Penalty for not deciding the appeal within the specified time

Where the Government is of the opinion that the Appellate Authority has failed to decide the appeal within the time limit specified in sub-section (2) of section 6, without any sufficient or reasonable cause, it may impose a fine on the Appellate Authority, which shall not be less than rupees one thousand but which may extend to rupees five thousand: Provided that before imposing such fine, the Appellate Authority shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard by the Government.