22. The judge must, before rendering any decision on an appeal, allow the parties to be heard and, for that purpose, give them, in such manner as he considers appropriate, a notice of at least five clear days of the date and hour when and place where they may be heard.
If a party so called does not appear or refuses to be heard at the sitting fixed for that purpose, or at an adjournment of such sitting, the judge may nevertheless proceed with the hearing of the matter and no judicial recourse shall be based on the fact that he so proceeded in the absence of such party.