an
authorised officer.
(6) Any information obtained by an authorised officer in the
exercise of any of his powers and any report made by him shall,
notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, be treated as
confidential, but nothing in this sub-section shall apply to the
disclosure of any such information or report to the Central Government
or to a court in relation to any matter concerning the execution of
this Act.
(7) The authorised officer shall be deemed to be a public servant
within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of
1860).
