Section 9(7) in India Service (Performance Appraisal Report) Rules, 2007
(7)[ If the accepting authority is of a level below the Minister in the State or in the Central Government, then the competent authority to decide the representation shall be one level higher than the accepting authority and in such cases the accepting authority shall forward the comments of the officer reported upon along with the views of the reporting authority, reviewing authority and his own views to the competent authority within fifteen days of receipt of the views of the reviewing authority, and the comments of the accepting authority are required to be sought even if he has retired or demitted or relinquished office.
