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Inder Jeet Singh v. Union Of India Uoi And Ors.

Allahabad High Court
Nov 8, 2010
Smart Summary (Beta)

Structured Summary of the Opinion: Triloki Singh — Writ Petition

Factual and Procedural Background

The petitioner is Sri Triloki Singh. Two impugned orders are challenged in this writ petition: an order dated 14.9.2005 passed by respondent No. 3 dismissing the petitioner from service, and an appellate order dated 28.12.2005 passed by respondent No. 2 rejecting his appeal.

The allegation against the petitioner is that, while posted as a Constable at the Taj Mahal, Agra, he threatened two Bangladeshi visitors (who had purchased tickets of Rs. 20/-) and demanded a bribe of Rs. 500/-. On their showing inability to pay that amount, he allegedly realised Rs. 50/- from them. The foreign visitors made a complaint to the control room where the In-charge, Himanshu Pandey, was present. Himanshu Pandey called the petitioner, and the two complainants identified the petitioner and alleged that he had obtained a bribe of Rs. 50/- under threat.

The disciplinary process involved sending notices by registered post to the complainants at addresses in New Delhi and Bangladesh; the registered letters were returned with the endorsement "addressee did not appear". Other witnesses were examined; the enquiry officer assessed the evidence and submitted a report finding the petitioner guilty. The disciplinary authority concurred, leading to the impugned dismissal and the appellate rejection.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether the disciplinary inquiry and consequent orders (dismissal and appellate rejection) are vitiated by alleged procedural defects including non-examination of the complainants and contradictions in their statements.
  2. Whether the identification of the petitioner by the complainants (including the contention that they only "moved head" rather than spoke) is sufficient and valid for conviction in departmental proceedings.
  3. Whether the High Court should interfere with the departmental findings of fact or reappraise the evidence in judicial review of disciplinary proceedings, in light of principles governing substantive and procedural violations and the test of prejudice.

Arguments of the Parties

Petitioner's Arguments

  • The complainants were not examined by the authorities concerned in the disciplinary inquiry.
  • There are contradictions in the statements of PW-1 and PW-2.
  • At the time of identification and verification before respondent No. 3, the complainants did not speak but only "moved head", suggesting the identification may be unreliable.

Respondents' Position / Administrative Response

  • The authorities sent notices by registered post to the complainants at their recorded addresses in New Delhi and Bangladesh; the registered letters were returned with the endorsement "addressee did not appear".
  • Other witnesses were available and were examined; the enquiry officer recorded and assessed the evidence of those witnesses, concluding guilt.
  • The complainants had in fact identified the petitioner before In-charge Himanshu Pandey, and other witnesses also identified the petitioner.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
Subedar Pathak v. General Manager & others (Special Appeal No.1299 of 2005), decided 7.11.2005 Sets out circumstances in which judicial review of departmental proceedings is permissible — e.g., to examine errors in decision-making process, denial of adequate opportunity of defence, or violation of substantive law. The court relied on this authority to frame the inquiry whether any of those factors (error in process, denial of adequate opportunity, substantive violation) existed in the present case; it concluded none did and therefore no interference was warranted.
State Bank of India & others vs. S.K. Sharma, JT 1996 (3) SC 722 Summarizes principles that may vitiate departmental proceedings: distinction between substantive and procedural violations; the test of prejudice for procedural breaches; the application of natural justice (audi alteram partem); when violations are non-waivable or self-prejudicial. The court applied these summarized principles (notably the test of prejudice, substantial compliance, and the limits on reappraisal of evidence) to assess whether procedural or substantive infirmities in the enquiry existed. Finding no prejudice or fundamental violation, the court declined to interfere.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The court proceeded by reviewing the record and the contentions raised by the petitioner. The key steps of its analysis were:

  1. Examination of procedural steps taken by the disciplinary authority: notices were sent by registered post to the complainants at their addresses in New Delhi and Bangladesh, but the registered letters were returned with the endorsement "addressee did not appear".
  2. Assessment of evidentiary record: other witnesses were available and their statements were recorded; the enquiry officer assessed this evidence and found the petitioner guilty; the disciplinary authority concurred with the enquiry report.
  3. Consideration of petitioner's specific challenges: the petitioner alleged that the complainants were not examined and that there were contradictions in PW-1 and PW-2; he also pointed to the manner of identification (the complainants "moved head"). The court noted that identification/verification had occurred before In-charge Himanshu Pandey and that other witnesses also identified the petitioner.
  4. Application of legal standards governing interference in departmental proceedings: the court emphasized that it does not act as an appellate authority in disciplinary matters and will not reappraise evidence unless the findings are perverse. It referred to the principles set out in the cited precedents (Subedar Pathak; State Bank of India v. S.K. Sharma), especially the distinction between substantive and procedural violations and the "test of prejudice" for procedural breaches, and the requirement of fair hearing under natural justice.
  5. Conclusion drawn from the application of those principles: the court found no error in the decision-making process, no denial of adequate opportunity of defence, and no substantive provision violation that would vitiate the enquiry. It also accepted that the subject matter (misconduct towards foreign visitors at a national monument) was serious and detrimental to public interest and national image, strengthening the view that the punishment was not inappropriate in the circumstances.
  6. Because none of the recognized grounds for judicial interference (as per the authorities cited) were present, the court declined to interfere with the disciplinary findings or the punishment imposed.

