Natural justice breach led to quashing of an unreasoned order and remand for fresh hearing.

An unreasoned order passed without affording the writ petitioner any hearing was held to reflect a gross breach of natural justice. The absence of reasons and denial of opportunity to present material rendered the decision-making process defective, so the impugned order was quashed. The matter was remitted for fresh adjudication after a proper hearing and the passing of a reasoned order.

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Issues: Whether the impugned order was liable to be quashed for violation of the principles of natural justice, and whether the matter required fresh consideration after affording a proper hearing.

Analysis: The order under challenge did not assign any reasons. The record also showed that no opportunity of hearing had been afforded to the writ petitioner before passing the order. In these circumstances, the decision-making process was found to suffer from gross breach of natural justice. The matter was therefore required to be reopened and decided afresh after granting the petitioner an opportunity to appear, place additional material on record if necessary, and receive a reasoned order.

Conclusion: The impugned order was quashed and the proceedings were remitted to the appropriate authority for fresh adjudication after due hearing.

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