The competent authority shall have, for the purposes of this Act, all the powers of a civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (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) reception of evidence on affidavits;
         (d) requisitioning any public record from any court or office;
         (e) issuing commission for examination of witnesses.