Section 18. Appeals.

(1) Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Controller under section 4 or section 5 may, within thirty days from the date on which the decision is communicated to him and on payment of such fees as may be prescribed, prefer an appeal to the Commissioner, Agriculture, Maharashtra State: Provided that, the appellate authority may entertain an appeal after the expiry of the said period of thirty days, if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time. (2) On receipt of an appeal under sub-section (1), the appellate authority shall, after giving the appellant an opportunity of being heard, dispose of the appeal as expeditiously as possible. (3) Every order of the appellate authority under this section shall be final.