Section 7 in Bihar Right to Public Grievance Redressal Act, 2015
7. Appeal. - (1) Any person, who has not been given an opportunity of hearing and redressal of the complaint within the stipulated time limit or who is aggrieved by the decision of the Public Grievance Redressal Officer, may file an appeal to the first appellate authority within thirty days from the expiry of the stipulated time limit or from the date of the decision of the Public Grievance Redressal Officer:
Provided that the first appellate authority may admit the appeal after the expiry of the period of thirty days but not exceeding forty five days if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.(2)If the Public Grievance Redressal Officer does not comply with the provision of section 5, any person aggrieved by such non-compliance, may submit complaint directly to the first appellate authority which shall be disposed of, in the manner of a first appeal.(3)The first appellate authority may order the Public Grievance Redressal Officer to given an opportunity of hearing and redressal to the complainant within the period specified by it or may reject the appeal.(4)A second appeal against the decision of the first appellate authority may be filed before the second appellate authority within thirty days from the date of the decision of the first appellate authority:Provided that the second appellate authority may admit the appeal after the expiry of the period of thirty days but not exceeding forty five days, if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.(5)An aggrieved person may file an appeal directly to the second appellate authority, if the Public Grievance Redressal Officer does not comply with the order of first appellate authority passed under sub-section (3) or the first appellate authority does not dispose of the appeal within the stipulated time limits and it shall be disposed of in the manner of a second appeal.(6)The second appellate authority may order the Public Grievance Redressal Officer or the first appellate authority to give an opportunity of hearing and redressal to the complainant or dispose of the appeal, as the case may be, within the period specified by it, which in any case will not exceed thirty days or may reject the appeal.(7)Along with the order to give an opportunity of hearing and redressal to the complainant, the second appellate authority may impose a penalty on Public Grievance Redressal Officer or any other public authority or the first appellate authority in accordance with the provisions of section 8.(8)The Public Grievance Redressal Officer, first appellate authority and second appellate authority shall, while deciding a complaint or an appeal under this section, have the same powers as are vested in a civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Central Act No. 5 of 1908) in respect of the following matters, namely:-(a)summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;(b)discovery and production of any document or other material object producible as evidence;(c)receiving evidence on affidavits;(d)requisitioning of any public record;(e)issuing commission for the examination of witnesses;(f)reviewing its decisions, directions and orders; and/or(g)any other matter which may be prescribed.
