Maintainability of summons must be decided first, with further proceedings deferred until the preliminary objection is resolved.

The authority was required to decide the preliminary objection on the maintainability of the summons before proceeding further. After hearing the petitioner, the first respondent was directed to consider that threshold issue, and all further proceedings pursuant to the summons were kept in abeyance until orders were passed on maintainability. The matter therefore turned on prior determination of the summons' validity before any continuation of the underlying proceedings.

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Issues: Whether the authority should first decide the preliminary objection regarding the maintainability of the summons, and whether further proceedings pursuant to the summons should be kept in abeyance till such decision.

Outcome: The first respondent was directed to consider the preliminary issue on maintainability after hearing the petitioner, and further proceedings pursuant to the summons were deferred until orders were passed.

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