22. Powers of the Authority

(1) The Authority shall have the same powers as are vested in a court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, while trying a suit in respect of the following matters namely :

(a) enforcing the attendance of any person, examining him on oath or affirmation.

(b) compelling the production of accounts and documents;

(c) issuing commission for the examination or witnesses;

(d) the receipt of evidence on affidavits;

(e) any other matter which may be prescribed.

[1A] The authority may grant stay of the operation of the order of the assessing authority2 against which the appeal is filed before it or order the [deposit] of the tax before entertaining the appeal and while granting such stay or making such order for the [deposit] of the tax, the Authority shall have regard, if the assessee has made [deposit] of the tax under the general sales tax law of the State concerned, to such [deposit] or pass such appropriate order as it may deem fit.]”

(1B) The Authority may issue direction for refund of tax collected by a State which has been held by the Authority to be not due to that State, or alternatively, direct that State to transfer the refundable amount to the State to which central sales tax in due on the same transaction.

Provided that the amount of tax directed to be refunded by a State shall not exceed the amount of central sales tax payable by the appellant on the same transaction.

(2) Every proceeding before the Authority shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of Section 193 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code,1860 (45 of 1860) and the Authority shall be deemed to be a Civil Court for the purposes of Section196 and chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).