IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH C.W.P. No. 10995 of 2007 Date of Decision: February 12, 2008 Adarsh Gram Udhyog Samiti, Rasina ...Petitioner Versus State of Haryana and others …Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.M. KUMAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE T.P.S. MANN Present: Mr. Rakesh Gupta, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr. Ashish Kapoor, Addl. AG, Haryana, for respondent Nos. 1 and 3. Mr. Rajiv Sharma, Central Govt. Standing Counsel, for respondent No. 2. JUDGMENT M.M. KUMAR, J. The instant petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution is directed against order dated 18.5.2007 (P-23), passed by the Director-cum-Special Secretary, Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Department, Haryana, black-listing the petitioner-Society. The name of the petitioner-Society figures at Sr. No. 4. it is undisputed that the impugned order of black-listing the petitioner-Society, which is a non-gorvernmental organisation, has been passed without issuing any show cause notice and complying with the principles of natural justice. It has, in fact, been submitted C.W.P. No. 10995 of 2007 by the respondents that the grant was stopped on account of letter dated 17.7.2006 (R-1), issued by the Accountant General (Audit), Haryana, intimating that 10 NGOs including the petitioner-Society were found guilty of misappropriation of grants. It was further pointed out that Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, had stopped their grants. It is in the aforementioned background that the impugned order has been passed. After hearing learned counsel for the parties, we are of the considered view that principle of audi alterm partem have become inseparable part of the Indian jurisprudence. The basic principle that no person can be condemned unheard has become so deep-rooted in our jurisprudence that any action resulting into civil consequences have to precede with the issuance of notice, seeking of reply and granting opportunity of hearing. Once no such steps have been taken then the impugned order cannot stand judicial scrutiny. Therefore, the same is hereby quashed qua the petitioner-Society. In view of the above, the writ petition is allowed. Order dated 18.5.2007 (P-23) qua the petitioner-Society is set aside. However, the respondents shall be at liberty to proceed against the petitioner-Society in accordance with law. (M.M. KUMAR) JUDGE (T.P.S. MANN) February 12, 2008 JUDGE Pkapoor 2