Natural justice requires consideration of written submissions on record before adjudication; ignoring them vitiates the order.

Written submissions received before an adjudication order is issued must be considered where they are already on record, even if received on the next working day after the order was signed. On the facts, the authority's failure to take account of the appellant's submissions, despite the matter remaining pending for a long period, amounted to a breach of natural justice. The impugned order was therefore set aside and the matter remanded for fresh adjudication in accordance with law after hearing the appellant.

---

---

Issues: Whether the adjudication order was liable to be set aside for violation of natural justice on account of the appellant's written submissions not being considered before the order was passed.

Analysis: The written submissions had reached the adjudicating authority before the order was signed, and the record showed that they were received on the next working day after the date on which the order was made. Since the matter had remained pending for a long period and the submissions were on record before the order was issued, they ought to have been considered. The refusal to consider them amounted to breach of natural justice.

Conclusion: The impugned order was set aside and the matter was remanded to the Commissioner for fresh adjudication in accordance with law after hearing the appellant.

---