Section 35Q
Appearance by authorised representative . — (1) Any person who is entitled or required to appear before a Central Excise Officer or the Appellate Tribunal in connection with any proceedings under this Act, otherwise than when required under this Act to appear personally for examination on oath or affirmation, may, subject to the other provisions of this section, appear by an authorised representative.
35Q. Appearance by authorised representative . — (1) Any person who is entitled or required to appear before a Central Excise Officer or the Appellate Tribunal in connection with any proceedings under this Act, otherwise than when required under this Act to appear personally for examination on oath or affirmation, may, subject to the other provisions of this section, appear by an authorised representative.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "authorised representative" means a person authorised by the person referred to in sub -section (1) to appear on his behalf, being—
(a) his relative or regular employee; or
(b) any legal practitioner who is entitled to practise in any civil court in India; or
(c) any person who has acquired such qualifications as the Central Government may prescribe for this purpose.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, no person who was a member of the Indian Customs and Central Excise Service — Group A and has retired or resigned from such Service after having served for not less than three years in any capacity in that Service, shall be entitled to appear as an authorised representative in any proceedings before a Central Excise Officer for a period of two years from the date of his retirement or resignation, as the case may be.
(4) No person,—
(a) who has been dismissed or removed from Government service; or
(b) who is convicted of an offence connected with any proceeding under this Act, the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962) or the Gold (Control) Act, 1968 (45 of 1968) 1 or
(c) who has become an insolvent, shall be qualified to represent any person under sub-section (1), for all times in the case of a person referred to in clause (a), and for such time as the 2 [Principal Commissioner of Central Excise or Commissioner of Central Excise] or the competent authority under the Customs Act, 1962 or the Gold (Control) Act, 1968 (45 of 1968) 1 , as the case may be, may, by order, determine in the case of a person referred to in clause (b), and for the period during which the insolvency continues in the case of a person referred to in clause (c).
(5) If any person,—
(a) who is a legal practitioner, is found guilty of misconduct in his professional capacity by any authority entitled to institute proceedings against him, an order passed by that authority shall have effect