(1) While deciding an appeal filed under sub-section (1) of Section 6 of the Act to the Appellate Authority or an appeal filed under sub-section (1) of Section 7 of the Act to the State Public Service Delivery Commission, the Appellate Authority or the State Public Service Delivery Commission may:
(i) summon the Designated Officer and appellant at the time of hearing of Appeal;
(ii) scrutinise the relevant documents or copies thereof;
(iii) hear the appellant and the Designated Officer at the time of hearing of the appeal;
(iv) call for records from the Designated Officer or the Public Authority as the case may be and if original copies are sought then the records shall be returned to the Designated Officer or Public Authority after the disposal of the appeal.
(2) In appeal filed to the Appellate Authority or to the State Public Service Delivery Commission as the case may be, the date of hearing shall be communicated to the appellant and the Designated Officer at least seven clear days in advance.
(3) If any party remains absent after due service of notice of the fixed date of hearing, then the appeal may be disposed of ex-parte or dismissed for non-appearance of party.
(4) Where circumstances exist due to which the appellant or the Designated Officer is unable to be present during the hearing, the Appellate Authority or the State Public Service Delivery Commission may provide another chance to the appellant or the Designated Officer to be heard before passing any order.
(5) While computing the stipulated time period for deciding the appeal as prescribed in sub-section (3) of Section 6 of the Act or in sub-section (4) of Section 7 of the Act, public holidays shall not be counted.
(6) The Appellate Authority or the State Public Service Delivery Commission may decide to also hear the appeals through the use of virtual video conferencing facilities.
PART-IIA] THE GAZETTE OF MEGHALAYA, FEBRUARY 4, 2021 46