Section 255 · Procedure of the Appellate Tribunal

(1) The Appellate Tribunal may, after giving the parties to the appeal, an opportunity of being heard, pass such orders thereon as it thinks fit, confirming, modifying or annulling the order or notice appealed against or may refer the case back to the authority or officer against whose order or notice the appeal is filed, for a fresh order or notice, after taking additional evidence, if necessary, or such other action as the Appellate Tribunal may specify.

(2) The Appellate Tribunal shall send a copy of every order passed by it to the parties to the appeal.

(3) No Appellate Tribunal shall, in any appeal pending before it in respect of any order or notice under this Act, make an interim order (whether by way of injunction or stay) against the Council or against any officer or servant of the Council acting or purporting to act in his official capacity, unless an opportunity is given to the Council or its officer or servant to be heard in the matter:

Provided that the Appellate Tribunal may without giving an opportunity as aforesaid make an interim order as an exceptional measure if it is satisfied for reasons to be recorded by it in writing that it is necessary so to do for preventing any loss being caused to the person filing the appeal which cannot be adequately compensated in money:

Provided further that every such interim order shall, if it is not vacated earlier, cease to have effect on the expiry of a period of fourteen days from the date on which it is made unless before the expiry of that period, the Appellate Tribunal confirms or modifies that order after giving to the Council or its officer or servant an opportunity of being heard.

(4) Subject to rules that may be made by the Central Government in this behalf, the awarding of damages in and the costs of, and incidental to, any appeal before an Appellate Tribunal, shall be in its discretion and it shall have full power to determine by and to whom and to what extent and subject to what conditions, if any, such damages or costs are to be paid and to give, in its order disposing of an appeal, necessary directions for the purposes aforesaid.

(5) An order of the Appellate Tribunal made under this section may be executed or caused to be executed by it on the application of the person in whose favour the order has been made.

(6) In hearing and deciding an appeal or in the execution of an order, an Appellate Tribunal shall follow such procedure as may be prescribed by rules.

(7) Every Appellate Tribunal, shall in addition to the powers conferred on it under this Act, have the same power as are vested in a Civil Court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) in respect of the following matters, namely:--

(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of persons and examining them on oath;

(b) requiring the discovery and inspection of documents;

(c) receiving evidence on affidavits;

(d) requisitioning any public record or copies thereof from any court or office;

(e) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents; and

(f) any other matter which may be prescribed by rules.

and every proceeding of an Appellate Tribunal in hearing or deciding an appeal or in connection with the execution of its order, shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 and 228 and for the purpose of section 196 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860), and every Appellate Tribunal shall be deemed to be a Civil Court for the purposes of section 195 and Chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).