The Railway Claims Tribunal Act, 1987
18. Procedure and powers of
Claims Tribunal
1. The
Claims Tribunal shall not be bound by the procedure laid down by the Code of
Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), but shall be guided by the principles of
natural justice and, subject to the other provisions of this Act and of any
rules, the Claims Tribunal shall have powers to regulate its own procedure
including the fixing of places and times of its enquiry.
2. The
Claims Tribunal shall decide every application as expeditiously as possible and
ordinarily every application shall be decided on a perusal of documents,
written representations and affidavits and after hearing such oral arguments as
may be advanced.
3. The
Claims Tribunal shall have, for the purposes of charging its functions under
this Act, the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of
Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), while trying a suit, 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 documents;
c.
Receiving
evidence on affidavits;
d.
Issuing
commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents;
e.
Reviewing
its decisions;
f.
Dismissing
an application for default or deciding it ex parte;
g.
Setting
aside any order of dismissal of any application for default or any order passed
by it ex parts;
h.
Any
other matter which may be prescribed.