(1) Any person aggrieved by a decision of a licensing officer under section 8 or section 9 or section 11 or by a decision of a registering officer under section 16 may, within thirty days from the date on which the decision is communicated to him, prefer an appeal to such authority as may be prescribed:
     Provided that the appellate authority may entertain the 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, pass such orders as it deems fit