WP(C) 671/2001 BEFORE THE HON’BLE MR JUSTICE D. BISWAS, CHIEF JUSTICE (ACTING) Heard Mr. RPN Singh, learned counsel for the petitioners and also Mr. K. K. Nandi, learned counsel for the respondents. In this petition, the show cause notices issued by the Employees State I nsurance Corporation on 19.1.2000 (Annexure-19), 7.1.2000 (Annexure-20) and 24.1 1.2000 (Annexure-22) have been challenged. The show cause notices have been issu ed by the respondent authority calling upon the petitioners to show cause as to why steps should not be taken for recovery of the contribution in accordance wit h the provisions of the ESIC Act, 1948. The petitioners instead of submitting reply to the show cause notices, s traightway approached this Court, and filed this petition. It further appears th at the Court while issuing Rule did not pass any order suspending the impugned n otices. In my considered opinion, the writ petitioners are duty bound under the law to reply to the show cause notices issued by the ESIC authorities and the ES IC authorities, if such reply is filed, is to consider and examine the same in a ccordance with the available materials and pass appropriate orders. The petition accordingly stands disposed of with direction to the petiti oner to file reply to the show cause notices forthwith within 15 days from today failing which the respondent authorities will be entitled to recover the amount , as provided under the Act.