State Act

The Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966

255. Power of appellate authority.— (1) The appellate authority may either admit the appeal or, after calling for the record and giving the appellant an opportunity to be heard, may summarily reject it : Provided that, the appellate authority shall not be bound to call for the record where the appeal is time barred or does not lie. (2) If the appeal is admitted, a date shall be fixed for hearing and notice thereof shall be served on the respondent. (3) After hearing the parties, if they appear, the appellate authority may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, either annul, confirm, modify, or reverse the order appealed against, or may direct such further investigation to be made, or such additional evidence to be taken as it may think necessary; or may itself take such additional evidence; or may remand the case for disposal with such directions as it thinks fit. 1[(4) Any appeal filed before any revenue or survey officer shall be disposed of within a period of one year from the date on which such appeal is filed : Provided that, any such appeal filed before the date of commencement of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Mah. XI of 2016) shall be disposed of within a period of one year from the date of such commencement : Provided further that, in exceptional circumstances, for reasons to be recorded in writing, the period for disposing of any appeal may be extended further by six months by the State Government or an officer not below the rank of Collector designated in this behalf who is superior to the appellate authority : 1[Provided also that, where the appellate authority fails to dispose of any such proceeding within the period specified in this sub-section, the State Government alone shall be competent to grant such further extension of time for disposing of any such proceeding as it may deem fit, after recording reasons therefor in writing.] (5) If the appellate authority fails without sufficient cause, to dispose of any appeal within the period specified in sub-section (4), he shall be liable for disciplinary action in accordance with the concerned disciplinary rules applicable to him.]