(1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, establish and constitute one or more appellate authority or authorities for the purposes of this Act. The appellate authority shall have jurisdiction for the area as may be specified in the notification by the State Government.
(2) The appellate authority shall consist of a Chairperson and two other members, having qualification and experience in the field of law or administration, as may be prescribed by the rules, and such persons may be serving or retired officers of the State Government and shall be paid such salary and allowances as may be determined by the State Government.
(3) The office of the appellate authority shall be at such place as may be specified in the notification.
(4) The State Government may, to assist the appellate authority, appoint such number of officers and staff and of such cadre as it may deem necessary.
(5) The expenses of the appellate authority shall be borne by the State Government.
(6) The procedure to be followed by the appellate authority in deciding the appeals or disputes referred to it under this Act, including the quorum at its meeting, shall be such as may be prescribed by the rules.
(7) No act or proceeding of the appellate authority shall be invalid merely by reason of any vacancy therein or any defect in the constitution thereof, or any irregularity in its procedure not affecting the merits of the case.
(8) Except as otherwise provided, any person aggrieved by an order of the Regional Development Authority may file an appeal before the appellate authority within thirty days of the communication of such order to him and the decision of the appellate authority shall be final.
(9) Except as otherwise provided, any dispute arising out of any provision of this Act may be referred to the appellate authority by a Regional Development Authority. The decision of the appellate authority thereon shall be final and binding on all the parties thereto.