Where several matters are pending before one agency, what lets it hold a single hearing for them or split them into separate hearings?
General information · Not legal advice
Material to check
In a practice file of this kind, we read the notice of hearing issued in each matter, to see whether they were heard together or apart, any written application by a party asking for combination or separation, and the agency's reply to it. Those papers show who acted and by which route.
These are types of material to look for, not evidence already verified by PRO SE.
Where readings differ
The provision lets the administrative agency itself decide, acting either on its own initiative or on a party's application, to combine several matters into one hearing or to separate them into several. The power is permissive, since the agency 'may' do so, and nothing in the provision obliges it either way.
The provision names only the agency and the two routes to acting, so it leaves open what a combined or separated hearing means for the notice given in each matter, each party's chance to be heard, and any period running in each matter. A party's application therefore opens a decision that remains in the agency's hands.
Your judgment
If the agency refuses a party's application to combine two matters, what in the file would show that each hearing was still held on its own facts?
PRO SE does not make this decision or keep a case record on this public site.When to reconsider
We look at this again if the provision is amended to require the agency to give reasons for combining or separating matters, or if a decision explains whether a hearing held on one route affects the procedure in each matter.