Report No. 15

71. Powers of Marriage Registrars in respect of inquiries.-

For the purpose of any inquiry under this Act, the Marriage Registrar shall have all the powers vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), when trying a suit in respect of the following matters, namely:-

(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them on oath;

(b) discovery and inspection;

(c) compelling the production of documents;

(d) reception of evidence on affidavits; and

(e) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses;

and any proceeding before the Marriage Registrar shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of section 193 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).

Explanation.-For the purpose of enforcing the attendance of any person to give evidence, the local limits of the jurisdiction of the Marriage Registrar shall be the local limits of his district.

[Section 53, Christian Marriage Act] [Cf. section 9(i), S.M.A.]