26. Procedure to be followed where any party does not appear.- (1) Where, on the date fixed for hearing of the petition or any application or on any other date to which such hearing may be adjourned, the petitioner or the applicant as the case may be, does not appear when the petition or the application is called for hearing, the Bench may, in its discretion, either dismiss the petition or the application for default or hear and decide the same ex parte. (2) Where a petition or application has been dismissed for default and the petitioner or the applicant files an application within thirty days from the date of dismissal and satisfies the Bench that there was sufficient cause for his non-appearance when the petition or the application was called for hearing, the Bench may pass an order setting aside the order dismissing the petition or the application and restore the same: Provided, however, where the case was disposed of on merits, the decision shall not be recalled. (3) Where, on the date fixed for hearing or any other date to which such hearing may be adjourned, the petitioner appears but the respondent does not appear when the petition is called for hearing, the Bench, may, in its discretion, adjourn the hearing or hear and decide the petition ex parte. (4) Where the petition has been heard ex parte against the respondent or respondents, such respondent or respondents may apply to the Bench within thirty days for an order to set aside and if the respondent or respondents satisfy the Bench that the notice was not duly served on him or them or that he or they were prevented by any sufficient cause from appearing when the petition was called for hearing, the Bench may make an order setting aside the ex parte order against him or them on such terms as it thinks fit and shall appoint a date for proceeding with the petition: Provided that where the ex parte order is of such nature that it cannot be set aside as against one respondent only, it may be set aside as against all or any of the other respondents also: Provided further that in cases covered by sub-regulation (7) of regulation 21, the Bench shall not set aside the ex parte order merely on the ground that a shareholder or a creditor did not have the notice of the petition. | 