Bombay High Court
Vishnu Babu Mule vs Union Of India Through The General ... on 22 December, 2021
Author: Dipankar Datta
Bench: Makarand Subhash Karnik, Dipankar Datta
WP-5764-2021 & 2888-2019
sng
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISIDICTION
WRIT PETITION NO. 5764 OF 2021
Bhupendra Pal Singh .. Petitioner
Versus
Union of India & Ors. .. Respondents
Mr. Ramesh Ramamurthy with Mr. Saikumar Ramamurthy for
petitioner.
Mr. R. R. Shetty for respondents.
RESERVED ON: OCTOBER 20, 2021
AND
ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION
WRIT PETITION NO. 2888 OF 2019
Vishnu Babu Mule .. Petitioner
Versus
Union of India & Anr. .. Respondents
Ms. Tanaya Patankar i/b Mr.Sanjay Gawde for petitioner.
Mr. Neel Helekar along with Mr. A. A. Garg for Union of India -
respondents.
RESERVED ON: OCTOBER 27, 2021
C0RAM: DIPANKAR DATTA, CJ.
and M. S. KARNIK, J.
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PRONOUNCED ON: DECEMBER 22, 2021
COMMON JUDGMENT (Per Dipankar Datta, CJ.):
WRIT PETITION NO. 5764 OF 2021
THE QUESTION REQUIRING AN ANSWER
1. Should the disciplinary proceedings initiated against the
petitioner under rule 14 of the Central Civil Services (Classification,
Control and Appeal) Rules by issuance of Memorandum of Charges
dated October 23, 2013 (hereafter "the charge-sheet", for short),
served on him on October 29, 2013, i.e., immediately preceding his
retirement on superannuation on October 31, 2013 as Commissioner
of Customs and Central Excise, be interdicted and nullified on the
ground of delay as well as subsequent acquittal in judicial
proceedings, is the question that we are tasked to decide on this writ
petition.
THE FACTS GIVING RISE TO THE WRIT PETITION
2. Reference to the facts and circumstances leading to institution
of the writ petition, as a prelude to our decision, may not be inapt.
3. The petitioner was a member of the Indian Revenue Service
(Customs and Central Excise) having been recruited in 1979. The
incidents giving rise to the charge-sheet dated October 23, 2013
relate to an incident of July 10, 2000, when the petitioner was
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working as Additional Commissioner of Customs (Export Promotion)
in the Export Promotion Commissionerate, New Customs House,
Mumbai. The said incident of July 10, 2000 related to a party, M/s.
Pacific International Exporters, which was allegedly allowed to
successfully claim excess drawback contrary to law. In 2002, the
petitioner was granted promotion on the post of Commissioner of
Central Excise and Customs. Acting on an audit report, the Anti-
Corruption Bureau of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Mumbai,
(hereafter 'the ACB/CBI", for short) registered a First Information
Report (hereafter "FIR", for short) dated December 31, 2004. One
Hemant Kothikar, Deputy Commissioner, Customs Frere Basin, Dock,
Mumbai, was named as the prime accused in such FIR. Incidentally,
the petitioner was not named as an accused therein. However, in
course of conducting investigation, certain materials were collected
and on the basis thereof, the ACB/CBI submitted an internal report
in September, 2007 recommending prosecution against nine persons
including the petitioner. In September 2007 itself, the CBI had
forwarded all the relevant documents to the Central Board of Excise
and Customs (hereafter, "the Board", for short) for issuing a
departmental charge-sheet under the relevant service rules as well
as charge-sheet under the penal laws. On January 23, 2008, the
Board forwarded a note to the Central Vigilance Commission
(hereafter "the CVC", for short) along with a report of the ACB/CBI
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recommending departmental action against the petitioner. The CVC,
vide its Office Memorandum dated February 4, 2008, advised
initiation of major penalty proceedings against the petitioner and
other departmental officers as well as their prosecution. Upon receipt
of the same from the CVC, the Board requested the Directorate
General of Vigilance, Ministry of Finance, New Delhi (hereafter "the
DGV", for short), by letter dated May 12, 2008, to furnish draft
charge-sheet in respect of the petitioner along with certified copies
of the relied upon documents. On July 16, 2008, sanction to the
ACB/CBI to prosecute the petitioner was granted by the competent
authority, resulting in filing of a police report (charge-sheet) under
section 173(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure against accused
persons including the petitioner for the offences punishable under
section 120B read with sections 420 and 471 of the Indian Penal
Code (hereafter "the IPC", for short) and under section 13(2) read
with section 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
(hereafter "the PC Act", for short). Charges were framed under
sections 120B, 420, 465, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC together with
section 13(2) read with section 13(1)(d) of the PC Act by the Special
(CBI) Court and the petitioner faced trial before it. In due course of
time, the petitioner acquired eligibility to be considered for
promotion to the post of Chief Commissioner, Customs and Central
Excise and was also considered. However, the sealed cover
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procedure was adopted owing to pendency of judicial proceedings
against him. Since the judicial proceedings were pending before the
Special (CBI) Court even on the date of his retirement, consequently
the petitioner never got to know the fate of the recommendation that
was kept in the sealed cover. According to the petitioner, some of his
colleagues were promoted while he stood deprived of promotion.
