S.S.Sodhi, J. - (1.) On August 30, 1982 the Home Secretary of the Union Territory, Chandigarh issued an order (Annexure P-1) to all heads of departments and offices of the Chandigarh Administration, that no receipt issued by any of the transport companies or booking agencies mentioned therein be entertained particularly the matter of payments to employees in respect of leave travel concession claims; as the Administration had decided to blacklist such transport companies and booking agencies from entering into any transactions with the Chandigarh Administration or any of its subordinate offices for a period of five years. Amongst the transport companies, mentioned in this order, were the petitioner Punnu Tourist Service (P.) Limited and the Sai Yatra (Registered) Chandigarh.
(2.) Petitions under Article 226 of the Constitution were filed by both the Punnu Tourist Service (P.) Ltd. as also Sai Yatra (Registered) seeking to challenge thereby the order of the Home Secretary (Annexure P-1). The petition filed by the former, being the one referred to above, while that of Sai Yatra (Registered) being Civil Writ No. 4100 of 1982. This order will dispose of both these writ petitions as common questions were raised therein and they were consequently heard together.
(3.) According to the petitioners their blacklisting by the impugned order (Annexure P-1) involved civil consequences in that they were thereby deprived of the advantage and privilege of entering into lawful business transactions with the Chandigarh Administration, its subordinate offices and employees. Besides it also adversely affected their good name creating a slur on their reputation. This order of the Home Secretary, it was pleaded, was violative of the provisions of Article 14 of the Constitution of India, also the Rules of natural justice, in that no opportunity was afforded to them of being heard before the impugned order was passed which was therefore, contrary to law. The relief thus claimed was the quashing of the order of the Home Secretary.;