Quasi judicial powers enable tax authorities to compel discovery, attendance, and document production with procedural safeguards.
Clause 246 vests specified income tax authorities with civil court-equivalent powers for discovery, inspection, compulsory attendance, production of books and documents, examination on oath, and issuance of commissions; permits exercise of those powers in the absence of pending proceedings where there is a reason to suspect or by Board notification; authorises impounding of produced documents subject to recorded reasons, a limited retention period excluding holidays, and sanctioned extensions.