Natural justice requires a hearing before adverse adjudication; matter remanded for fresh consideration and a reasoned order.

An order communicated without granting the affected parties a hearing was treated as contrary to natural justice. As the absence of an opportunity to be heard was undisputed, the matter required fresh adjudication by the authority concerned. The appeals were remanded for de novo consideration with directions to provide a reasonable opportunity of hearing and to pass a speaking order.

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Issues: Whether the impugned order, having been communicated without affording a hearing, was vitiated for breach of natural justice and warranted remand for fresh adjudication.

Analysis: The order under challenge had been conveyed to the appellants through the Deputy Commissioner, and the factual position that no opportunity of hearing was granted was not disputed. In these circumstances, the matter required fresh consideration by the adjudicating authority after giving the appellants a reasonable opportunity to be heard and by passing a reasoned order.

Conclusion: The appeals were remanded to the Commissioner for de novo adjudication with a direction to afford a reasonable opportunity of hearing and to pass a speaking order.

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