Gujarat (Right of Citizens to Public Services) Act, 2013
(1) Every complaint forwarded along with the details under section 9 shall be deemed to have been filed by way of an appeal to the Designated Authority. (2) Any person aggrieved by a decision of the concerned Grievance Redressal Officer or who has not been informed in writing the manner in which his grievance has been redressed in respect of a complaint filed by him, may, within thirty days from the expiry of such period or from the receipt of such decision, prefer an appeal to the Designated Authority: Provided that the Designated Authority may admit the appeal after the expiry of thirty days if it is satisfied that the complainant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time. (3) The receipt of an appeal under sub-section (2) shall be acknowledged by the Designated Authority in writing or through electronic means or through text message or through any other means as may be prescribed, within three working days. (4) Every appeal filed under sub-section (2) or deemed appeal under sub-section (1) shall be disposed of by the Designated Authority within the prescribed time frame. (5) The Designated Authority shall arrange to deliver copies of the decision to the parties concerned within the prescribed time frame. (6) The Designated Authority may, in deciding an appeal, impose penalty, as prescribed in sub-section (1) of section 23, against the concerned officer for acting in a mala fide manner or having failed to discharge his duties without any sufficient and reasonable cause: Provided that the concerned officer of the public authority shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard before any penalty is imposed on him. (7) Where it appears to the Designated Authority that the grievance complained of is prima facie indicative or representative of a corrupt act or practice in terms of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 on the part of the individual officer of the public authority complained against, then it shall record in writing such evidence as may be found in support of such conclusion and shall in writing refer the same to the appropriate authority.