Meanwhile, on May 19, 2009, the Board sent a reminder to the DGV
for furnishing the draft charge-sheet. This was followed by second
and third reminders dated September 10, 2009 and May 3, 2010,
respectively. By a letter dated May 19, 2010, the DGV wrote to the
Board that the Commissioner of Customs (General), Mumbai
(hereafter, "the CoC (G)", for short) by his letter dated January 1,
2009 had forwarded the draft charge-sheet along with authenticated
copies of the relied upon documents to the AD-V Section of the
Board. The Board by its letter dated September 9, 2010 requested
the CoC (G) to furnish another set of the draft charge-sheet and
authenticated copies of the relied upon documents. In pursuance
thereof, the CoC (G) on September 23, 2009 furnished a copy of the
draft charge-sheet. Insofar as authenticated copies of the relied
upon documents are concerned, it was advised that the same may
be obtained directly from the ACB/CBI; hence, on November 2,
2010, the Board requested the Superintendent of Police, ACB/CBI,
Mumbai, (hereafter, "the SP", for short) to furnish certified copies of
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the relied upon documents. Three reminders, dated February 9,
2011, March 9, 2011 and March 29, 2011, were sent. Pursuant
thereto, the SP replied that all the relied upon documents together
with the report of the ACB/CBI had been supplied to the Chief
Vigilance Officer (hereafter, "the CVO", for short) of the Board on
September 14, 2007. It is, therefore, clear that at least at this stage,
the Board was required to obtain authenticated copies of the relied
upon documents from its own CVO. Instead of activating itself to
obtain the relied upon documents from the CVO, the Board again
wrote to the ACB/CBI on November 29, 2012 and April 29, 2013 with
a request to provide copies of the relied upon documents. Ultimately,
the ACB/CBI handed over the relied upon documents once again on
October 9, 2013. The competent authority, on October 18, 2013,
approved issuance of charge-sheet to the petitioner, whereupon the
charge-sheet dated October 23, 2013 was served on him two days
prior to his retirement on superannuation. It contained two articles
of charge. Article of Charge-I alleged that the petitioner had
conspired with Mr. Hemant Kothikar, the then Deputy Commission of
Customs, Frere Basin, and certain private persons for clearance of a
consignment and in the process had overruled discrepancy raised by
the incumbent Examiner and incumbent Superintendent regarding
quality, quantity and FOB value of the goods; thereby, the petitioner
had failed to maintain absolute integrity, devotion to duty and acted
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in a manner unbecoming of a Government servant. In terms of
Article of Charge -II, the petitioner was alleged to have sanctioned
the payment of an amount of Rs.5,20,717/- as duty drawback to
M/s. Pacific International towards exports overruling a query for
submission of BRC raised by the Appraiser processing the drawback
claim, before submission of reply to the query by the Exporter/CHA
and thereafter got the manual files destroyed causing wrongful loss
of Rs.5,20,717/- to the Government and corresponding gain to
himself. Thus, it was alleged that the petitioner had failed to maintain
absolute integrity, devotion to duty and acted in a manner
unbecoming of a Government servant. On November 2, 2013, the
petitioner responded to the charge-sheet. While denying all the
charges levelled against him, the petitioner complained that the
relied upon documents had not been forwarded to him along with
the charge-sheet and a request was made to supply the said relied
upon documents. Such request was accepted on December 11, 2013
and the relied upon documents were received by the petitioner.
