(1) An appeal shall lie against the order or direction of the 15[Tree Officer or the Deputy Collector, as the case may be], under sections 9, 10, 11, and 16 [12 and 12 A] to the Appellate Authority within a period of thirty days:
Provided that an appeal may be admitted after the expiry of the said period of thirty days if the appellant satisfies the Appellate Authority that he had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal within that period.
(2) Every appeal under this section shall be made by a petition in writing and shall be accompanied by a copy of the order or direction appealed against and shall be accompanied by 17[a fee as may be prescribed by the Government from time to time].
(3) In disposing of an appeal, the Appellate Authority shall follow such procedure as may be prescribed:
Provided that no appeal shall be disposed of unless the appellant has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
CHAPTER VI Penalties and Procedure 18[16. Seizure of property.— Where the Tree Officer or a Forest Officer not below the rank of a Forest Ranger or a Police Officer not below the rank of a Sub-Inspector has reasons to believe that an offence under this Act is committed in respect of any tree, he may seize the tools, implements, any boats, vehicles, animals or other conveyances used for the commission of the said offence, along with the tree or part thereof which has been severed from the ground or the trunk, as the case may be:
Provided that when the seizure has been affected by a Forest Officer or a Police Officer, he shall immediately inform the concerned Tree Officer about the said seizure;
Provided further that every officer seizing any property under this section shall place on such property a mark indicating that the same has been so seized and shall as soon as may be, make a report of such seizure to the Magistrate having jurisdiction to try the offence on account of which the seizure has been made].