Parties not to be represented by legal practitioners before the authorised officer

Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, no party to any proceeding under this Act shall be entitled to be represented by a legal practitioner before the authorised officer:

Provided that the authorised officer may, in the interests of justice and for reasons to be recorded in writing, allow any such party to be represented by a legal practitioner at his own cost.

Explanation. – For the purposes of this section, "legal practitioner" has the same meaning as in clause (1) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Advocates Act, 1961 (25 of 1961).