What are the adjudication authorities and where the appeal can be filed?

As FERA, Adjudication and Appeal: For the purpose of adjudication, the Central Government may, by an order published in the Official Gazette, appoint as many officers of the Central Government as it may think fit, as the Adjudicating Authorities for holding an inquiry in the manner prescribed after giving the person alleged to have committed contravention, against whom a complaint has been made a reasonable opportunity of being heard for the purpose of imposing any penalty.However where the Adjudicating Authority is of opinion that the said person is likely to abscond or is likely to evade in any manner, the payment of penalty, if levied, it may direct the said person to furnish a bond or guarantee for such amount and subject to such conditions as it may deem fit.

No Adjudicating Authority shall hold an enquiry except upon a complaint in writing made by any officer authorized by a general or special order by the Central Government.

The said person may appear either in person or take the assistance of a legal practitioner or a chartered accountant of his choice for presenting his case before the Adjudicating Authority.


a. All proceedings before it shall be deemed to be judicial proceedings within the meaning of sections 193 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code;

b. Shall be deemed to be a civil court for the purposes of sections 345 and 346 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973.

c. Every Adjudicating Authority shall deal with the complaint as expeditiously as possible and endeavor shall be made to dispose off the complaint finally within one year from the date of receipt of the complaint. However, where the complaint cannot be disposed off within the said period, the Adjudicating Authority shall record periodically the reasons in writing for not disposing off the complaint within the said period.

The Central Government shall, by notification, appoint one or more Special Directors (Appeals) to hear appeals against the orders of the Adjudicating Authorities under this section and shall also specify in the said notification the matter and places in relation to which the Special Director (Appeals) may exercise jurisdiction.

Any person aggrieved by an order made by the Adjudicating Authority, being an Assistant Director of Enforcement or a Deputy Director of Enforcement, may prefer an appeal to the Special Director (Appeals).