Petitioner granted fair hearing rights after court finds discrepancies - order set aside for fresh adjudication.

The Court found that the petitioner was not granted a fair hearing before the order in revision was passed, due to discrepancies in the record of personal hearing. As a result, the impugned order was set aside, and the matter was remitted for fresh adjudication with a proper opportunity of hearing granted. The Court emphasized the importance of transparency and directed the petitioner or their representative to appear before the revisional authority for documented personal hearings. This decision upholds the principle of natural justice and ensures fairness in the adjudicatory process.

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Issues:
1. Opportunity of hearing not granted to the petitioner before the order in revision was passed.
2. Lack of credibility in the record of personal hearing submitted.
3. Remittal of the matter for fresh adjudication after granting a proper opportunity of hearing.

Analysis:
The judgment addresses the grievance of the petitioner regarding the lack of opportunity to be heard before the order in revision was passed by the Joint Secretary. The petitioner, represented by Mr Naveen Malhotra, contended that no written or oral submissions were made before the Joint Secretary, contradicting the statement in the impugned order. The Court found discrepancies in the record of personal hearing, casting doubt on its reliability. Consequently, the Court concluded that the petitioner was indeed not granted a fair hearing, leading to the setting aside of the impugned order.

The Court decided to remit the matter to the revisional authority for fresh adjudication, emphasizing the importance of granting the petitioner an opportunity of hearing. To ensure transparency and proper documentation of the proceedings, the Court directed the petitioner or their authorized representative to appear before the revisional authority on a specified date. Additionally, the revisional authority was instructed to maintain a record of the personal hearing on each date and obtain signatures of the attendees for verification purposes.

In conclusion, the writ petition was allowed to the extent of granting a fresh opportunity of hearing to the petitioner and setting aside the impugned order. The judgment highlights the fundamental principle of natural justice, emphasizing the right to be heard before a decision is made. The directive for proper documentation and verification of personal hearings aims to uphold transparency and fairness in the adjudicatory process.

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