Locus standi for impleadment in appeal proceedings fails where the applicant was neither a noticee nor a party below.

A person who was neither a noticee in the show-cause notice nor a party before the adjudicating authority had no locus standi to seek impleadment as a respondent in the appeal proceedings. The applicant had not sought impleadment before the adjudicating authority and, on his own showing, was at best a witness. In these circumstances, he could not claim a right to be added as a respondent, and the application for impleadment was held not maintainable and dismissed.

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Issues: Whether a person who was neither a noticee in the show-cause notice nor a party before the adjudicating authority had locus standi to seek impleadment as a respondent in the appeal proceedings.

Analysis: The applicant was not a party to the adjudication, had not sought impleadment before the adjudicating authority, and was not a noticee in the show-cause notice. On his own showing, he was at best a witness. In these circumstances, he could not claim a right to be added as a respondent in the appeal.

Conclusion: The application for impleadment was not maintainable and was dismissed.

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