Section 4

All proceedings and documents in or incidental to an action in contravention of this Act shall be void, and where complaint is made by a public officer or by the head of his department that such public officer is dealt with in con-travention of this Act by any process, execution, or order issued out of any court, and is made to the court or any court superior to it, the court shall examine into the com-plaint and shall, if necessary, discharge such public officer without fee and may award reasonable costs to the com-plainant, which may be recovered as if costs had been awarded in his favour in an action is such court.