Defective service of show-cause notice can vitiate cancellation proceedings and justify writ intervention despite an alternative remedy.

Cancellation of registration was treated as vulnerable where the show-cause notice was not served in the statutory manner, because defective service deprived the affected party of a meaningful opportunity to respond and violated natural justice. The resulting ex parte cancellation was said to vitiate the decision-making process. The availability of an appellate remedy did not prevent writ intervention where the breach of natural justice went to the root of the matter, even though limitation on appeal had expired. On that basis, the cancellation order was set aside and fresh notice with reconsideration was directed.

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Issues: Whether the cancellation of registration order was liable to be set aside for non-compliance with the statutory mode of service and consequent violation of natural justice, and whether the petitioner could be relegated to the appellate remedy despite the lapse of limitation.

Analysis: The cancellation proceedings were found to have proceeded without proper service of the show-cause notice in the manner required under the statute, resulting in denial of an opportunity to respond. This procedural defect rendered the cancellation order ex parte and vitiated the decision-making process. In such circumstances, the existence of an appellate remedy did not bar writ intervention, because breach of natural justice went to the root of the matter.

Conclusion: The cancellation order was set aside, fresh notice and reconsideration were directed, and the petitioner succeeded.

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