Union Of India vs Raghuwar Pal Singh on 13 March, 2018
8. As regards principle of natural justice, the Supreme Court in a catena of judgments in Union of India and another versus Raghuwar Pal Singh (2018)15 SCC 463, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and others versus Ajay Kumar Das and others 2002(4) SCC 503, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and another versus S.G. Kotturappa AIR 2005 SC 1933, Punjab National Bank and others vs. Manjeet Singh and another AIR 2007 SC 262, P.D. Agrawal versus State Bank of India and others, has settled the law in this regard that an order is not to be interfered on the ground of principles of natural justice if in the given facts and circumstances of the case, that order was patently illegal. No principle of natural justice is required to be followed when it leads to an empty formality. The Supreme Court has observed in the judgments that observance of principles of natural justice is not an empty formality. Where only one conclusion is possible, this Court can decline to interfere in exercise of power under Art. 226 of the Constitution of India.