Re-hearing of appeal on application of respondent against whom "ex-parte" decree passed

When an appeal is heard ex-parte in the absence of the respondent and judgement is given against him, he may apply to the Appellate Court to re-hear the appeal; and if he satisfies the Court that notice was not duly served or that he was prevented by sufficient cause from attending when the appeal was called on for hearing, the Court may re-hear the appeal on such terms as to costs or otherwise as the court thinks fit to impose upon him.