The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has been empowered to remove any person from the hearing who obstructs proceedings or misbehaves with the Commission officials. The Commission on Saturday issued guidelines on conduct of proceedings before it.
According to the guidelines, issued by the Commission on Saturday, the presiding authority shall exercise control over the proceedings to achieve orderly completion of the proceedings, and may order removal of any person from the hearing, who displays disrespect to the Commission or tries to obstruct the hearing.
The Commission, its Chairman, Members, or officers (presiding authority) presiding over any proceedings under the Ordinance, shall administer and enforce the Ordinance, rules and regulations effectively, with the minimum of procedural requirements.
During the course of any proceedings, the presiding authority shall have the power to administer affirmations, issue or direct the issuance of notices, and make all decisions regarding the admission or exclusion of evidence or any other procedural matters which may arise during the course of the hearing.
All parties, counsel, witnesses and other persons, present at a hearing, shall conduct themselves with decorum and deference to the authority presiding over such proceedings. The presiding authority shall be entitled to seek assistance from such persons, including, but not limited to, technical or professional experts, advisers, consultants, or any officer of the Commission, whose participation or consultation would be deemed appropriate to facilitate the orderly completion of the proceedings.
No proceedings of the Commission shall be invalid by reason of any defect or irregularity unless the presiding authority, on an objection taken by any party, is of the opinion that substantial injustice has been caused by such defect or irregularity or there are otherwise sufficient reasons for doing so, and the authority may, in such event, make such orders as deemed appropriate by it for the rectification of such defect or irregularity, the instructions added.
Comments
Comments are closed.