Opinion ID: 6260240
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Pennsylvania Constitution

Text: Appellees contend, inter alia, that no hearing is required because Section 31 of the Administrative Agency Law, which requires a hearing in order that any adjudication of an agency be valid, is not made applicable to the Department of Banking. Act of June 4, 1945, P. L. 1388, §51, as amended, 71 P.S. §1710.51. We find no merit in this argument. Article Y, Sec. 9 of the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1968 provides: “There shall be a right of appeal in all cases to a court of record from a court not of record; and there shall also he a right of appeal from a court of record or from an administrative agency to a court of record or to an appellate court, the selection of such court to be as provided by law; and there shall be such other rights of appeal as may be provided by law.” (Emphasis added.) This section became effective January 1, 1969, prior to any of the proceedings involved in the case now before us. We believe that this constitutional provision as implemented supersedes Sec. 905(c) of the 1965 Banking Code insofar as that section pertains to appeals to this Court on broad certiorari, and mandates that both applicants and protesting banks have an appeal as of right, 11 a right that would be rendered a nullity if tlie Department of Banking could act ex parte, or without establishing an appropriate record of the proceedings necessary to determine the need for the proposed branch bank. In conclusion, in light of the procedural due process requirements of both the Fourteenth Amendment and Article Y, Sec. 9 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, the order of the Department of Banking is vacated and the case remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. Mr. Justice Cohen took no part in the decision of this case.