Natural justice and personal hearing: adjudication set aside where no adequate post-reply hearing was given before deciding the matter.

Adequate opportunity of personal hearing was required before adjudication where the reply raised factual and legal points needing oral explanation. Although several hearing dates had been granted before the reply was filed, only one post-reply hearing was provided, which was treated as unfair in the circumstances and contrary to natural justice. The adjudication order was therefore set aside and the matter remanded for fresh adjudication with a further opportunity of personal hearing.

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Issues: Whether the adjudication order deserved to be set aside for denial of adequate opportunity of personal hearing and violation of natural justice.

Analysis: The appellants were granted several hearing dates before filing the reply, but only one opportunity was afforded thereafter. Since the reply raised factual and legal points requiring oral explanation, the absence of a further post-reply hearing was treated as unfair in the circumstances.

Conclusion: The order was set aside for violation of natural justice and the matter was remanded for fresh adjudication with an opportunity of personal hearing.

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