Section 17: Consideration of objections

17. Consideration of objections (1) The registration officer shall, as soon as practicable, consider all objections of which notice has been given to him in accordance with this Part and, for that purpose, shall give at least 5 clear days’ notice to the objector and to the person in respect of whose registration the notice of objection has been given, of the time and place at which the objection will be considered by him. (2) In all proceedings for the consideration of claims and objection by the registration officer, the law and rules of evidence to be complied with shall be the same as in civil cases before a Magistrate, and the practice and procedure shall as nearly as may be conform to the practice and procedure on the hearing of such cases, and the registration officer shall have the same powers, jurisdiction and authority (including the power to administer an oath or affirmation) as a Magistrate in such cases. (3) Any person who makes a false statement on oath or affirmation in any proceedings for the consideration of claims and objections by the registration officer shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to the penalty provided by section 195 of the Courts Act for the offence of swearing a false affidavit.