Section 17 in Kerala Scheduled Tribes (Restriction on Transfer of Lands and Restoration of Alienated Lands) Act, 1975
17. Powers of competent authority and revenue Divisional Officer.
(1)The competent authority and the Revenue Divisional Officer while making inquiries under this Act shall have all the powers of a civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Central Act 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)any other matter which may be prescribed.(2)The decisions of the competent authority and the Revenue Divisional Officer under this Act shall have the force of a decree of a civil court.
