24. Appeals.-

(1) Any licensee or person other than licensee aggrieved by any decision or order passed under this Act, may file an appeal before appellate authority, in such form, within such time, and in such manner as may be prescribed. (2) No appeal shall be filed by any licensee or person other than licensee, unless he has paid- (a) in full, such part of amount of electricity duty and cess, interest and penalty arising from impugned order, as is admitted by him; and (b) a sum equal to ten per cent. of the remaining amount of electricity duty in dispute arising from the said order in relation to which the appeal has been filed. (3) Where the amount specified under sub-section (2) has been paid, the recovery proceedings for the balance amount shall be deemed to have been stayed. (4) A licensee or person other than licensee shall have the right to be heard at the hearing of the appeal. (5) Every appeal shall, where it is possible to do so, be heard and decided within a period of one year from the date on which it is filed: Provided that where the issuance of order is stayed by an order of a court, the period of such stay shall be excluded in computing the period of one year.