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Case Summary — State of Punjab v. Tejbir Singh (Letters Patent Appeal)

Factual and Procedural Background

Prem Chand Jain, A.C.J. noted that the State of Punjab filed this appeal under clause X of the Letters Patent against a Single Judge's judgment dated 30 May 1983. The Single Judge had allowed Civil Writ Petition No. 4679 of 1976 filed by Tejbir Singh (the respondent) and quashed impugned orders (Annexures P-5 and P-8 dated 17 March 1973 and 27 April 1976).

Tejbir Singh, who held the office of Block Development and Panchayat Officer, was appointed ex officio Executive Officer of the Panchayat Samiti, Sirhind under Section 21 of the Punjab Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads Act, 1961. Alleged irregularities in purchasing books for the Panchayat Samiti Library led to disciplinary action under Rule 8 of the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1952. By an order of the Governor dated 17 March 1973 (Annexure P-5), the respondent was subjected to stoppage of one increment with cumulative effect and a recovery of Rs. 331.56.

The respondent challenged the Governor's order in this Court, arguing that administrative and disciplinary control over him vested in the Panchayat Samiti and thus the Governor's order was without jurisdiction. He relied on the decision in Block Samiti, Nabha v. The Secretary to Government, Punjab and others, 1973 PLJ 481. The Single Judge sustained that plea and quashed the impugned order. The State of Punjab filed the present appeal challenging that decision.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether the administrative control of a Panchayat Samiti over its Executive Officer (a Block Development and Panchayat Officer appointed ex officio) necessarily includes disciplinary control.
  2. Whether, given the statutory scheme (notably Sections 21, 34 and 35 of the Punjab Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads Act, 1961, as amended), the State/Government (through the Governor) retained jurisdiction to impose disciplinary punishment on the Executive Officer, or whether that power lay with the Panchayat Samiti.
  3. Whether the precedent relied upon by the respondent (Block Samiti, Nabha) applied to the facts and legal questions in this case.

Arguments of the Parties

Respondent's Arguments (as recorded)

  • The respondent contended that administrative control over him as Executive Officer vested in the Panchayat Samiti.
  • He argued that imposition of punishment also rested with the Panchayat Samiti, and therefore the Governor's punitive order was without jurisdiction.
  • He relied on the judgment in Block Samiti, Nabha (1973 PLJ 481) to support the contention that the Panchayat Samiti had the relevant control.

Appellant's Arguments (as recorded)

  • Mr. Sandhu, learned Additional Advocate-General for Punjab, argued that the respondent was not a member of the Samiti service and that the Samiti only had administrative control, which is distinct from disciplinary control.
  • He urged that the respondent remained essentially a Government servant and disciplinary action against him had to be taken under the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1952.
  • The appellant argued that the Block Samiti, Nabha decision was distinguishable and not applicable to the present facts, and that the Governor's order of punishment was within jurisdiction and lawful.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
Block Samiti, Nabha v. The Secretary to Government, Punjab and others, 1973 PLJ 481 Relied upon by the respondent to support the proposition that administrative control of the Samiti conferred the authority to impose disciplinary action on the Executive Officer. The Court found this decision distinguishable: it made reference to administrative control of the Samiti but did not address the precise point in issue (whether disciplinary control also resided with the Samiti under the amended statutory provisions). Accordingly, the Court did not treat it as determinative in the present matter.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The court's analysis proceeded from the statutory text. It examined Sections 21 and 35 of the Punjab Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads Act, 1961, and Section 34 (which deals with punishment and dismissal of servants).

