3. Manner of inquiry under sub-section (1) of section 10A. -(1) The State Government may appoint an officer not below the rank of a Sub-divisional Magistrate for the purpose of making an inquiry referred to in Sub-section (1) of section 10A.
(2) The officer appointed under sub-rule (1) (hereinafter in this rule referred to as the inquiry officer) shall issue a public notice specifying the date, time, place and the purpose of such inquiry and calling upon all the residents of the area in respect of which the inquiry is to be held to furnish such information and materials, including documents in their possession, as may be relevant for the purposes of the inquiry.
(3) The public notice referred to in sub-rule (2) shall be in the local language or languages of the area and the same shall be-
(i) Published on the notice board in the offices of the District Magistrate, the District Superintendent of Police, the Village, Panchayat or Municipal Committee of the area and such other places as the inquiry officer deems fit and at least in one daily newspaper circulating in the area; and
(ii) Proclaimed in the area by beat of drum or in such other manner, as the inquiry officer may think best in the circumstances to bring the contents of the public notice to the notice of the inhabitants of the area.
(4) The inquiry officer, while making such inquiry shall follow as nearly as practicable, the procedure for summary trials including the recording of evidence as laid down in Chapter XXI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).
(5) The inquiry officer shall complete the inquiry as expeditiously as possible and submit his report to the State Government within such period, not exceeding six weeks, as may be specified by the State Government in the order appointing the inquiry officer:
Provided that the State Government may, having regard to the nature of the inquiry, extend the period of submission of the report by such period, not exceeding two months in total, as it may consider necessary.
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