Natural justice requires fair hearing before ex parte adjudication; order set aside and matter remanded for fresh consideration.

An ex parte adjudication passed without affording a reasonable opportunity to reconcile records, explain the discrepancy, or present a defence was held to violate natural justice. The authority had proceeded despite material indicating that replies were sent and without granting a fair hearing. The order was therefore set aside, and the matter was remanded for de novo consideration with directions to examine the appellants' reply and grant personal hearing if requested.

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Issues: Whether the ex parte adjudication order was liable to be set aside for violation of principles of natural justice and the matter remanded for fresh consideration.

Analysis: The appellants had sought time to reconcile the records and had placed material to show that replies had been sent. The adjudicating authority proceeded without affording proper opportunity for reconciliation and without giving a fair hearing, resulting in an ex parte order. In these circumstances, the denial of effective opportunity to present the defence amounted to a breach of natural justice.

Conclusion: The ex parte order was set aside and the matter was remanded for de novo consideration with directions to consider the appellants' reply and to grant personal hearing if requested.

Ratio Decidendi: An adjudication passed without affording a reasonable opportunity to explain the alleged discrepancy and without fair hearing is liable to be set aside for breach of natural justice and remitted for fresh decision.

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