Key statutory findings as set out by the court:

  • Section 21(1) makes the Block Development and Panchayat Officer the ex officio Executive Officer of a Panchayat Samiti and Section 21(2) states that the Executive Officer shall be under the administrative control of the Panchayat Samiti and that his conditions of service shall be those applicable to the class of Government servants to which he belongs.
  • Section 35(1)–(3) (as amended in Punjab) permits the Government to place its servants at the disposal of a Panchayat Samiti; those servants are under the administrative control of the Executive Officer; their conditions of service remain those of the Government class to which they belong; and the provisions of Section 34 shall not be applicable to them, except that the Panchayat Samiti may exercise administrative and disciplinary powers only to the extent delegated by the Government (per the proviso).
  • The proviso to amended Section 35(3) thus contemplates that disciplinary powers lie with the Panchayat Samiti only if and to the extent such powers are delegated by the Government.

Applying these provisions to the facts, the court observed:

  • There was no material placed on record to show any delegation by the Government of disciplinary powers to the Panchayat Samiti in respect of the Executive Officer whose services had been placed at the Samiti's disposal.
  • Consequently, while the Panchayat Samiti had administrative control, it did not possess the delegated disciplinary control in the instant case; the respondent continued to be a Government servant for disciplinary purposes.
  • The Panjab Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads Services Rules, 1965 (Appendix A) do not include the post of Executive Officer among members of the Samiti service; similarly the Punjab Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads Servants (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1964 apply only to members of Samitis and Zila Parishads. This supported the conclusion that the Executive Officer was not a member of the Samiti service subject to Samiti disciplinary jurisdiction.
  • The court reasoned that accepting the respondent's contention would create a legal vacuum in which neither the Government nor the Samiti could discipline an officer whose services were placed at the Samiti's disposal — a result the court found neither envisaged by the statute nor acceptable.
  • The earlier case relied upon by the respondent (Block Samiti, Nabha) was distinguished on the basis that it dealt with administrative control but did not address the precise statutory point regarding delegation of disciplinary powers under the amended Section 35(3).

On this basis the court concluded that the Single Judge erred in holding the Governor's order (stoppage of one increment) to be without jurisdiction.

Holding and Implications

APPEAL ALLOWED.

Holding (direct effect): The court allowed the State's appeal, set aside the judgment of the learned Single Judge dated 30 May 1983, and dismissed Civil Writ Petition No. 4679 of 1976 filed by Tejbir Singh. The court ordered that there would be no order as to costs.

Implications: The decision holds, on the facts of this case and on the statutory construction applied, that administrative control vested in a Panchayat Samiti does not automatically include disciplinary control unless such disciplinary powers have been delegated by the Government. The Executive Officer (a Block Development and Panchayat Officer placed at the Samiti's disposal) remained, for disciplinary purposes, a Government servant and could be subjected to disciplinary action by the Government (as was done through the Governor's order). The opinion did not purport to lay down a broader precedent beyond its statutory interpretation of Sections 21 and 35 and the application to the facts before the Court; no additional wider consequences were elaborated in the text.

No other points were held to arise for consideration in the opinion.

