Natural justice breach in same-day notice and order led to quashing of the impugned decision and fresh hearing.

An order passed on the same day as the notice, while the notice itself required appearance on a later date, deprived the affected party of a meaningful hearing. The record showed that the authority decided the matter before the party could be heard, which violated the principles of natural justice. The Gujarat HC therefore held the impugned order unsustainable and quashed it, directing fresh consideration after granting an opportunity of hearing in accordance with law.

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Issues: Whether the impugned order was liable to be quashed for breach of natural justice on the ground that it was passed on the same date as the notice without affording an opportunity of hearing.

Analysis: The notice and the impugned order were both dated the same day, while the notice required the petitioner to appear on a later date. The record therefore showed that the authority decided the matter before the petitioner could be heard. Such action amounted to denial of a meaningful opportunity of hearing and was contrary to the principles of natural justice.

Conclusion: The impugned order was unsustainable and was quashed and set aside. The petitioner was directed to appear before the authority for fresh consideration in accordance with law.

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