1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION WRIT PETITON NO. 2269 OF 2004 Maharaja Surajmal Co-operative Housing Society Ltd. & Anr. ..............Petitioners VERSUS The Collector, Mumbai Suburban District, & Anr. .........Respondents. Mr. C.J. Savant, Sr. Counsel, with Mr. K.J. Hakani for the Petitioners Mr. Niranjan Pandit, Assistant Government Pleader, for the Respondents. CORAM: DALVEER BHANDARI, C.J., & DR.D.Y.CHANDRACHUD,J. August 23, 2004. P.C.: 1. The petitioners are aggrieved by the Order dated 15th July, 2004 (Exhibit 'A') passed by respondent No.1, the Collector, Mumbai Suburban District, Mumbai. 2 2. According to the petitioners, the order is unjust, illegal, improper, unreasonable and in gross violation of the principles of natural justice. The learned Assistant Government Pleader for the respondents disputes these allegations, and submits that despite number of opportunities, the petitioners did not appear before the concerned authority, and the said authority was constrained to pass the order. We do not deem it necessary to examine the veracity of these allegations and counter-allegations. In the larger interest of justice, and in consonance with the principles of natural justice, we set aside the order dated 15th July, 2004, and direct the Collector, Mumbai Suburban District, Mumbai, to pass an order afresh, after affording a hearing to the petitioners. The parties are present in Court. In order to avoid any further delay in the matter, we direct the petitioners to appear before the Collector, Mumbai Suburban District, Mumbai, on 13th September, 2004 at 11 a.m. in his office with the entire record and on other subsequent dates of hearing fixed by him. We request the Collector to pass the order as expeditiously as possible and in any event, within four months after hearing the petitioners. 3 3. Our setting aside the impugned order will have no reflection of any kind on the order to be passed by the Collector. 4. This petition is accordingly disposed of. 5. The parties be given authenticated copies of this order. CHIEF JUSTICE DR.D.Y.CHANDRACHUD, J.