Section 10(3) in The Punjab Maternity Benefit Rules, 1967
(3)When an appeal is received, the Competent Authority shall furnish a copy of the memorandum of appeal to the employer, call for his reply thereto and ask him to produce documents connected with the issue of appeal by a fixed date. On considering the facts presented to him and ascertained by him, the Competent Authority shall give his decision. In case the employer fails to submit his reply or produce the required documents within the specified period, the Competent Authority may give his decision ex parte.
