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2024 (2) TMI 942 - ALLAHABAD HIGH COURTPrinciples of natural justice - requirement of grant of an opportunity of personal hearing before any adverse decision is taken against any person - HELD THAT:- Upon service of notice the petitioner had been called to file its reply only. Non-compliance of that show cause notice may have only led to closure of opportunity to submit written reply. However by virtue of the express provision of Section 75 of the Act, even in that situation the petitioner did not lose its right to participate in the oral hearing and establish at that stage itself that the adverse conclusions proposed to be drawn against the petitioner, may be dropped - the rules of natural justice as are ingrained in the statute prescribe dual requirement. First with respect to submission of written reply and the second with respect to oral hearing. Failure to avail one opportunity may not lead to denial of the other. The two tests have to be satisfied independently. On merits, learned counsel for the petitioner further states that detailed reply was not required. The discrepancies in the returns as noticed by the adjudicating authority would have been clarified if opportunity of personal hearing had been granted. Thus, no useful purpose may be served in keeping this petition pending or calling counter affidavit at this stage or to relegate the present petitioner to the forum of alternative remedy. The order impugned has been passed contrary to the mandatory procedure. The deficiency of procedure is self-apparent and critical to the outcome of the proceedings - matter is remitted to the respondent No. 2 to pass a fresh order - petition allowed by way of remand.
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