Non-speaking adjudication order and ignored limitation plea led to remand for a reasoned decision after hearing.

An adjudication order that failed to address the appellants' limitation plea, raised in reply to the show cause notice, and did not meaningfully deal with other contentions was treated as a non-speaking order. The matter was remanded with directions to pass a reasoned order after considering all objections raised, decide the dispute in accordance with law, and grant an opportunity of hearing.

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Issues: Whether the impugned order, which did not deal with the limitation plea and other contentions raised by the appellants, could be sustained, and whether the matter required remand for a speaking order.

Analysis: The appellants' specific objection that the demand was time-barred was raised in reply to the show cause notice, but the adjudicating authority recorded no finding on that plea. The order also did not effectively address the other contentions urged. In these circumstances, the order was treated as not being a speaking order.

Conclusion: The matter was remanded with a direction to pass a speaking order after considering all the contentions raised by the appellants and to decide the case in accordance with law after giving an opportunity of hearing.

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