Meetings and procedure of Tribunals

(1) Each Tribunal shall meet at such times and places as the Chairperson may appoint, and such meetings shall be open to the public. (2) The Chairperson of each Tribunal shall preside at all meetings of the Tribunal and a Tribunal shall meet from time to time with or without adjournment to determine any application made to it. (3) At the hearing of any application, either party to the application may attend in person or, if not present in person, may be represented by an attorney-at-law or by an agent authorised in writing in that behalf and either party may give evidence on oath or affirmation and shall have the right to obtain from the Chairperson of the Tribunal summonses for witnesses to appear at the hearing and give evidence on oath or affirmation or give evidence and produce any books, deeds, papers, writings or articles in their possession. (4) If, on the day appointed for the hearing of an application, either the landlord or the tenant or the attorney-at- law or agent of either of them shall, without reasonable excuse, fail to appear, a Tribunal may in its discretion adjourn the hearing of the application to a later day or may proceed with the hearing of the application in the absence of the party not attending and whether his agent or attorney-at-law be present 14 or not and, if both the landlord and the tenant and their attorneys-at-law and agents, without reasonable excuse, fail to appear on the day appointed for the hearing of an application, a Tribunal may in its discretion adjourn the hearing to a later day or dismiss the application. (5) Subject to this Act, every Tribunal shall have power to regulate its own proceedings.