State Act

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act, 1955.

658. (1) For the purposes of any inquiry or proceeding under this Act, the Judge may summon and enforce the attendance of witnesses and compel them to give evidence and compel the production of documents, by the same means and, as far as is possible, in the same manner as is provided in the case of the Small Causes Court by the 372[the Telangana Small Causes Court Act, 1330 F.] and in all matters relating to any such inquiry or proceeding the said Judge shall be guided generally by the provisions of the said Act so far as the same are applicable. (2) If, in any such inquiry or proceeding, the person against whom the complaint or application has been made fails to appear, notwithstanding that he has been duly summoned for this purpose, the said Judge may hear and determine the case in his absence. (3) The costs of every such inquiry or proceeding as determined by the said Judge, shall be payable by such parties and in such proportions as the Judge shall direct and the amount thereof shall, if necessary, be recoverable as if the same were due under a decree of the Court: Provided that if such inquiry or proceeding relates to a dispute regarding expenses declared to be improvement expenses under section 642, the amount of the costs directed by the said Judge to be paid by the owner or occupier of the premises in respect, or for the benefit, of which the improvement expenses were incurred shall be a charge on such premises and may also be recovered in the manner provided in section 643.