Section 34 — Power to adjudicate.

34. Power to adjudicate.—(1) For the purpose of adjudging penalty under section 33, the State 

Commission shall authorise any of its member to be an adjudicating officer for holding an inquiry in the 

prescribed manner after giving any person concerned a reasonable opportunity of being heard for the 

purpose of imposing any penalty. 

(2) While holding an inquiry the adjudicating officer shall have power to 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 has failed to 

provide the relief recommended by the District Grievance Redressal Officer, without reasonable cause, or 

wilfully ignored such recommendation, he may impose such penalty as he thinks fit in accordance with 

the provisions of section 33.