7Protection to Commissioners etc.

7  Protection to Commissioners etc.

 (1) Every such Commissioner shall in the exercise of his or her duty as Commissioner have the same protection and immunity as a Justice of the High Court.

 (2) Every witness summoned to attend or appearing before the Commission shall have the same protection, and shall in addition to the penalties provided by this Act be subject to the same liabilities in any civil or criminal proceeding, as a witness in any case tried in the High Court.

 (3) A legal practitioner assisting a Commission or appearing on behalf of a person at a hearing before a Commission has the same protection and immunity as a barrister has in appearing for a party in proceedings in the High Court.

7AA  Commission may have concurrent functions and powers under State laws

  If, with the consent of the Minister, any functions or powers are conferred on:

 (a) a sole Commissioner; or

 (b) all the members of a Commission;

by the Governor of a State or a Minister of a State, the sole Commissioner, or the members of the Commission, as the case may be, may perform those functions or exercise those powers in conjunction with the performance or exercise by the sole Commissioner, or by the members of the Commission, as the case may be, of the Commissioner’s or members’ functions or powers under this Act.