The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal established under section 14 of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act 1997 shall, on and from the commencement of Part XIV of Chapter VI of the Finance Act, 2017, be the Appellate Tribunal for the purposes of this Act and the said Appellate Tribunal shall exercise the jurisdiction, powers and authority conferred on it by or under this Act. (inserted vide Finance Act 2017-31/3/2017)

The Central Government shall also specify, in the notification referred to in sub-section (1),  shall specify, by notification the matters and places in relation to which the Cyber Appellate Tribunal may exercise  jurisdiction. 

 The Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall consist of a Chairperson and such number of other Members, as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint  (Inserted vide ITAA-2008)

Provided that the person appointed as the Presiding Officer of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal under the provisions of this Act immediately before the commencement of the Information Technology (Amendment) Act 2008 shall be deemed to have been appointed as the Chairperson of the said Cyber Appellate Tribunal under the provisions of this Act as amended by the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008 (Inserted Vide ITAA 2008)
 

 The selection of Chairperson and Members of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall be made by the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India. (Inserted vide ITAA-2008)

(a) the jurisdiction, powers and authority of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal may be exercised by the Benches thereof

(b) a Bench may be constituted by the Chairperson of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal with one or two members of such Tribunal as the Chairperson may deem fit.

Provided that every Bench shall be presided over by the Chairperson or the Judicial Member appointed under sub-section (3) of section 50 (ITAA 2008)

(c) the Benches of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall sit at New Delhi and at such other places as the Central Government may, in consultation with the Chairperson of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify.

(d) the Central Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify  the areas in relation to which each Bench of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal may exercise its jurisdiction.

(Inserted vide ITAA-2008)

  Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (3), the Chairperson of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal may transfer a Member of such Tribunal from one Bench to another Bench (Inserted vide ITAA-2008)

 If at any stage of the hearing of any case or matter, it appears to the Chairperson or a Member of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal that the case or matter is of such a nature that it ought to be heard by a Bench consisting of more Members, the case or matter may be transferred by the Chairperson to such Bench as the Chairperson may deem fit. (Inserted vide ITAA-2008)

A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a Chairperson of   the Cyber Appellate Tribunal unless he  is, or has been, or is qualified to be, a Judge of a High Court;   (substituted vide ITAA-2008)

 The Members of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal, except the Judicial Member to be appointed under sub-section (3), shall be appointed by the Central Government from amongst persons, having special knowledge of and professional experience in, information technology, telecommunication, industry, management or consumer affairs.

Provided that a person shall not be appointed as a Member, unless he is, or has been, in the service of the Central Government or a State Government, and has held the post of  Additional secretary to the Government of India or any equivalent post in the Central Government or State Government  for a period of not less than two one years or joint secretary to the Government of India or any equivalent post in the central Government or State Government for a period of not less than seven years.

(Inserted vide ITAA-2008)

Before appointing any person as the Chairperson or Member of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal, the Central Government shall satisfy itself that the person does not have any such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as such  Chairperson or Member. (Inserted vide ITAA 2008)
 

An officer of the Central Government or State Government on his selection as the Chairperson or Member of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal, as the case may be, shall have to retire from service before joining as such Chairperson or Member. (Inserted vide ITAA 2008)

The salary and allowances payable to, and the other terms and conditions of service including pension, gratuity and other retirement benefits of, the Chairperson or a Member of Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall be such as may be prescribed: (Inserted vide ITAA 2008)
 

The Chairperson of he Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall have powers of general superintendence and directions in the conduct of the affairs of that Tribunal and he shall, in addition to presiding over the meetings of the Tribunal, exercise and discharge such powers and functions of the Tribunal as may be prescribed.

On the application of any of the parties and after notice to the parties, and after hearing such of them as he may deem proper to be heard, or suo motu without such notice, the Chairperson of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal may transfer any case pending before one Bench, for disposal to any other Bench

If the Members of a Bench consisting of two Members differ in opinion on any point, they shall state the point or points on which they differ, and make a reference to the Chairperson of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal who shall hear the point or points himself and such point or points shall be decided according to the opinion of the majority of the Members who have heard the case, including those who first heard it.

If, for reason other than temporary absence, any vacancy occurs in the office of the  Presiding officer Chairperson or Member as the case may be of a Cyber Appellate Tribunal, then the Central Government shall appoint another person in accordance with the provisions of this Act to fill the vacancy and the proceedings may be continued before the Cyber Appellate Tribunal from the stage at which the vacancy is filled. 
 

The Presiding officer Chairperson or Member of the Cyber Appellate  Tribunal may, by notice in writing under his hand addressed to the Central Government, resign his office:

Provided that the said Presiding officer Chairperson or Member shall, unless he is permitted by the Central Government to relinquish his office sooner, continue to hold office until the expiry of three months from the date of receipt of such notice or until a person duly appointed as his successor enters upon his office or until the expiry of his term of office, whichever is the earliest.

