Section 15A. Adjudicating officer.

1[15A. Adjudicating officer.---(1) The appropriate Government may, for the purposes of determining the penalties under section 15, appoint an officer as it may deem fit, to be adjudicating officer to hold an inquiry and impose penalty in the manner, as may be prescribed: Provided that the appropriate 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 this Act, he may impose penalty: Provided that no such penalty shall be imposed without giving the parties concerned a reasonable opportunity of being heard.]