VAJESINGH SALAMBHAI NAIK & ORS. vs STATE OF GUJARAT & ANR.

The Supreme Court held that under Section 20 and Section 17(1) of the Bombay Merged Territories and Areas (Jagirs Abolition) Act, 1953, the Tribunal is mandated to decide appeals on merits, even if the appellant defaults in appearance. The Court found that the Tribunal erred in dismissing the applications for restoration of appeals as time-barred, clarifying that Regulation 21 of the Bombay Revenue Tribunal Act, 1958 allows for a 30-day period from the receipt of the dismissal order for such applications. The appeals were restored, and the Tribunal was directed to decide them on merits.