Section 409 in The Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations Act, 1949
409. Appointment of expert valuer.
(1)If any party to an appeal against a rateable value makes an application to the Judge either before the hearing of the appeal or at any time during the hearing of the appeal, but before evidence as to value has been adduced, to direct a valuation of any premises in relation to which the appeal is made, the Judge may, in his discretion, appoint a competent person to make the valuation and any person so appointed shall have power to enter on, survey and value the premises in respect of which the direction is given:Provided that, except when the application is made by the Commissioner, no such direction shall be made by the Judge unless the application gives such security as the Judge thinks proper for the payment of the costs of valuation under this sub-section.(2)The costs incurred for valuation under sub-section (1) shall be costs in the appeal, but shall be payable in the first instance by the applicant.(3)The Judge may, and on the application of any party to the appeal shall, call as a witness the person appointed under sub-section (1) for making the valuation and, when he is so called, any party to the appeal shall be entitled to cross-examine him.