Thereupon, the petitioner submitted his final reply to the charge-
sheet on December 30, 2013. There, he raised objection to delayed
initiation of disciplinary proceedings. It took the respondents almost
a year to appoint an Inquiry Officer as well as a Presenting Officer,
who were appointed on December 18, 2014. In February 2015, the
petitioner approached the Central Administrative Tribunal, Mumbai
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Bench, Mumbai, (hereafter "the Tribunal", for short) by presenting
an original application bearing O.A. No.99 of 2015. Therein the
charge-sheet dated October 23, 2013 issued to him was challenged.
By an interim order dated May 5, 2015, the Tribunal granted stay of
further proceedings of inquiry till the disposal of the original
application. The respondents in the original application did not prefer
to challenge the order dated May 5, 2015; instead, they elected to
contest the original application by filing an affidavit-in-reply and sur-
rejoinder. During the pendency of the original application before the
Tribunal, the Special (CBI) Court delivered its judgment on January
4, 2018 acquitting all the accused persons of the offences with which
they had been charged. Although the Special (CBI) Court recorded
that the guilt of the accused persons including the petitioner was not
proved beyond reasonable doubt, the discussion with regard to the
petitioner's involvement, who was accused no.3 before the said
court, can be profitably referred to for tracing the reasons for his
acquittal. For facility of convenience, it is reproduced below: -
"19. In view of the defence taken by the accused no.3, the
first question is whether the prosecution has proved
that the accused no.3 had sanctioned the duty
drawback. In this connection, the evidence of PW-4
Ashok Chaudhary is relevant. He has deposed that
before the CBI, he had stated that the accused no.3 had
passed order in file no.S-10 and S-2 allowing sanction
of drawback and he i.e. PW Ashok Chaudhary had
allowed the same after putting the comment in the EDI
system. Thus, the accused no.3 had not put any
comment in the EDI system himself. According to PW
Ashok Chaudhary, accused no.3 had allowed the duty
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drawback in manual file S-2 and S-10. However, those
files are not coming before the Court. Further, PW
Ashok Chaudhary has deposed that he does not
remember whether file no.S-10 and S-2 are in respect
of M/s. Pacific International. In view of this evidence, it
cannot be said beyond reasonable doubt that it was
accused no.3 who had sanctioned the duty drawback in
this case.
20. However, even if it is assumed that accused no.3 had
sanctioned the duty drawback, in view of legal provision
regarding the issuance of duty drawback, he did not
commit any wrong. The shipping bill Exh.94 does not
state that there was any discrepancy. The drawback
authority would have acted on shipping bill generated
from EDI. Once the exports were permitted as per the
shipping bill, the duty drawback department was bound
to clear the claim within 3 days as per the circular
referred above. The same thing appears to have been
done in this case which does not amount to offence.
Thus, whether the accused no.3 had sanctioned or not
sanctioned duty drawback, he did not commit any
offence."
(emphasis ours)
The petitioner, after his acquittal by the Special (CBI) Court,
amended his original application and brought the judgment on
record to impress upon the Tribunal that there was indeed no case
of conspiracy to cheat the Government and that he had not
committed any offence. However, the Tribunal by its judgment and
order dated February 21, 2020 dismissed the original application on
the grounds assigned therein. Aggrieved thereby, the petitioner has
invoked the writ jurisdiction of this Court. The main prayers read as
follows:
"(a) that this Hon'ble Court be pleased to issue a writ of certiorari
or other appropriate writ, order or direction calling for record
and proceedings leading to the passing of the judgment dated
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21st February, 2020 passed by the CAT, Mumbai Bench in
Original Application No.99 of 2015 (Exhibit A) and after
examining the legality and propriety of the same this Hon'ble
Court be pleased to quash and set aside the said judgment;
(b) that this Hon'ble Court be pleased to issue a writ of certiorari
or other appropriate writ, order or direction calling for record
and proceedings leading to the issue of the Departmental
chargesheet dated 23rd October, 2013 (Exhibit B) issued by
the Respondents and after examining the legality and
propriety of the same this Hon'ble Court be pleased to quash
and set aside the said departmental chargesheet;
(c) in pursuance of prayer clauses (a) and (b) above this Hon'ble
Court be pleased to direct the Respondents to grant the
Petitioner all consequential service benefits including the due
promotion as Chief Commissioner of Customs and Central
Excise and further promotions, if any, from the due dates with
full difference in emoluments and also grant the Petitioner the
enhanced pension benefits including regular pension,
commutation value of pension and gratuity from the date of
his superannuation and also pay the difference in the amount
of retirement benefits along with interest at the rate of 18%
per annum on the said retirement dues till actual payment."
THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT
4. The Tribunal's judgment dated February 21, 2020 dismissing
the original application is a lengthy one spread over exactly 50
pages. It rightly noted that two aspects required attention, viz. (i)
whether the disciplinary proceedings ought to be quashed on the
ground of delayed initiation; and (ii) whether the respondents ought
to be allowed to continue with the disciplinary proceedings after the
verdict of the criminal court acquitting the petitioner.
5. We note that the Tribunal on the first aspect of delayed
issuance of charge-sheet relied on the decisions of the Supreme
Court in State of Punjab v. Chaman Lal Goyal, reported in (1995)
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2 SCC 570, State of Andhra Pradesh vs. N. Radhakishan,
reported in (1998) 4 SCC 154, and Government of Andhra
Pradesh & Ors. vs. Appala Swamy, reported in (2007) 14 SCC
49, and ruled against him. In fact, it took exception to the petitioner
approaching the Tribunal and obtaining an interim order against
continuance of disciplinary proceedings instead of appearing before
the Inquiry Officer. The entire reasoning of the Tribunal on the aspect
of delayed issuance of charge-sheet is recorded in paragraph 29,
which we quote hereinbelow:
"29. In the present case, the respondents have given a
detailed explanation of the manner in which they have
handled both the criminal proceedings which ensued from the
detection done in 2004, four years later to the incident in
2000 to investigation (sic), filing of FIR in 2004, approval of
charge sheet even while criminal case was going on and then,
after the Inquiry Officer and Presenting Officers were
appointed in December 2014, when the applicant filed this OA
in February 2015 and thereafter obtained interim orders on
05.05.2015 which continue till today. They submit they have
been taking prompt action in the matter. Further, they point
out that the applicant himself had argued in the present case
while obtaining interim orders and as contained in his
pleadings, that when the criminal proceedings were on
identical facts, documents and witnesses, the disciplinary
proceedings should be postponed. Therefore, it is quite plain
that the applicant cannot be permitted to stand on both stools
by arguing on the one hand, that the disciplinary proceedings
should be stayed and then claiming the benefits of quashing
the disciplinary proceedings on the ground of delay. The
Applicant has not, at any stage of the proceedings, explained
how he has been prejudiced in the matter. An argument could
be made that he had undergone mental agony but all the
matters, as he himself submits, the facts, documents and
witnesses were all materials before the Criminal Court which
disposed of the matter as late as in 2018. As also argued by
the respondents, it is only the applicant who has benefited by
the long delay of 20 years from the date of incident to this
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date by way of a promotion in 2002 prior to detection of the
offence and unhindered retirement in 2013. Therefore, in
light of the Hon'ble Apex Court ruling in N. Radhakishan
(supra) that the norm is to allow continuation of the
disciplinary proceeding, the only recourse is the burden which
falls on the applicant to prove convincingly that such
continuance and the delay had caused him grave prejudice
but there is no such evidence placed before us in the present
matter and the applicant has not fulfilled the onerous burden
that he assumed."
6. On the second aspect, the Tribunal recorded that the charge-
sheet filed upon completion of investigation (Annex. A-10) and the
departmental charge-sheet (Annexs. 3 and 4) were undoubtedly the
same. However, the Tribunal thereafter examined the judgment of
the Special (CBI) Court and returned a finding that "this cannot be
considered an honourable acquittal". Also, having regard to the
standard of proof applicable to judicial proceedings and disciplinary
proceedings and the nature of misconduct alleged against the
petitioner, i.e., lack of integrity and devotion to duty unbecoming of
a Government servant, it declined to accept the argument of the
petitioner that the disciplinary proceedings should not be carried
further.
7. Resting on such discussion, the original application came to be
dismissed.
ARGUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE PETITIONER
8. Mr. Ramamurthy, learned advocate appearing for the petitioner
contended that the Tribunal erred in the exercise of its jurisdiction in
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failing to appreciate that the explanation for the delayed issuance of
charge-sheet, given by the respondents, by no stretch of imagination
could be regarded as satisfactory explanation for upholding the
delayed issuance of charge-sheet and was merely an excuse. He
urged that the concept of delayed conclusion of disciplinary
proceedings being quite distinct from delayed initiation, the fine
distinction was missed by the Tribunal. It was his contention that
reliance placed by the Tribunal on paragraph 19 of the decision in N.
