s 31 Discovery of bankrupt’s property
(1) The court may, on the application of the Director General of Insolvency or of any creditor who has proved his debt at any time after a debtor has been adjudged bankrupt, summon before it the bankrupt, or any wife of his, or any person known or suspected to have in his possession any of the estate or effects belonging to the bankrupt, or supposed to be indebted to the bankrupt, or any person whom the court deems capable of giving information respecting the bankrupt, his dealings or property, and the court may require any such person to produce any documents in his custody or power relating to the bankrupt, his dealings or property. (2) If any person so summoned, after having been tendered a reasonable sum, refuses to come before the court at the time appointed, or refuses to produce any such document, having no lawful impediment made known to the court at the time of its sitting and allowed by it, the court may by warrant cause him to be apprehended and brought up for examination. (3) The court may examine on oath, either by word of mouth or by written interrogatories, any person so brought before it concerning the bankrupt, his dealings or property. (4) If on the examination of any such person it appears to the court that he is indebted to the bankrupt, the court may, on the application of the Director General of Insolvency, order him to pay to the Director General of Insolvency, at such time and in such manner as to the court seems expedient, the amount in which he is indebted or any part thereof, either in full discharge of the whole amount in question or not as the court thinks fit, with or without costs of the examination. (5) If on the examination of any such person it appears to the court that he has in his possession any property belonging to the bankrupt the court may, on the application of the Director General of Insolvency, order him to deliver to the Director General of Insolvency such property or any part thereof at such time and in such manner and on such terms as to the court seems just. (6) The powers given to the court under this section may in all cases be exercised by the Registrar and any order made or act done by the Registrar shall be deemed the order or act of the court.