The competent authority shall have, for the purposes of this Act, all the powers of a civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), in respect of the following matters, namely:—
(a)summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;
(b)requiring the discovery and production of any document;
(c)reception of evidence on affidavits;
(d)requisitioning any public record from any court or office;
(e)issuing commission for examination of witnesses.