Natural justice in appellate proceedings requires a fair hearing before an ex parte order, leading to remand for reconsideration.

An ex parte appellate order was treated as vitiated where the appellants had promptly sought their first adjournment by telegram for sufficient cause, including travel difficulty and a prior High Court commitment. Refusing that request and deciding the matter without an effective hearing amounted to denial of natural justice. The appellate order was therefore set aside in substance, and the dispute was remanded to the appellate authority for fresh adjudication on merits after giving the appellants an opportunity of hearing.

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Issues: Whether the ex parte appellate order was vitiated for denial of an effective opportunity of hearing and whether the matter should be remanded for fresh adjudication.

Analysis: The first adjournment had been sought in time through a telegram, and the request was made on account of difficulty in arranging travel and the existence of a prior commitment before the High Court. In these circumstances, the request for adjournment ought to have been considered, and proceeding ex parte without affording an effective opportunity amounted to a denial of natural justice.

Conclusion: The matter was remanded to the appellate authority for fresh decision after giving the appellants an opportunity of hearing. The appeal was allowed by way of remand.

Final Conclusion: The impugned appellate order was set aside in substance and the dispute was sent back for reconsideration on merits after hearing the appellants.

Ratio Decidendi: Where a party seeks its first adjournment promptly and for sufficient cause, refusal of adjournment followed by an ex parte order may justify remand for a fresh hearing in accordance with natural justice.

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