(5)On the date fixed for hearing of the appeal or on such date to which the hearing may be adjourned, the Appellate Authority shall peruse the record and hear the parties to the appeal if present in person or through any agent duly authorised in writing or through a legal practitioner and shall thereafter proceed to pass an order of confirmation, reversal or modification of order of confiscation:Provided that before passing any final order the Appellate Authority may, if it is considered necessary for proper decision of- appeal, make further inquiry itself or cause it to be made by the authorised officer, and may also allow parties to file affidavits for asserting or refuting any fact that may arise for consideration and may allow proof of facts by affidavits.
