(1) Where the Forum comes to the conclusion that the Complainant and the designated officer or the concerned officer of the licensee, as the case may be, are required to be heard for redressal of a grievance, the Forum shall call the Complainant and the designated officer or the concerned officer, as the case may be, with the details of the case and documents, if any, as may be necessary.
(2) Where the complainant or the licensee or his representative is unable to appear before the Forum on the date fixed for hearing on more than two occasions consecutively the Forum may, for reason to be recorded in writing, dispense with the presence of such person and may decide the grievance ex-parte.
(3) No adjournment shall ordinarily be granted by the Forum, unless sufficient cause is shown and the reasons for grant of adjournment have been recorded in writing by the Forum.
1 [(4) In cases where the Forum decides to grant the prayer made by any of the party for adjournment, it shall also make an order as to the cost, occasioned by the adjournment, which shall not be less than Rs. 1,000/- for each adjournment, to be paid by the defaulting party to the non-defaulting party and /or to the Forum:
Provided that in case where the adjournment is sought by any party for the first time, no such cost shall be awarded.]