Section 5C. Adjudicating officer

1[ 5C. Adjudicating officer.— (1) The Central Government may, for the purposes of determining the penalties under sections 4, 5, 5A and 5B, appoint an officer not below the rank of Deputy Secretary to the Government of India or an officer not below the rank of Deputy Secretary to the State Government, to be adjudicating officer to hold an inquiry and impose penalty, in the manner as may be prescribed: Provided that the Central Government may appoint as many adjudicating officers as may be required. (2) The adjudicating officer may summon and enforce the attendance of any person acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case to give evidence or to produce any document, which in the opinion of the adjudicating officer, may be useful for, or relevant to, the subject-matter of the inquiry and if, on such inquiry, he is satisfied that the person concerned has failed to comply with the provisions of sections 4, 5, 5A and 5B, he may impose penalty: such inquiry, he is satisfied that the person concerned has failed to comply with the provisions of Provided that no such penalty shall be imposed without giving the person concerned a reasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter.