(5)If during the proceedings conducted under subsection 6 of section 16 of the Act, the State Commission fixes a date for hearing of the parties, it shall be obligatory on the complainant and opposite party or his authorized agent who appear before the State Commission on such date of hearing or any other date to which hearing could be adjourned. Where the complainant or his authorized agent fails to appear before the State Commission on such day, the State Commission may in its discretion either dismiss the complaint for default or decide it on merits. Where the opposite party or its authorized agent fails to appear on the day of hearing, the State Commission may decide the complaint ex-parte.