    State Of Punjab And Ors. v. Tejbir Singh

    Prem Chand Jain, A.C.J. - State of Punjab has filed this appeal under clause X of the Letters Patent against the judgment of a learned Single Judge of this Court, dated 30th May, 1983, by which Civil Writ Petition No. 4679 of 1976, filed by Tejbir Singh, respondent, was allowed and the impugned orders, copies Annexure P-5 and P-8, dated 17th March, 1973 and 27th April, 1976, respectively, were quashed. 2. In order to appreciate the controversy, certain salient feature of the case may be noticed. Tejbir Singh, respondent, who was Block Development and Panchayat Officer, was appointed as Executive Officer of the Panchayat Samiti, Sirhind. This appointment of his was made under Section 21 of the Punjab Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as `the Act'). By virtue of his appointment as such, the respondent came under the administrative control of the Panchayat Samiti. It appears that some irregularities were alleged to have been committed by him in purchasing books for the Panchayat Samiti Library, with the result, action was initiated against him under Rule 8 of the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1952, which culminated in the order passed by the Governor of Punjab, dated 17th March, 1973, copy Annexure P-5 to the paper book, resulting in stoppage of one increment with cumulative effect and recovery of Rs. 331.56. Feeling aggrieved, the respondent filed a petition in this Court calling in question the legality and the propriety of the said order. The main plea taken in the petition was that the administrative control over the respondent (writ petitioner) as Executive Officer vested in the Panchayat Samiti; that the imposition of punishment also rested in the Panchayat Samiti, and that the order passed by the Governor of Punjab was thus without jurisdiction. In support of this plea, the respondent had placed reliance on the judgment of a learned Single Judge of this Court in Block Samiti, Nabha v. The Secretary to Government' Punjab and others, 1973 PLJ 481. The learned Single Judge, before whom the matter came up for final hearing, found force in the plea, and on the basis of the judgment in Block Samiti Nabha's case, the writ petition was allowed, and the impugned order was quashed. Dissatisfied from the judgment of the learned Single Judge, the present appeal has been filed by the State of Punjab. 3. It was contended by Mr. Sandhu, learned Additional Advocate-General, Punjab, that the respondent was not a member of the service of the Samiti; that the Samiti had only administrative control over its Executive Officer; that there is a clear distinction between the administrative control and the disciplinary control; that the respondent was essentially a Government servant and had to be dealt with for the purpose of taking disciplinary action under the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules; that the judgment in Block Samiti Nabha's case (supra) is distinguishable and not applicable to the facts of the case in hand; and that the order of punishment passed by the appropriate authority in the instant case was within jurisdiction and legal. 4. We have heard the learned counsel for the parties, and find considerable force in the contention of the learned Additional Advocate General Punjab. 5. The Panchayat Samiti has been constituted under the Punjab Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads Act, 1961. The Panchayat Samiti is a corporate body having a perpetual succession. The powers, functions ad duties of the Panchayat Samitis have been enumerated specifically in Section 41 of the Act, and they broadly relate to the development of agriculture; animal husbandry and fisheries; maintenance and expansion of health services and rural sanitation control of epidemics etc; means of communications-construction, repair and maintenance of inter village roads and culverts on such roads etc.; establishment of modia for social education-community development, libraries, encouragement of physical and cultural activities; promotion of cooperation and development of cottage industries etc. 6. Sections 21 and 35 of the Act, in so far as they are relevant for the purpose of this appeal, read as under :- "21. (1) Where a Panchayat Samiti is constituted for a block, Block Development Officer shall be the ex officio Executive Officer of the Panchayat Samiti and where it is constituted for a Tehsil, there shall be a whole time Executive Officer who shall be appointed by the Government. (2) The Executive Officer shall be under the administrative control of the Panchayat Samiti and his conditions of service shall be those which are applicable to the class of Government servants to which he belongs. (3) ... ... ... (4) ... ... ... (5) ... ... ... (6) ... ... ... 35. (1) The Government may by notification place at the disposal of a Panchayat Samiti such of its servants as are required for implementation of the schemes connected therewith and for such other duties and functions as may be assigned to them by the Panchayat Samiti from time to time. (2) The aforesaid servants shall thereafter be under the administrative control of the Executive Officer of the Panchayat Samiti. (3) The conditions of service of the aforesaid servants shall be the conditions of service applicable to the class of Government servants to which they belong and the provisions of section 34 shall not be applicable to them : Provided that the Panchayat Samiti shall, in respect of these servants, exercise such administrative and disciplinary powers as may be delegated to it by the Government and shall also have the power to transfer them within the area of its jurisdiction in the manner prescribed." 