Reasoned return of tribunal filings required, and maintainability must be decided by the Tribunal itself, not registry staff.

A revision petition cannot be returned by a tribunal or its registry without a written, reasoned order identifying the defect or ground for return. The registry may raise a maintainability objection, but the decision on maintainability belongs to the Tribunal itself and not to administrative staff. The court treated the unexplained return as contrary to law and natural justice, while leaving the substantive maintainability question to be decided by the Tribunal in accordance with law. The petitioner was permitted to re-file the revisions, with the filing to be treated as made on the original date if re-filed within the time granted.

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Issues: Whether a revision petition can be returned by the Tribunal or its registry without a written order stating reasons, and whether the final decision on maintainability must be taken by the Tribunal itself.

Analysis: The revision petitions were held to have been dealt with in a manner alien to law and natural justice. The Registrar or registry could at best raise an objection regarding maintainability, but the power to decide maintainability belonged to the Tribunal and not to the administrative staff. Any return of a petition had to be supported by a written noting or order specifying the defect or reason, since a judicial or quasi-judicial action must disclose reasons. The Court did not decide the substantive question whether the revisions were maintainable under the Act, leaving that issue for the Tribunal to determine in accordance with law.

Conclusion: The return of the revision petitions without reasons was impermissible, and the petitioner was directed to re-file them before the Tribunal, with the filing to be treated as made on the original date if re-filed within the time granted.

Final Conclusion: The petitioner obtained procedural relief against the unexplained return of the revisions, while the substantive issue of maintainability remained for decision by the Tribunal.

Ratio Decidendi: A judicial or quasi-judicial filing cannot be returned without a written, reasoned order, and the question of maintainability must be decided by the Tribunal itself, not by its registry or administrative staff.

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