Natural justice requires hearing a party who shows sufficient cause for slight delay; ex parte disposal was set aside.

A party who appears slightly late for reasons beyond control cannot be denied a hearing where sufficient cause is shown. The refusal to hear counsel in such circumstances was treated as inconsistent with fair adjudication and natural justice, especially where the matter had been reserved for orders rather than decided immediately in open court. The ex parte or one-sided disposal was therefore set aside, and the matter was directed to be reheard and decided afresh after hearing both sides.

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Issues: Whether the Tribunal was justified in refusing to hear the petitioner's counsel who appeared slightly late for reasons beyond control, and whether the ex parte disposal could be sustained.

Analysis: The refusal to hear the petitioner was held to be unjustified because the counsel had reached shortly after the matter was taken up and had shown sufficient cause for the delay. The case had been reserved for orders rather than decided immediately in open court, and the denial of hearing was found to be inconsistent with the requirements of fair adjudication and natural justice.

Conclusion: The impugned order was quashed and the matter was directed to be reheard and decided afresh after hearing both sides.

Final Conclusion: The writ petition succeeded, and the Tribunal's decision was set aside with a direction for fresh disposal after hearing the parties.

Ratio Decidendi: A party who shows sufficient cause for non-appearance or late appearance cannot be denied hearing, and an ex parte or one-sided order passed in such circumstances is liable to be set aside to secure the ends of justice.

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