Section 10 in The Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes Act, 2004
10. Powers and functions of the Commission.
(1)The Commission shall, while investigating any matter under this Act, have all the powers of a civil court trying a suit and, in particular, 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 documents;(c)receiving evidence on affidavits;(d)requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office;(e)issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses and documents; and(f)any other matter which may be prescribed.(2)The Commission shall perform all or any of the following functions, namely :-(a)to investigate and monitor all matters to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Castes under the Constitution of India or under any other law for the time being in force or under any order of the Government and to evaluate, the working of such safeguards;(b)to participate and advise on the planning process of socio- economic development of the Scheduled Castes and to evaluate the progress of their development;(c)to make recommendations as to the measures that should be taken by the State Government for the effective implementations of the safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare and socio-economic development of the Scheduled Castes.(d)to discharge such other functions in relation to the protection, welfare, development and advancement of the Scheduled Castes as may be prescribed;(e)to advise the Government on legislative and developmental policies affecting Scheduled Castes;(f)to undertake necessary steps at the Government and public level to protect the constitutional and legal rights of Scheduled Castes;(g)to monitor the implementation of laws and welfare measures concerning Scheduled Castes and initiate action for legal and administrative reforms to improve status of Scheduled Castes;(h)to investigate suo motu or on complaint with respect to the deprivation of rights or discrimination or victimization of the Scheduled Castes and to recommend remedial action to the Government and initiate judicial proceedings wherever necessary for effective remedy;(i)to conduct studies and research into the problems of Scheduled Castes and report the same to the Government for appropriate action;(j)to recommend prosecution in offences committed against Scheduled Castes and assist prosecution with evidence and legal services;(k)to conduct public interest litigation on behalf of groups of Scheduled Castes in general, and in special, in an individual case of a Scheduled Caste, who suffer or have suffered from injustice or discrimination or to intervene in any proceeding pending before a court relating to such matters with the permission of the court and provide legal aid and rehabilitation in deserving cases;(l)to present to the Government, annually and at such other times as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of the safeguards referred to in the preceding clauses;(m)to make in such reports, recommendations for the effective implementation of the aforesaid safeguards for improving the conditions of Scheduled Castes by the Union or any State;(n)to review, from time to time, the existing provisions of the Constitution of India and other laws affecting Scheduled Castes and recommended amendments thereto so as to suggest remedial legislative measures to meet any lacunae, inadequacies or shortcoming in such legislation; and(o)to suggest and recommend the measures for safeguarding and uplifting the status and conditions of Scheduled Castes and any other matter, which may be considered necessary and proper by the Commission for the welfare of Scheduled Castes or which may be referred to it by the Government.