Radhakishan (supra) and paragraph 12 of the decision in Appala
Swamy (supra) were clearly misplaced. That apart, the Tribunal was
unjustified in commenting that the petitioner had sought for
quashing of the disciplinary proceedings only on the ground of delay.
According to him, a cursory glance at the events since involvement
of the petitioner transpired, would leave none in doubt that the
respondents took all of 5 (five) years to issue a charge-sheet
wherefor the delay was attributed to correspondence between
authorities and movement of the relevant file from one desk to
another desk of the officers who had the occasion to deal with the
same. Movement of file from one desk to another and/or exchange
of correspondence, it was argued, cannot be cited as an explanation
for the delay in issuing the charge-sheet. Office Memorandum dated
May 23, 2000 issued by the CVC was referred to which provides that
memorandum of charges is required to be issued within a month
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from the date of receipt of advice from the CVC; and in the instant
case the advice having been received on February 4, 2008, by no
stretch of imagination could the delay in issuing the charge-sheet on
October 23, 2013 be held to be reasonable and fair. The very fact
that the charge-sheet was served on the petitioner immediately prior
to his retirement on superannuation, coupled with the fact that more
than a year since then was spent in appointing the Inquiry Officer,
clearly betrays the attempt of the disciplinary authority to wriggle
out of the restrictions to initiate proceedings against a
superannuated officer, which would have stood in the way once the
petitioner retired from service on superannuation. In any event,
since the petitioner did not seek quashing of the disciplinary
proceedings only on the ground of its delayed conclusion but
specifically sought for quashing on the ground of delayed initiation,
which the Tribunal failed to notice, the impugned judgment is
indefensible.
9. It was further contended by Mr. Ramamurthy that although the
Tribunal relied on the dictum of Chaman Lal Goyal (supra), no
effort was made to balance the factors for and against continuance
of the disciplinary proceedings based on stale charges; if the factors
were balanced, the factors in favour of the petitioner would have
outweighed the factors against. In the absence of such balancing,
the Tribunal's judgment stands entirely vitiated.
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10. Mr. Ramamurthy also contended that having regard to the
verdict of the criminal court in CBI Spl. Case No.1 of 2008, the
disciplinary proceedings ought to have been quashed. He conceded
that the criminal court acquitted the petitioner recording that the
charges were not proved beyond reasonable doubt, yet, contended
that law is well settled that once criminal proceedings arising out of
the same set of facts, on which the disciplinary proceedings too are
grounded, have been concluded by recording that the charges could
not be proved for want of evidence, the ratio of the decisions in
Captain M. Paul Anthony v. Bharat Gold Mines Ltd. & Anr.,
reported in (1999) 3 SCC 678, and G.M. Tank vs State of Gujarat,
reported in (2006) 5 SCC 446, ought to have been applied by the
Tribunal and the disciplinary proceedings quashed. According to him,
the Tribunal while exceeding its jurisdiction to examine the decision
of the Special (CBI) Court as if it were sitting in appeal and recording
its comments, erred in the exercise of the jurisdiction vested in it
judiciously by failing to apply the ratio of the aforesaid decisions.
11. While contending that the Tribunal by dismissing the original
application has caused failure of justice, Mr. Ramamurthy prayed for
quashing of the judgment and order under challenge, setting aside
of the disciplinary proceedings including the charge-sheet dated
October 13, 2013 and all follow-up steps, as well directions on the
respondents to grant the petitioner all consequential service benefits
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including due promotion as Chief Commissioner of Customs and
Central Excise and further promotions, if any, from the due dates as
well as enhanced pension, gratuity, etc. from the date of his
superannuation along with interest @ 18% per annum.
ARGUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE RESPONDENTS
12. Mr. Shetty, learned advocate for the respondents vehemently
opposed the writ petition. According to him, the judgment of the
Tribunal is well reasoned and well-written and the same having dealt
with each and every point that was raised on behalf of the petitioner,
it does not warrant any interference.
