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2023 (1) TMI 747 - HC - Insolvency and BankruptcyMaintainability of petition - availability of appellate remedy - whether the standard applied is reasonable and proportionate in evaluation of administrative or executive action in judicial review? - HELD THAT:- A hearing is not to be an empty formality. It must be an effective hearing and must result in a reasoned order that reflects a proper application of mind. This speaks to the decision-making process, not the resultant decision itself. Where these elements are found even prima facie to be lacking, a writ Court is not denuded of its powers, nor can it be told that its extraordinary jurisdiction is completely fettered - Where the petitioner is able to prima facie dispute the existence of an effective alternate appellate remedy, that is to say, where the petitioner points out that if the alternate appellate remedy invoked by the respondent is likely to result in a serious question of jurisdiction or maintainability of the appeal, a writ court can certainly exercise its discretionary and equitable powers under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. Anyone may set the criminal process in motion against anyone. There may be an FIR. There may even be a charge-sheet. But, except in certain specific statutes, the presumption in criminal jurisdiction in this country is still that a person is innocent until he is proved guilty. Today, even charges have not been framed. It is entirely possible that the court in question, when it takes up the charge-sheet, may not in fact frame charges against the Petitioner at all. Even that is not known. The Petitioner may apply for or may obtain a discharge or a quashing order at some appropriate stage. Even that is unknown. The impugned order seems to us to have completely overlooked the inherent absurdity that it creates. It proceeds on the basis that the mere pendency of a criminal proceeding robs a person such as the Petitioner of his “fit and proper person” status because it supposedly affects his ‘integrity, reputation and character’. We note that there is no case about the absence of a conviction, restraint orders, competence, or financial solvency. But if any of the eventualities that we have noted above occurs, i.e., no charges are framed, there is a discharge, quashing or an acquittal, we are asked to believe that the fit and proper person requirement, and the integrity, reputation and character of the Petitioner will suddenly get restored to some position anterior in time. Shortly stated, the submissions of Mr Parmar for the Petitioners is that an appeal is provided to the chairperson from the matters that have delegated to the Whole Time Member (Administrative Law or AL). This includes the disposal of a show cause notice under Rule 17 of the RV Rules. But suspension and cancellation of a registered valuer is within the jurisdictional remit of a Whole Time Member or WTM as per the table at Part C. There is no specific provision that provides for an appeal against an order or a WTM (as opposed to a WTM (AL)). The impugned order must be stayed.
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