Section 17: Power to adjourn hearing and direct persons appearing interested to be made respondents

(1) Where it appears to the Commission at the hearing that any person who was a party to the proceedings before the competent authority from whose order the appeal is preferred, but who has not been made a party to the appeal, is interested in the result of the appeal, the Commission may adjourn the hearing to a future day to be fixed by the Commission and direct that such person be made a respondent.

(2) No respondent shall be added under this rule, after the expiry of the period of limitation for appeal, unless the Commission, for reasons to be recorded, allows that to be done, on such terms as to costs as it thinks fit.