Section 25A. Adjudication of penalties.

1[25A. Adjudication of penalties.--(1) For the purposes of adjudging penalties under 2[section 11, section 12] sub-section (3) of section 20, section 23, 3*** section 24 and section 25, the Chairman shall appoint the Secretary to the Authority or any other officer authorised by the Central Government, as the case may be, to be an adjudicating officer for holding an inquiry and imposing penalty under the provisions of this Act, in the manner as may be prescribed, after giving the person concerned a reasonable opportunity of being heard (2) Whoever is aggrieved by an order of the adjudicating officer may prefer an appeal to the Chairman, within a period of sixty days from the date of receipt of such order in such form and manner as may be prescribed. (3) An appeal may be admitted after the expiry of the period of sixty days if the appellant satisfies the Chairman that he had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal within that period. (4) No appeal shall be disposed of unless the appellant has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard. (5) The appellate authority referred to in sub-section (2) shall dispose of the appeal within sixty days from the date of filing. (6) The amount of penalty imposed under sub-section (1), if not paid, shall be recovered as an arrear of land revenue.]