Natural justice requires a hearing before blacklisting; an order passed without it was set aside.

An order of blacklisting passed without affording the affected party a prior opportunity of hearing is legally unsustainable. The court applied the settled rule that blacklisting attracts the requirements of natural justice, and the absence of a hearing vitiated the order. The blacklisting order dated 13/09/2012 was therefore set aside.

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Issues: Whether the blacklisting order passed without affording an opportunity of hearing could be sustained.

Analysis: The order of blacklisting was passed without any opportunity of hearing to the petitioner. It is settled that before passing an order of blacklisting, an opportunity of hearing must be afforded. The absence of such opportunity vitiated the order.

Conclusion: The blacklisting order dated 13/09/2012 was set aside and the petitioner succeeded.

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