Natural justice requires hearing before transferring an appeal to another bench when forum rights are affected.

A transfer of an appeal to another bench cannot be ordered without giving the affected party notice and an opportunity of hearing, where the change of forum impacts the party's rights in relation to the hearing. Fairness required prior hearing before the transfer decision was made, and the transfer order was therefore set aside insofar as it concerned the petitioner. The petitioner was held entitled to be heard before any further decision to transfer the appeal was taken.

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Issues: Whether the transfer of the appeal to another bench could be ordered without affording the petitioner an opportunity of hearing.

Analysis: The transfer order had been passed without notice to the petitioner. Since the decision to shift the appeal affected the petitioner's rights in relation to the forum of hearing, fairness required that the petitioner be heard before any transfer was made.

Conclusion: The transfer order, insofar as it concerned the petitioner, was set aside and the petitioner was entitled to be heard before any decision to transfer the appeal was taken.

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