Right of appeal

20. (1) Any person aggrieved by an order of the competent authority under sub-section (2) of section 9 or sub-section (2) of section 19 may, within 15 days of the service of the order under the said sections, prefer an appeal to the 1[Central Government]:

Provided that the 1[Central Government] may entertain the appeal after the expiry of the said period of 15 days if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.

1. (2) On receipt of an appeal under sub-section (1) the 1[Central Government] may, after calling for a report from the competent authority or the Labour Commissioner, and after making such further enquiries, if any, as may be necessary, pass such orders as it thinks fit and the order of the 1[Central Government] shall be final.
2. (3) Where an appeal is preferred upon sub-section (1), the 1[Central Government] may stay the enforcement of the order appealed against for such period and on such conditions as it thinks fit or until the decision of the appeal whichever is earlier.