(1) Any person objecting to an order passed by the appropriate authority under section 17, section 24, section 25, section 26, section 27, section 29, sub-section (1), sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) of section 30, section 32, section 36, section 41, sub-section (4) of section 55 or sub-section (2) of section 58 or sub-section (3) of section 80 may, within a period of thirty days from the date on which the order was served on him in the manner prescribed, appeal against such order to the Appellate Assistant Commissioner having jurisdiction :

Provided that the Appellate Assistant Commissioner may admit an appeal presented after the expiration of the said period of thirty days, but within a further period of thirty days, if it is satisfied that the appellant had sufficient cause for not presenting the appeal within the period of thirty days:

Provided also that in the case of an order under section 17, section 24, section 25, section 26, section 27, section 29, sub-section (1), sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) of section 30, no appeal shall be entertained under this sub-section unless it is accompanied by satisfactory proof of the payment of the tax admitted by the appellant to be due or of such instalments thereof as might have become payable, as the case may be and twelve and half per cent of the difference of the tax assessed by the Assessing Authority and the tax admitted by the appellant:

Provided further that the Appellate Assistant Commissioner may, if he thinks fit for reasons to be recorded in writing and subject to furnishing of such security as he deems fit, admit an appeal against such order with part payment or without any payment of the disputed amount of tax required under this sub-section with a view to mitigate undue hardship which is likely to be caused to the person if the payments of such disputed amount is insisted on.

(2) The appeal shall be in the prescribed form and shall be verified in the prescribed manner.

(3) In disposing of an appeal, the Appellate Assistant Commissioner may, after giving the appellant a reasonable opportunity of being heard,

(a) in the case of an order of assessment -

(i) confirm, reduce, enhance or annul the assessment or the penalty or both; or

(ii) set aside the assessment and direct the assessing authority to make a fresh assessment after such further inquiry as may be directed; or

(iii) pass such other orders as he may think fit; and

(b) in the case of any other order, confirm, cancel or vary such order:

Provided that at the hearing of any appeal against an order of the assessing authority such assessing authority shall ave the right to be heard either in person or by a representative.

(4) Where as a result of the appeal any change becomes necessary in the order appealed against, the Appellate Assistant Commissioner may authorise the assessing authority to amend such order accordingly and on such amendment being made, any amount overpaid by the appellant shall be refunded to him without interest, or the further amount of tax, if any, due from him shall be collected in accordance with the \ provisions of this Act, as the case may be.

(5) Notwithstanding that an appeal has been preferred under sub-section (1) the tax shall be paid in accordance with the order of assessment against which the appeal has been preferred:

Provided that the Appellate Assistant Commissioner may, in its discretion, give such directions as he thinks fit in regard to the payment of the tax before the disposal of the appeal, if the appellant furnishes sufficient security to his satisfaction, in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed.