(1) Any person aggrieved by an order of the authorised officer refusing to grant licence to a fishing vessel or offshore platform or cancelling, suspending, varying or amending such licence, or forfeiting of any security furnished, as the case may be, may, within a period of thirty days from the date on which the order is communicated to such person, prefer an appeal to the adjudicating officer, in such form and manner as may be prescribed:
Sec. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 77
Provided that the adjudicating officer may entertain the appeal after the expiry of the said period of thirty days, if he is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from preferring the appeal within such time.
(2) On receipt of an appeal under sub-section (1), the adjudicating officer shall, after giving the parties an opportunity of being heard, pass such order, thereon as he deems fit, as expeditiously as possible and in any case before the expiry of three months from the date of presenting the appeal before him.