36. Hearing M. VAT RULES

36. Hearing    (1) (a) If the appellate authority does not summarily reject the appeal, it shall fix a date for hearing. The date so fixed shall not be earlier than ten days from the date on which intimation thereof is given to the appellant or to his agent: Provided that, a date earlier than aforesaid may be fixed for hearing, if the appellant or his agent agrees thereto in writing. (b) The authority aforesaid may for sufficient reasons adjourn at any stage the hearing of an appeal to a different time on the same day or any other day so however that the day to which the hearing is adjourned shall not be earlier than ten days from the day on which intimation thereof is given to the appellant or to his agent: Provided that, a date earlier than aforesaid may be fixed for hearing an appeal if the appellant or his agent agrees thereto in writing. (2) If on the date and at the time fixed for hearing or on any other date or at any other time to which the hearing may be adjourned, the appellant does not appear before the said authority either in person or through an agent, the said authority may dismiss the appeal or may decide it        ex-parte, as it may think fit: Provided that, if within thirty days from the date on which the appeal was dismissed or decided ex-parte, under this sub-rule, the appellant makes an application to the appellate authority for setting aside the order and satisfies it that the intimation of the date of hearing was not duly served on him or that he was prevented by sufficient cause from appearing when the appeal was called for hearing the said authority shall make an order setting aside the dismissal or ex-parte decision upon such terms as it thinks fit, and shall appoint a day for proceeding with the appeal. (2) (a) Every appellate authority including the Tribunal shall maintain registers showing the particulars regarding the chronological order of the filing of appeals and also the quantum of relief sought. (b)   For the purposes of these rules, the expression “quantum of relief sought” means:-- the aggregate of the amount of tax or penalty or interest, if any or sum forfeited or demanded and the amount claimed by the appellant as refundable, or (ii)               the difference between the amount of refund claimed by the appellant and the amount of refund granted in the order against which the appeal is filed, or (iii)              the difference of the amount of tax or penalty or interest, if any, or sum forfeited, demanded and the amount accepted by the appellant to be payable. (4) Every appellate authority including the Tribunal shall fix dates for hearing in such a way that half of the cases fixed for hearing during any month are the cases where appeals, if any, are filed against any order passed under section 56 or where appeals are filed earlier to all other appeals and the remaining half shall be out of the balance appeals involving the highest quantum of relief sought.