The opposite party may and if so required by the Claims Tribunal, shall at or before the first hearing or within such time as the Claims Tribunal may permit, file a written statement dealing with the claim raised in the application, and any such written statement shall form part of the record, provided that in case of an application in which the claim does not exceed Rs. 10,000/- the opposite party shall, on the date mentioned in the notice sent to him, file his written statement dealing with the claim raised in the application together with all the documents and affidavits for the proof of those documents and of facts on which he relies in support of his defence of the application entered in a properly prepared list of documents, affidavits and shall give to the applicant copies of the written statement, documents and affidavits:
Provided further that the Claims Tribunal may not allow the opposite party to rely in support of his defence, on any document or affidavit not filed along with the written statement, unless he satisfies the Claims Tribunal that for good or sufficient cause he was prevented from filing such document or affidavit, as the case may be, alongwith his written statement.
(2) If the opposite party contests the claim, the Claims Tribunal may, and if no written statement has been filed, shall proceed to examine him upon the claim and shall reduce the result of the examination in writing.