Should the Chief of Department of Mines receive information by petition, signed by ten or more miners or three or more operators, setting forth that any of the mine inspectors are neglectful of the duties of their office, or are physically unable to perform the duties of their office, or are guilty of malfeasance in office, he shall at once investigate the matter; and if he shall be satisfied that the charge or charges are well founded, he shall then petition the court of common pleas or the judge in chambers, in any county within or partly within the inspection district of the said mine inspector; which court upon receipt of said petition and a report of the character of the charges and testimony produced, shall at once issue a citation, in the name of the commonwealth, to the said inspector to appear, on not less than fifteen days' notice, on a fixed day, before said court, at which time the court shall proceed to inquire into the allegations of the petitioners, and may require the attendance of such witnesses, on the subpoena issued and served by the proper officer or officers, as the judge of the court and the chief of said department may deem necessary in the case; the inspector under investigation shall also have similar power and authority to compel the attendance of witnesses in his behalf.
71 P.S. § 1344