In Brief
The respondent was appointed as Veterinary Compounder by a Director-in-charge without prior written approval from the Competent Authority, as mandated by recruitment rules. Eight months later, the appointment was cancelled. The respondent challenged this termination, claiming he was denied a hearing. The High Court quashed the termination order on natural justice grounds. The Supreme Court reversed the High Court's judgment, holding that an appointment made without mandatory approval from the competent authority is void ab initio. The Court ruled that principles of natural justice do not apply to null and void appointments, and no hearing was required before cancellation of an appointment that was never legally valid.
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