Any officer or authority while holding an inquiry or hearing an appeal or exercising powers of revision under this Act shall have the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), when trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely:--
         (a) enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;
         (b) requiring the discovery and production of documents and material objects;
         (c) receiving evidence on affidavit; and
         (d) such other matters as may be prescribed