Section 16B. Competent authority, etc., to have certain inherent powers

16B. Competent authority, etc., to have certain inherent powers.— The competent authority and the appellate authority may exercise powers of the nature referred to in section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), to the same extent and for the same purposes as such powers are exercisable by civil courts.