24. Power of Government to appoint court of enquiry in cases of accidents.- (1) When any accident of the nature referred to in any of the clauses of sub-section(1) of sections 23 occurs in or about a mine, the Central Government may if it is of opinion that a formal inquiry into the causes of and circumstances attending the accident ought to be held, appoint a competent person to hold such inquiry and may also appoint one or more persons possessing legal or special knowledge to act as assessor or assessors in holding the inquiry. (2) The person appointed to hold such an inquiry shall have all the powers of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure 1908 (Act V of 1908), for the purpose of enforcing the attendance of witnesses and compelling the production of documents and material objects. (3) Any person holding an inquiry under this section may exercise such of the powers of an Inspector under this Act as he may think it necessary or expedient to exercise for the purposes of the inquiry. (4) The person holding an inquiry under this section shall make a report to the Central Government stating the causes of the accident and its circumstances, and adding any observations which he or any of the assessors may think fit to make.
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