Pre-deposit sufficiency permits appeal on merits without further onerous deposit when a substantial amount has already been paid.

Where a substantial pre-deposit has already been made, the appellate forum may treat that deposit as sufficient and permit the appeal to be heard on merits without insisting on further onerous security. The High Court modified the Tribunal's pre-deposit requirement because the petitioners were seeking adjudication of their appeal and had already deposited a significant amount. The appeal was therefore directed to proceed on merits on the basis of the deposit already made.

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Issues: Whether the pre-deposit already made was sufficient to warrant hearing of the appeal on merits and justify modification of the Tribunal's pre-deposit order.

Analysis: A substantial amount had already been deposited by the petitioners, and the Court found that the petitioners were only seeking adjudication of their appeal. In these circumstances, the existing deposit was treated as sufficient, and the further burden imposed by the Tribunal was not required to be maintained.

Conclusion: The order of the Tribunal was modified, and the appeal was directed to be heard on merits on the basis of the deposit already made, in favour of the petitioners.

Final Conclusion: The writ petition was disposed of with modification of the pre-deposit requirement, enabling the appeal to proceed on merits.

Ratio Decidendi: Where a substantial pre-deposit has already been made, the appellate forum may be directed to hear the appeal on merits without insisting on further onerous deposit.

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