13. Referring to the affidavit-in-reply filed by the respondents
before the Tribunal, Mr. Shetty sought to contend that satisfactory
explanation had been proffered as to why the charge-sheet could not
be issued and served on the petitioner earlier. The explanation
having been found satisfactory by the Tribunal on facts and the view
taken being a plausible view, he contended that it was not for the
writ court to interfere with such findings of fact. According to him,
the decisions referred to by the Tribunal were squarely applicable to
the facts of the present case and, therefore, this Court ought to
uphold the judgment.
14. Referring to the verdict of the criminal court, Mr. Shetty
contended that law is well settled that exoneration of the accused on
the ground of benefit of doubt does not preclude the disciplinary
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authority from proceeding with a departmental charge-sheet. It was
the petitioner who approached the Tribunal without participating in
the inquiry and obtained an order of stay which resulted in indefinite
postponement of such proceedings. According to him, the Tribunal
was right in returning a finding that the petitioner himself having
invited a stay, could not have at a later stage cited delay caused by
such postponement as the reason for quashing of the proceedings.
15. The decisions of the Supreme Court in Nelson Motis vs.
Union of India & Anr., reported in (1992) 4 SCC 711, R.P. Kapur
vs. State of Punjab, reported in AIR 1964 SC 787, Deputy
Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Faizabad v. Sachindra Nath
Pandey & Ors., reported in (1995) 3 SCC 134, Divisional
Controller, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation v.
M.G. Vittal Rao, reported in (2012) SCC (L&S) 171, Noida
Entrepreneurs Association v. Noida & Ors., reported in (2008)
1 SCC (L&S) 672, Corporation of the City of Nagpur, Civil Lines,
Nagpur and Anr. v. Ramchandra & Ors., reported in (1981) 2
SCC 714 and Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs & Anr. v. Tahir
Ali Khan Tyagi, reported in 2002(2) SCSLJ, 230, were relied on in
support of the contention that there is no bar for the disciplinary
authority to conduct disciplinary proceedings, even after acquittal
recorded by the criminal court, since the law of evidence is not
applicable to departmental inquiries and that the standard of proof
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is also different from criminal proceedings.
16. Mr. Shetty, accordingly, prayed for dismissal of the writ
petition.
DECISION WITH REASONS
17. From the factual narrative giving rise to this writ petition,
noted above, it is clear that the alleged incident of sanction of
drawback contrary to law and thereby leading to loss of revenue by
the Government forming the genesis of the departmental charge-
sheet dates back to July, 2000. An audit having revealed the said
incident, the FIR was registered on December 31, 2004. Although
the petitioner's involvement in any offence did not transpire as on
date the FIR was registered, at least in September, 2007, the internal
report of the ACB/CBI hinted at the petitioner's involvement. It is
not the definite case of the respondents that despite exercise of due
diligence, the petitioner's involvement did not transpire till
September, 2007. Be that as it may, as far back as on January 23,
2008, the Board had recommended departmental action, inter alia,
against the petitioner. Even if we discount the period between July,
2000 and January 23, 2008 (since the petitioner's involvement
allegedly came to light only in September, 2007 and the Board
recommended departmental action in January, 2008), the period
between January 23, 2008 and October 23, 2013, i.e., exactly a
period of 5 (five) years and 9 (nine) months, has to be identified as
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the relevant period; and it would require examination as to whether
the delay in not issuing the charge-sheet within a reasonable period
from January 23, 2008 has been satisfactorily explained. Or, in other
words, did the respondents place materials to satisfy the
Tribunal/this Court that during the relevant period, they acted with
diligence as well as promptitude or were indulging in sheer wastage
of time by engaging in unnecessary correspondence and/or pushing
the file from one desk to the other. This is essential because if no
cogent explanation were furnished, the said exercise of engaging in
correspondence and/or pushing the file would be nothing but just an
'excuse' and it could lead to an order not permitting the respondents
to proceed with the inquiry.
18. However, before we proceed to so examine, we consider it
appropriate to first explore decisions of the Supreme Court in the
sequence of its origin on the point of delayed initiation of disciplinary
proceedings and draw guidance therefrom as regards the course of
action that ought to be adopted by us. In the process, we propose
to consider all the decisions discussed by the Tribunal (though a few
of them did not decide an issue similar to the one at hand) as well
as the decisions which were not discussed by it.
