S.S.SANDHAWALIA, J.

1. Whether the principle of audi alteram partem is attracted in the event of the suspension of the State Agricultural Marketing Board by the State Government under S.3(8) of the Punjab State Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961, has come to be the spinal issue in this appeal under Clause X of the Letters Patent.

2. In exercise of the powers under Section 3(1) of the Punjab State Agrl. Produce Markets Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as the Act ) the State Government constituted the Punjab Agricultural Marketing Board (hereinafter referred to as the Board ), consisting of the six appellants, that is, appellant No.1, Jathedar Jagdev Singh Khudian as the Chairman and the other five as non-official members thereof, besides six official members, through a notification dated May 12th, 1978. However, on March 18, 1980, this Board was suspended by the State Government in exercise of its powers under Section 3(8) of the Act by a notification in the following terms :-

"Whereas it has come to the notice of the Government of the State of Punjab that the Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board (hereinafter referred to as the Board ) has incurred financial expen