(1) The appellate authority may either admit the appeal, or, after calling for the record and giving the appellant an opportunity to be hard may summarily reject it :
Provided that the appellate authority shall not be bound to call for the record where the appeal is time-barred or does not lie.
(2) If the appeal is admitted a date shall be fixed for hearing and notice there of shall be served on the respondent.
(3) After hearing the parties, if they appear, the appellate authority may confirm, vary or reverse the [xxx] order appealed against; or may direct such further investigation to be made or such additional evidence to be taken, as it may think necessary; or may itself take such additional evidence; or may remand the case for disposal with such directions, as it thinks fit.