What are the Powers of District forum ?
The Consumer Protection Act vests the District forum with the powers given to a Civil Court by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. These are: The power to summon and enforce the attendance of any defendant or witness and examining the witness on oath. The authority to order for discovery and production of any document or other material object producible as evidence; The power to receive evidence on affidavits; The power to requisition the report of the concerned analysis or test from the appropriate laboratory or from any other relevant source; The power to issue any commission for the examination of any witness. Moreover, the Act says that the proceedings before the District Forum shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of Section 193 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code. Hence, a person giving false evidence can be punished under the Penal Code. The power to proceed against a person for contempt of court is also provided for. After the proceedings under Section 13 a
