The appellate authority shall be an officer not below the rank of the Deputy Secretary to Government or its equivalent rank.

Appeal by the aggrieved citizen.- (1) Any person, whose application is rejected under sub- section (2) of section 5 or who is not provided the service within the stipulated time, may file an appeal to the competent officer within thirty days from the date of rejection of application or the expiry of the stipulated time limit: Provided that the competent officer may admit the appeal even after the expiry of the period of thirty days if he is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.

1. (2) The competent officer may order to the designated officer to provide the service within the specified period or may reject the appeal or may impose compensatory cost according to the provisions of section 9.
2. (3) An appeal against decision of competent officer shall lie to the appellate authority within sixty days from the date on which the decision was made: Provided that the appellate authority may admit the appeal even after the expiry of the period of sixty days if he is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.
3. (4) The appellate authority may order to the designated officer to provide the service within such period as he may specify or he may reject the appeal.
4. (5) If the designated officer does not comply with sub-section (1) of section 5, then the applicant aggrieved from such non- compliance may submit an application directly to the competent officer. This

application shall be disposed of in the manner as if it is the first appeal.

1. (6) If the designated officer does not comply the order of providing the service under sub-section (2) of this section, then the applicant aggrieved from such non-compliance may submit an application

directly to the appellate authority. This application shall be disposed of in the manner of appeal.

1. (7) The competent officer and the appellate authority shall while deciding an appeal under this section, have the same powers as are vested in civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Central Act 5 of 1908) in respect of the following matters, namely:-
   • (a) requiring the production and inspection of documents;
   • (b) issuing summons for hearing to the designated officer and appellant; and
   • (c) any other matter which may be prescribed.