JUDGMENT

Banerjee, J.-Since the decision of this Court in Kraipak s case (A.K.Kraipak v. Union of India1) one golden rule that stands firmly established is that the doctrine of natural justice is not only to secure justice but to prevent miscarriage of justice. What, however, does this doctrine exactly mean? Lord Reid about four decades ago in Ridge v. Baldwin & Ors.2 very succinctly described it as not being capable of exact definition but what a reasonable man would regard as a fair procedure in particular circumstances - who then is a reasonable man - the man on the clapham omnibus? In India, however, a reasonable man cannot but be a common man similarly placed. The effort of Lord Reid in Ridge v. Baldwin (supra) in not attributing a definite meaning to the doctrine but attributing it to be representing a fair procedure still holds good even in the millennium year. As a matter of fact this Court in the case of Keshav Mills Co. Ltd. v. Union of India & Ors.3 upon reliance on the attributes of the doctrine as above stated as below :

"8. The second question, however, as to what are the principles of natural justice that should regulate an administrative act or order is a much mo