Holding and Implications

Holding: Writ petition dismissed.

Implications:

  • The dismissal order dated 14.9.2005 passed by respondent No. 3 (terminating the petitioner from service) and the appellate order dated 28.12.2005 rejecting the petitioner's appeal stand affirmed by the High Court's refusal to interfere.
  • The court did not find or announce any new legal principle; it applied existing authorities governing judicial review of departmental proceedings and concluded that no recognized ground for vitiation existed in this case. The decision's effect is limited to the concrete outcome for the parties (i.e., the petitioner's dismissal is sustained).

Disposition recorded in the opinion: "The writ petition lacks merit. Dismissed." (Petition dismissed)

Show all summary ...

Hon’ble Sudhir Agarwal, J.—Heard Sri K.S. Chauhan, learned counsel for the petitioner, Sri Triloki Singh, holding brief of Sri Ajay Bhanot, for the respondents and perused the record. 2. The orders impugned in this writ petition are dated 14.9.2005 and dated 28.12.2005. The first order has been passed by the respondent no. 3 dismissing the petitioner from service and the later one is the appellate order rejecting his appeal passed by respondent no. 2. The allegations levelled against the petitioner are that while posted as Constable at the historical monument Taj Mahal, Agra, he threatened two Bangladeshi visitors despite of having purchased the tickets of Rs. 20/- and demanded a bribe of Rs. 500/- and on their showing inability to pay so much amount, ultimately realised Rs. 50/-. This complaint was made by those foreign visitors to control room whereat In-charge, Himanshu Pandey was present and he called the petitioner who was identified by two complainants that he has obtained a bribe of Rs. 50/- under threat. 3. It is contended that the complainants were not examined by the authorities concerned and secondly that there are some contradictions in the statement of PW-1 and PW-2. 4. Having gone through the record, I find that the authorities concerned sent notices to the complainants also by registered post at their residential addresses of New Delhi and Bangladesh but the said registered letters were returned with endorsement “addresseee did not appear”. Since other witnesses were available to prove the guilt of the petitioner, the authorities concerned proceeded to record the statements of other witnesses and having assessed the said evidences, the enquiry officer submitted his report finding the petitioner guilty and the same has been concurred by the disciplinary authority pursuant whereto the impugned orders have been passed. 5. Submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner is that the complainants at the time of identification and verification before respondent no. 3, did not say anything in words but only moved head. However, he could not dispute that the identification and verification of the complainants was actually made before Himanshu Pandey, and that being so, he was also identified by other witnesses. I find no reason to interfere with the finding of facts since in a matter of disciplinary proceeding, this Court do not sit as an appellate authority. Believing or not the evidence is within the exclusive domain of the disciplinary authority and unless the same can be shown to be perverse, no interference is called for. The circumstances in which this Court may interfere exercising the power of judicial review with the disciplinary proceedings has been considered by a Division Bench of this Court in Special Appeal No.1299 of 2005 (Subedar Pathak v. General Manager & others) decided on 7.11.2005 wherein it has been held as under: “In the matter of departmental proceedings judicial review is permissible to consider whether there is any error in the decision making process or not resulting in denial of adequate opportunity of defence. Further, if there is any violation of substantive provision of law, in such case also the proceedings may be vitiated. The Court will not reappraise the evidence and sit in appeal over orders passed by the departmental authorities. In the case of State Bank of India and others vs. S.K. Sharma, JT 1996 (3) SC 722 the Hon’ble Apex Court after considering catena of cases on the issue summarized the principles, which may vitiate the departmental proceeding. Relevant portion of the aforesaid judgment is quoted below: - “(1) An order passed imposing a punishment on an employee consequent upon a disciplinary/departmental enquiry in violation of the rules/regulations/statutory provisions governing such enquiries should not be set aside automatically. The Court or the Tribunal should enquir whether (a) the provision violated is of a substantive nature, or (b) whether it is procedural in character. (2) A substantive provisions has normally to be complied with was explained hereinabove and the theory of substantial compliance or the test of prejudice would not be applicable in such a case. (3) In the case of violation of a procedural provision, the position is this: procedural provisions are generally meant for affording a reasonable and adequate opportunity to the delinquent officer/employee. They are, generally speaking, conceived in his interest. Violation of any and every procedural provision cannot be said to automatically vitiate the enquiry held or order passed. Except cases falling under ‘’no notice, ‘’no opportunity, and ‘’no hearing’ categories, the complaint of violation of procedural provision should be examined form the point of view