Natural justice in compulsory purchase proceedings requires disclosure of relied-on valuation material before adverse action can stand.

A compulsory purchase order under Chapter XX-C cannot be sustained where the authority acts on a predetermined view of undervaluation and withholds the valuation reports and connected material relied upon. Denial of those foundational records deprives the affected parties of a real opportunity to meet the case against them and breaches the requirements of fair hearing and natural justice. On that basis, the show-cause process is not treated as a genuine adjudicatory exercise, and the purchase order is invalid and quashed.

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Issues: Whether the order for compulsory purchase under Chapter XX-C was vitiated by breach of natural justice and a predetermined mind because the relevant material and valuation reports were not furnished to the petitioners.

Analysis: The petition challenged the order under section 269UD(1) on the ground that the authority had proceeded on a pre-decided view of undervaluation while withholding the material relied upon, including valuation reports and connected records, despite specific demand. The absence of the foundational material prevented an effective opportunity to meet the case against the petitioners. The order was therefore found to be contrary to the basic requirements of fair hearing and natural justice, and the show-cause process was treated as not being a genuine adjudicatory exercise.

Conclusion: The impugned purchase order was held to be invalid and was quashed and set aside in favour of the petitioners.

Ratio Decidendi: A compulsory purchase order under Chapter XX-C cannot stand where it is passed on a predetermined mind and the material relied upon by the authority is not supplied to the affected parties, thereby denying a real opportunity to meet the case.

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