- The Inquiring Officer shall-(i)frame a charge against the pleader or the Mukhtar;(ii)fix the date, hour and place of the inquiry and issue notice for service upon the pleader or the Mukhtar at least fifteen days before the date so fixed;(iii)hand over to or cause a copy of the charge to be served upon, the complainant and the pleader or the Mukhtar;(iv)require the pleader or the Mukhtar to deliver his written reply to the charge within fourteen days of the receipt of the copy of the complaint or such further time as the Inquiring Officer may grant;(v)require the complainant and the pleader or the Mukhtar within a further period of fourteen days or such further time as the Inquiring Officer may grant to apply for the summoning of any evidence they may desire to produce, depositing with the application the necessary expenses, or to bring their evidence before the Inquiring Officer on the date fixed without involving the assistance of the Inquiring Officer :Provided that where the case has been referred by the District Judge, the District Magistrate or the High Court suo motu or at the instance of any court subordinate to such District Judge, District Magistrate or High Court or where the Inquiring Officer considers, and record in writing, that the complainant is so poor as to be unable to defray the expenses but the allegation being of a serious nature, it would be in the interest or proper administration of justice to enquire into them, the cost of summoning evidence or issuing commission shall be borne by the Government and debited to the head "Allowances to witnesses and Jurors" :Provided further that if the complainant becomes disinterested in the case or he does not want to proceed further with it, the Court, if they consider it proper in the interest of administration of justice, may treat the case as their own and go ahead with it.