7. A bare perusal of Section 21(1) would show that the respondent being the Block Development and Panchayat Officer and become the ex officio Executive Officer of the Panchayat Samiti, and by virtue of the provisions of sub-section (2), the Panchayat Samiti had administrative control over him. But the question that arises for consideration is whether the administrative control of the Panchayat Samiti over the Executive Officer would also include the disciplinary control. On consideration of the Punjab amendment of sub-section (3) of Section 35 of the Act, the answer to the aforesaid proposition has to be in favour of the appellant as under sub-section (3), it is clearly provided that the conditions of service of the servants who have been placed at the disposal of the Panchayat Samiti by the Government shall be the conditions of the service applicable to the class of Government servants to which they belong. It is further provided that the provisions of section 34 of the Act, which are in the following terms, shall not be applicable to them. "34. Punishment and dismissal of servants. (1) Subject to the right of appeal and revision under Section 116 a Panchayat Samiti may suspend, dismiss or otherwise punish its servants. (2) No servant of Panchayat Samiti shall be dismissed or removed or reduced in rank until he has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the action proposed to be taken in regard to him. Provided that this sub-section shall not apply - (a) where a person is dismissed or removed or reduced in rank on the ground of conduct which has led to his conviction on a criminal charge; or (b) Where the Panchayat Samiti or any other authority empowered in this behalf by or under this Act is satisfied that for some reason, to be recorded by the Panchayat Samiti or the said authority in writing, it is not reasonably practicable to give that person an opportunity of showing cause." Under the proviso to the amended sub-section (3) of Section 35, it is specified that the Panchayat Samiti shall, in respect of these servants, exercise such administrative and disciplinary powers as may be delegated to it by the Government and shall also have the power to transfer them within the area of its jurisdiction. Now, in this case, no material has been placed on record to show that any disciplinary powers had been delegated to the Panchayat Samiti by the Government. But for this amendment made in sub-section (3), the Panchayat Samiti, under sub-section (3) of Section 35, would have had the power in respect of the servants whose services had been placed at its disposal to administer minor punishments, like censure and stoppage of increments; but as earlier observed, the amendment has changed the entire complex, as a result of which, the conditions of service of such servants shall be the conditions of the service applicable to the class of the Government servants to which they belong. 8. With this analysis of the statutory, powers, there can be no gainsaying that the Panchayat Samiti has only the administrative control over the officers whose services have been placed at its disposal and that too only to that extent which may be delegated to it by the Government. In the instant case the Panchayat Samiti has not been given any disciplinary powers over the Executive Officer whose services had been placed at its disposal, with the result that it was the Government alone which could take disciplinary action against him. The Block Development and Panchayat Officer remains essentially the Government servant, and merely as a result of placing his services at the disposal of the Samiti he does not become an employee of the Samiti. 9. Further, the Panjab Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads Services Rules, 1965 deal with the members of the service belonging to the Samitis and Zila Parishads. A reference to the Appendix A to these rules would show that it does not include the post of the Executive Officer. The posts referred to in this Appendix are of Head Clerk, Assistant, Accountant, etc. There are the Punjab Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads Servants (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1964 also. These rules are applicable only to the members of Samitis and Zila Parishads. A reference to these Service rules and the Punishment rules goes to show that the Executive Officer cannot be dealt with by the Samiti for taking some disciplinary action as he does not belong to the service. If the contention of the learned counsel for the respondent is accepted, then neither the Government, to whose service the Executive Officer belongs, can take the disciplinary action nor has the Samiti any jurisdiction to take disciplinary action, with the result, that an officer whose services are placed at the disposal of the Samiti, would go scot free for committing any irregularity or embezzlement. Such a situation is neither envisaged nor acceptable. In this view of the matter, we are constrained to hold that the learned Single Judge has erred in law in holding that the impugned order passed by the Governor inflicting minor punishment of stoppage of one increment on the respondent was without jurisdiction. The decision of Block Samitis Nabha's case (supra) on which reliance has been placed is clearly distinguishable as it makes reference to the administrative control of the Samiti and does not deal with at all with the point in issue in the petition. 10. No other point arises for consideration. 11. For the reasons recorded above, we allow the appeal, set aside the judgment of the learned Single Judge and dismiss Civil Writ Petition No. 4679 of 1976, filed by the respondent but there will be no order as to costs. Appeal allowed.

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    State Of Punjab And Ors. v. Tejbir Singh
    (Jan 22, 1985)