(1) Subject to the other provisions of this Act, an applicant shall be eligible to make an application for settlement of arrear tax, penalty or interest in dispute in respect of any period for which an assessment has been made under the relevant Act and an appeal or revision relating thereto is pending on the 31st day of December, 1998, before any appellate authority or revisional authority, as the case may be.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), an applicant shall not be eligible to make an application for settlement of arrear tax, penalty or interest in respect of any period under the relevant Act for which the appeal or revision has been finally heard by the appellate authority or the revisional authority, as the case may be.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, no appeal or revision shall be deemed to have been heard only by reason of any stay order having been passed by any appellate or revisional authority in connection with such appeal or revision.