Natural justice challenge fails where repeated notice attempts, counsel appearance, and unavailed hearing opportunities are on record.

A challenge to an adjudication order on the ground of denial of opportunity and breach of natural justice failed where the record showed repeated attempts to serve notice, appearance by counsel, filing of a reply, and further hearing opportunities that were not utilised. The court accepted that the procedural steps under the adjudication rules had been followed and rejected the plea that no effective opportunity was given. The writ petition therefore did not succeed on merits, while the petitioner was left free to pursue the statutory remedy in accordance with law.

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Issues: Whether the impugned adjudication order was liable to be quashed on the ground of denial of proper opportunity and violation of principles of natural justice.

Analysis: The impugned order recorded the steps taken to serve notice for personal hearing, including attempted service on multiple dates and service under the applicable adjudication rules. It also noted that a lawyer appeared for the petitioner and filed a reply on his behalf. The record further showed that several opportunities were granted thereafter, but neither the petitioner nor his counsel participated further in the proceedings. In these circumstances, the plea that no opportunity was afforded and that natural justice was violated was not accepted.

Conclusion: The challenge based on denial of opportunity and violation of natural justice failed and was rejected.

Final Conclusion: The writ petition did not succeed on merits, though the petitioner was left at liberty to pursue the statutory remedy in accordance with law.

Ratio Decidendi: A challenge to an adjudication order on the ground of violation of natural justice will fail where the record shows repeated service attempts, appearance through counsel, filing of reply, and further opportunities that were not availed.

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