Natural justice bars IEC suspension without supplying relied-upon material and giving a fair opportunity to respond.

Suspension of the Importer Exporter Code could not be sustained where the show cause notice was not accompanied by the documents and grounds relied upon, because the affected party was denied the material needed to respond. The Court held that such a procedure was inconsistent with natural justice under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, and that the petitioner was entitled to a fresh notice with the relied-upon material, an opportunity to file a written reply, and a hearing. The suspension order was set aside and the matter was directed to proceed afresh in accordance with natural justice.

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Issues: Whether the order suspending the Importer Exporter Code could be sustained when the documents and grounds relied upon in the show cause notice were not supplied, and whether the respondent was required to comply with the requirements of natural justice under Section 8 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992.

Analysis: The order was passed in circumstances found to be materially identical to an earlier writ petition decided the same day. The petitioner had not been supplied the documents relied upon in the show cause notice or the details of the grounds on which the notice proceeded. In such a situation, the procedure adopted was held to be inconsistent with the requirements of natural justice, and the affected party was entitled to a fresh notice with the relied-upon material and a full opportunity to file a written representation and to be heard.

Conclusion: The suspension order was set aside, and the respondents were directed to proceed afresh in accordance with natural justice.

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