(1) The State Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, may appoint an officer or an authority as appellate authority, with the powers to decide appeals against the orders of the competent authority, under the general guidance, superintendence and control of the State Government:
Provided that the State Government may notify as appellate authority more than one officer or authority and distribute the works among them in the manner deemed fit.
(2) Any person aggrieved by any order of the competent authority under this Act, may, within a period of thirty days of the communication of the order to him, prefer an appeal to an appellate authority in such form and manner as may be prescribed.
(3) The appellate authority, after giving an opportunity to be heard to the parties and to the competent authority, may pass such order as deemed fit, either confirming, modifying or setting aside the order of the competent authority, and record its reasons in writing. The order of the appellate authority shall be final, unless revised by the State Government.
(4) In discharging its functions, the appellate authority shall exercise all the powers of Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 while deciding an appeal.