19. The first decision is State of Madhya Pradesh vs. Bani
Singh, reported in AIR 1990 SC 1308. The State was in appeal
against an order of the Central Administrative Tribunal, Jabalpur
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Bench raising the point that the proceedings should not have been
quashed merely on the ground of delay and laches; and it ought to
have allowed the enquiry to progress. The Court, unable to agree
with this contention, opined that the irregularities, which were the
subject matter of the enquiry, had taken place between the years
1975-77 and it was not the case of the department that they were
not aware of the said irregularities, if any, and came to know of it
only in 1987. Since, according to the department, even in April 1977
there was doubt about the involvement of the officer in the said
irregularities and the investigations were going on since then, it was
unreasonable to think that they would have taken more than 12
(twelve) years to initiate the disciplinary proceedings. There being
no satisfactory explanation for the inordinate delay in issuing the
charge memo, the Court held that it would be unfair to permit the
departmental enquiry to be proceeded with.
20. What follows from the decision in Bani Singh (supra) is that
if a charge-sheet is subjected to challenge on the ground that there
has been inordinate delay in issuing it, thereby resulting in the
charge(s) becoming stale, it is the obligation of the disciplinary
authority to satisfactorily explain the reasons for the delay.
21. Chaman Lal Goyal (supra) is the next decision of the
Supreme Court where the question of delay in serving the charges
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was considered. Mr. Shetty has relied on paragraph 9, where it has
been held as follows:
"9. Now remains the question of delay. There is undoubtedly a
delay of five and a half years in serving the charges. The
question is whether the said delay warranted the quashing of
charges in this case. It is trite to say that such disciplinary
proceeding must be conducted soon after the irregularities are
committed or soon after discovering the irregularities. They
cannot be initiated after lapse of considerable time. It would
not be fair to the delinquent officer. Such delay also makes the
task of proving the charges difficult and is thus not also in the
interest of administration. Delayed initiation of proceedings is
bound to give room for allegations of bias, mala fides and
misuse of power. If the delay is too long and is unexplained,
the court may well interfere and quash the charges. But how
long a delay is too long always depends upon the facts of the
given case. Moreover, if such delay is likely to cause prejudice
to the delinquent officer in defending himself, the enquiry has
to be interdicted. Wherever such a plea is raised, the court has
to weigh the factors appearing for and against the said plea
and take a decision on the totality of circumstances.
(emphasis ours)
22. Thus, after having held that disciplinary proceedings cannot be
initiated after lapse of considerable time, the Supreme Court in
Chaman Lal Goyal (supra) sounded caution that interference with
a charge-sheet containing stale charges must depend on the facts of
a given case; and whenever such a plea is raised, a process of
balancing is to be adopted whereby one has to weigh the competing
interests of maintaining a clean and honest administration on the
one hand and on the other, the vitiating effect of inordinate
unexplained delay on the disciplinary proceedings qua the prejudice
that non-interference with a belated charge-sheet containing stale
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charges would result to the delinquent. In laying down the law, the
Court had in mind the principles set out by the Constitution Bench in
A.R. Antulay vs. R.S. Nayak, reported in (1992) 1 SCC 225. There
it was laid down that ordinarily speaking, where the court concludes
that right to speedy trial of the accused has been infringed, the
charges or the conviction, as the case may be, will be quashed. At
the same time, the decision also observes that quashing is not the
only course open to the court and in a given case, the nature of the
offence and the other circumstances may be such that quashing of
the proceedings may not be in the interest of justice. In such a case,
it has been observed that it is open to the Court to make such other
appropriate order as it finds just and equitable in the circumstances
of the case.
23. Chaman Lal Goyal (supra) came to be considered by the
Supreme Court in the context of unexplained delay in conclusion of
disciplinary proceedings in N. Radhakishan (supra). Although the
context was different, the following passage throws light on whether
and to what extent delay in concluding the proceedings is a vitiating
factor. The Court while reiterating that there has to be a balancing
of the two considerations, i.e., disciplinary proceedings according to
the relevant rules should be allowed to take their own course, and
the prejudice suffered by the delinquent due to delay which would
defeat justice, held:
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"19. It is not possible to lay down any predetermined principles
applicable to all cases and in all situations where there is delay
in concluding the disciplinary proceedings. Whether on that
ground the disciplinary proceedings are to be terminated each
case has to be examined on the facts and circumstances in that
case. The essence of the matter is that the court has to take
into consideration all the relevant factors and to balance and
weigh them to determine if it is in the interest of clean and
honest administration that the disciplinary proceedings should
be allowed to terminate after delay particularly when the delay
is abnormal and there is no explanation for the delay. The
delinquent employee has a right that disciplinary proceedings
against him are concluded expeditiously and he is not made to
undergo mental agony and also monetary loss when these are
unnecessarily prolonged without any fault on his part in
delaying the proceedings. In considering whether the delay has
vitiated the disciplinary proceedings the court has to consider
the nature of charge, its complexity and on what account the
delay has occurred. If the delay is unexplained prejudice to the
delinquent employee is writ large on the face of it. It could also
be seen as to how much the disciplinary authority is serious in
pursuing the charges against its employee. It is the basic
principle of administrative justice that an officer entrusted with
a particular job has to perform his duties honestly, efficiently
and in accordance with the rules. If he deviates from this path
he is to suffer a penalty prescribed. Normally, disciplinary
proceedings should be allowed to take their course as per
relevant rules but then delay defeats justice. Delay causes
prejudice to the charged officer unless it can be shown that he
is to blame for the delay or when there is proper explanation
for the delay in conducting the disciplinary proceedings.