of prejudice, viz., whether such violation has prejudiced the delinquent officer/employee in defending himself properly and effectively. If it is found that he has been so prejudiced, appropriate orders have to be made to repair and remedy the prejudice including setting aside the enquiry and/or the order of punishment. If no prejudice is established to have resulted therefrom, it is obvious, no interference is called for. In this connection, it may be remembered that there may be certain procedural provisions, which are of a fundamental character, whose violation is by itself proof of prejudice. The court may not insist on proof of prejudice in such cases. As explained in the body of the judgment, take a case where there is a provision expressly providing that after the evidence of the employer/Government is over, the employee shall be given an opportunity to lead defence in his evidence, and in a given case, the enquiry officer does not give that opportunity in spite of the delinquent officer/employee asking for it. The prejudice is self-evident. No proof of prejudice as such need be called for in such a case. To repeat, the test is on of prejudice, i.e., whether the person has received a fair hearing considering all things. Now, this very aspect can also be looked at from the point of view of directory and mandatory provisions, if one is so inclined. The principle stated under (4) hereinbelow is only another way of looking at the same aspect as is dealt with herein and not a different or distinct principle. (4) (a) In the case of violation of a procedural provision, which is not mandatory character, the complaint of violation has to be examined from the standpoint of substantial compliance. Be that as it may, the order passed in violation of such a provision can be set aside only where such violation has occasioned prejudice to the delinquent employee. (b) In the case of violation of a procedural provision, which is of a mandatory character, it has to be ascertained whether the provision is conceived in the interest of the person proceeded against or in public interest. If it is found to be the former, then it must be seen whether the delinquent officer has waived the said requirement, either expressly or by his conduct. If he is found to have waived it, then the order of punishment cannot be set aside on the ground of said violation. If, on the other hand, it is found that the delinquent officer/employee has not it or that the provision could not be waived by him, then the Court or the Tribunal should made appropriate directions (including the setting aside of the order of punishment), keeping in mind the approach adopted by the Constitution Bench in B. Karunakar, The ultimate test is always the same, viz., test or prejudice or the test of fair hearing, as it may be called. (5) Where the enquiry is not governed by any rules/regulations/statutory provisions and the only obligation is to observe the principles of natural justice or, for that matter, wherever such principles are held to be implied by the very nature and impact of the order/action - the Court or the Tribunal should make a distinction between a total violation of natural justice (rule of audi alteram partem) and violation of facet of the said rule, as explained in the body of the judgment. In other words, a distinction must be made between ‘’no opportunity’ and no adequate opportunity, i.e., between ‘’no notice’, ‘’no hearing’ and ‘’no fair hearing’ (a) in the case of former, the order passed would undoubtedly be invalid (one may call it ‘’void’ or a nullity if one chooses to). In such cases, normally, liberty will be reserved for the authority to take proceedings afresh according to law, i.e. in accordance with the said rule (audi alteram partem): (b) but in the latter case, the effect of violation (of a facet of the rule of audi alteram partem) has to be examined from the standpoint of prejudice; in other words, what the Court of Tribunal has to see is whether in the totality of the circumstances, the delinquent officer/employee did or did not have a fair hearing and the orders to be made shall depend upon the answer to the said query. (It is made clear that this principle (No.5) does not apply in the case of rule against bias, the test in which behalf are laid down elsewhere). (6) While applying the rule of audi alteram partem (the primary principles of natural justice) the Court/Tribunal/Authority must always bear in mind the ultimate and over-riding objective underlying the said rule, viz., to ensure a fair hearing and to ensure that there is no failure of justice. It is this objective which should guide them in applying the rule of varying situations that arise before them. (7) There may be situations where the interests of State or public interest may call for a curtailing of the rule of audi alteram partem. In such situations, the Court may have to balance public/State interest with the requirement of natural justice an arrive at an appropriate decision.” 6. None of the above factors I find exist in the present case warranting any interference in the matter. The guilt of the petitioner concerning his behaviour with foreign visitors coming to historical monuments not only a serious misconduct, but it also gives a bad impression of the nation also and, therefore, it has to be dealt with seriously. Therefore, the petitioner does not deserve any sympathy. I find no error on the face of record warranting interference. 7. The writ petition lacks merit. Dismissed. (Petition dismissed) _____________