Vesting of appellate authority on officers by State Government

(1) (a) The State Government may, by a general or special order, by notification, confer on such officers and authorities, as it thinks fit, the powers of appellate authorities for the purposes of this Act, in such area or in such classes of cases as may be specified in the order. (b) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, any person aggrieved by an order passed by the Controller, except the orders for the recovery of possession made by the Controller in accordance with the procedure prescribed under section 16, may, within fifteen days from the date of such order or such longer period as the appellate authority may allow for reasons to be recorded in writing, prefer an appeal in writing to the appellate authority having jurisdiction. (In computing the period of fifteen days, the time taken to obtain a certified copy of the order appealed against shall be excluded). (2) On such appeal being preferred, the appellate authority may order stay of further proceedings in the matter pending decision on the appeal. (3) The appellate authority shall decide the appeal after sending for the records of the case from the Controller and after giving the parties an opportunity of being heard and, if necessary, after making such further inquiry as it thinks fit either personally or through the Controller. (4) The decision of the appellate authority and subject only to such decision, an order, of the Controller shall be final and shall not be liable to be called in question in any court of law except as provided in sub-section (5) of this section. (5) The High Court may, at any time, on the application of any aggrieved party or on its own motion call for and examine the records relating to any order passed or proceedings taken under this. Act for the purpose of satisfying itself as to the legality or propriety of such order or proceedings and may pass such order in relation thereto as it may deem fit.