(1) The State Food Commission shall, on receipt of any complaint, seek a report on it from the District Grievance Redressal Officer, along with supporting documents, who shall be required to furnish it within fifteen days.
(2) The State Food Commission shall have powers relating to inquiries as specified in section 20 of the Act.
(3) Taking into consideration the report of the District Grievance Redressal Officer, and the available documents, the State Food Commission shall issue appropriate orders for redressal of the complaint, within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the report of the District Grievance Redressal Officer.
(4) In the case of an appeal against the orders of the District Grievance Redressal Officer, the State Food Commission shall give an opportunity to appellant and respondent to present their cases in person or through a representative on a fixed date, time and place and after having heard them, decide the appeal within a period of ninety days from the date of receipt of the appeal.
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(5) On the date fixed for hearing, it shall be obligatory for the appellant and non-appellant to present their case in person or through a representative or agent before the State Food Commission, and in case of failure to do so, the State Food Commission may on its own discretion either dismiss the case or proceed to enquire the matter ex-parte and decide the appeal within a period of ninety days from the date of receipt of the appeal.
(6) The order of the State Food Commission shall be authenticated by the Member-Secretary or any other officers of the State Food Commission duly authorized by the State Food Commission on its behalf and the relevant parties shall be informed free of cost.
(7) The State Food Commission shall arrange to deliver copies of the decision to the concerned parties within a period of fifteen days from the date of such decision.
(8) If the State Food Commission is of the opinion that the disposal of the appeal requires more than a period of ninety days, the appellant shall be sent an interim reply citing the reasons for the delay.
(9) The Chairperson shall have the power to constitute a Bench consisting of one or two or three members.
(10) The Chairperson shall decide the days of a week for the hearing according to the workload.
(11) In the event of a bench consisting of more than one member, the decision shall be made according to the opinion of the majority:
Provided that if the member of a Bench consisting of an even number differs in opinion on any point, they shall state the point or points on which they differ and make a reference to the Chairperson who shall either hear the case or refer the case to another Bench for decision.