Natural justice does not always require a personal hearing in departmental appeals against dismissal from service.

An appellate authority is not automatically bound by natural justice to grant a personal hearing before deciding a departmental appeal against dismissal from service. In the absence of any rule requiring such a hearing, the right of audience at the appellate stage does not arise in every case. Observations drawn from a matter under Article 324 of the Constitution were treated as inapplicable to a departmental inquiry. The requirement of a personal hearing at the appellate stage was therefore negatived, and the High Court's order setting aside the appellate decision on that ground was held unsustainable.

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Issues: Whether an appellate authority is obliged by the principles of natural justice to grant a personal hearing before deciding a departmental appeal against dismissal from service.

Analysis: No rule requiring a personal hearing at the appellate stage was shown. The rule of natural justice does not, in every case, confer a right of audience in appeal. The observations relied upon from a case arising under Article 324 of the Constitution of India were held inapplicable to a departmental inquiry.

Conclusion: The requirement of a personal hearing at the appellate stage was negatived, and the High Court's order setting aside the appellate decision on that ground was held unsustainable.

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