Power of Magistrate to direct local investigation and examination of an expert

When conducting the inquiry under the preceding provisions, the magistrate may order a local investigation by any person he thinks fit or summon and examine an expert. The appointed person’s inspection or the expert’s evidence is used to assist the magistrate in that inquiry. It lets the magistrate get local facts or technical opinion before deciding.

Priya says a neighbour built a boundary wall partly on her shop’s land. For the inquiry, the magistrate appoints a local officer to inspect the spot and summons a surveyor as an expert to measure the line. The inspection report and the surveyor’s evidence are then used in the inquiry.