 

The Presiding officer Chairperson or Member of a Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall not be removed from his office except by an order by the Central Government on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity after an inquiry made by a Judge of the Supreme Court in which the Chairperson or Member concerned has been informed of the charges against him and given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in respect of these charges.

 

The Central Government may, by rules, regulate the procedure for the investigation of misbehaviour or incapacity of the aforesaid Presiding officer Chairperson or Member.
 

No order of the Central Government appointing any person as the Chairperson or Member of a Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall be called in question in any manner and no act or proceeding before a Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall be called in question in any manner on the ground merely of any defect in the constitution of a Cyber Appellate Tribunal. 
 

The Central Government shall provide the Cyber Appellate Tribunal with such officers and employees as the Government may think fit.

The officers and employees of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall discharge their functions under general superintendence of the Presiding Officer.

The salaries and allowances and other conditions of service of the officers and employees of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government. 
 

Save as provided in sub-section (2), any person aggrieved by an order made by a Controller or an adjudicating officer under this Act may prefer an appeal to a Cyber  Appellate Tribunal having jurisdiction in the matter

No appeal shall lie to the Cyber  Appellate Tribunal from an order made by an adjudicating officer with the consent of the parties.

Every appeal under sub-section (1) shall be filed within a period of  forty-five days from the date on which a copy of the order made by the Controller or adjudicating officer is received by the person aggrieved and it shall be in such form and be accompanied by such fee as may be prescribed:

Provided that the Cyber  Appellate Tribunal may entertain an appeal after the expiry of the said period of forty-five days if it is satisfied that there was sufficient cause for not filing it within that period.

On receipt of an appeal under sub-section (1), the Cyber  Appellate Tribunal may, after giving the parties to the appeal, an opportunity of being heard, pass such orders thereon as it thinks fit, confirming, modifying or setting aside the order appealed against

The Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall send a copy of every order made by it to the parties to the appeal and to the concerned Controller or adjudicating officer.

The appeal filed before the Cyber  Appellate Tribunal under sub-section (1) shall be dealt with by it as expeditiously as possible and endeavour shall be made by it to dispose of the appeal finally within six months from the date of receipt of the appeal.

Every proceeding before the Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall be deemed .to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 arid 228, and for the purposes of section 196 of the Indian Penal Code and the Cyber Appellate Tribunal shall be deemed to be a civil court for the purposes of section 195 and Chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. 
 

The appellant may either appear in person or authorize one or more legal practitioners or any of its officers to present his or its case before the Cyber  Appellate Tribunal Limitation 
 

The provisions of the Limitation Act, 1963, shall, as far as may be, apply to an appeal made to the Cyber Appellate Tribunal. 
 

Civil court not to have jurisdiction (Amended vide ITAA 2008)

No court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any suit or proceeding in respect of any matter which an adjudicating officer appointed under this Act or the Cyber  Appellate Tribunal constituted under this Act is empowered by or under this Act to determine and no injunction shall be granted by any court or other authority in respect of any action taken or to be taken in pursuance of any power conferred by or under this Act.

Provided that the court may exercise jurisdiction in cases where the claim for injury or damage suffered by any person exceeds the maximum amount which can be awarded under this Chapter. (Inserted vide ITAA 2006)
 

Any person aggrieved by any decision or order of the Cyber  Appellate Tribunal may file an appeal to the High Court within sixty days from the date of communication of the decision or order of the Cyber  Appellate Tribunal to him on any question of fact or law arising out of such order:

Provided that the High Court may, if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal within the said period, allow it to be filed within a further period not exceeding sixty days. 
 

Any contravention under this Act [substituted for "Chapter" vide amendment dated 19/09/2002] may, either before or after the institution of adjudication proceedings, be compounded by the Controller or such other officer as may be specially authorized by him in this behalf or by the adjudicating officer, as the case may be, subject to such conditions as the Controller or such other officer or the adjudicating officer may specify:

Provided that such sum shall not, in any case, exceed the maximum amount of the penalty which may be imposed under this Act for the contravention so compounded.

Nothing in sub-section (1) shall apply to a person who commits the same or similar contravention within a period of three years from the date on which the first contravention, committed by him, was compounded.

Explanation - For the purposes of this sub-section, any second or subsequent contravention committed after the expiry of a period of three years from the date on which the contravention was previously compounded shall be deemed to be a first contravention.

Where any contravention has been compounded under sub-section (1), no proceeding or further proceeding, as the case may be, shall be taken against the person guilty of such contravention in respect of the contravention so compounded.

A penalty imposed or compensation awarded under this Act, if it is not paid, shall be recovered as an arrear of land revenue and the license or the Electronic Signature Certificate, as the case may be, shall be suspended till the penalty is paid.