(1) In addition to his powers and duties specified in rule 3, the Secretary shall have the following additional powers and perform the following duties, namely:—
(i) receive all references, applications, reports, letters, representations and other documents;
(ii) decide all questions arising out of any reference to the Appellate Authority before the same is registered in the office of the Appellate Authority;
(iii) require any reference to be amended in accordance with the Act, or the regulations made under section 13 of the Act;
(iv) subject to the directions of the Chairman, or the respective Benches, as the case may be, fix dates for hearing of references, applications or other proceedings;
(v) direct formal amendment of records;
(vi) grant leave to inspect the records of the Appellate Authority;
(vii) dispose of all matters relating to the service of the notices, summons, other process, applications for issue of fresh notices, summon or other process or for extending time for ordering a particular mode of service including the substituted service by publication of the notices, summons or other process by way of advertisement in the newspapers.
(2) An appeal against the decision of, or direction issued by, the Secretary under clauses (ii), (iii), (v), (vi) and (vii) shall be made to the Chairman by the aggrieved party within 15 days from the date on which such decision or direction is communicated to him and the decision thereon of the Chairman shall be final.