Ultimately, the court is to balance these two diverse
considerations."
(emphasis ours)
24. The next decision deserving notice on the point of delayed
issuance of charge-sheet is P.V. Mahadevan vs. Managing
Director, T.N. Housing Board, reported in (2005) 6 SCC 636. This
decision does not appear to have been placed before the Tribunal by
the parties. There, the respondent pleaded in its affidavit that for the
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first time, the irregularity committed by the appellant during the year
1990 came to light in the audit report for the second half of 1994-
95 and following such report disciplinary action had been initiated
against him in the year 2000. The Court found that statutory rules
governing the respondent required audit of the accounts once every
year, and in view of the same the explanation offered for the delay
in finalizing the audit account did not stand scrutiny. It was further
held that the appellant having retired from service, no acceptable
explanation on the side of the respondent explaining the inordinate
delay in initiating disciplinary proceedings was furnished. Submission
of senior counsel for the respondent, that the period from the date
of commission of the irregularities by the appellant to the date on
which it came to the knowledge of the respondent cannot be
reckoned for the purpose of ascertaining whether there was any
delay on its part in initiating disciplinary proceedings against the
appellant, was held not to have merit and force. Ultimately, holding
that the stand taken by the respondent was not convincing and only
an afterthought to give some explanation for the delay, the Court
quashed the charge-sheet. It would be of relevance to note what the
Court ruled in paragraph 11, which is quoted below:
"11. Under the circumstances, we are of the opinion that
allowing the respondent to proceed further with the
departmental proceedings at this distance of time will be very
prejudicial to the appellant. Keeping a higher government
official under charges of corruption and disputed integrity
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would cause unbearable mental agony and distress to the
officer concerned. The protracted disciplinary enquiry against
a government employee should, therefore, be avoided not only
in the interests of the government employee but in public
interest and also in the interests of inspiring confidence in the
minds of the government employees. At this stage, it is
necessary to draw the curtain and to put an end to the enquiry.
The appellant had already suffered enough and more on
account of the disciplinary proceedings. As a matter of fact,
the mental agony and sufferings of the appellant due to the
protracted disciplinary proceedings would be much more than
the punishment. For the mistakes committed by the
department in the procedure for initiating the disciplinary
proceedings, the appellant should not be made to suffer."
(emphasis ours)
25. The decision in M.V. Bijlani vs. Union of India, reported in
(2006) 5 SCC 88, is also one which dealt with delay in initiation and
conclusion of disciplinary proceedings. One of the grounds for the
Court to interfere was that the Tribunal as also the high court failed
to take into consideration that disciplinary proceedings were initiated
after 6 (six) years and they continued for a period of 7 (seven) years
and, thus, initiation of the disciplinary proceedings as also
continuance thereof after such a long time evidently prejudiced the
delinquent officer.
26. The decision of the Supreme Court in V. Appala Swamy
(supra), though was relied upon by the Tribunal, the same did not
deal with the issue of delayed initiation of disciplinary proceedings;
rather, it dealt with the issue of delayed conclusion of disciplinary
proceedings. That would be evident from paragraph 11 of the
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decision. What the Court laid down as law, on the issue under
consideration before it, reads as follows:
"12. So far as the question of delay in concluding the
departmental proceedings as against a delinquent officer is
concerned, in our opinion, no hard-and-fast rule can be laid
down therefor. Each case must be determined on its own facts.
The principles upon which a proceeding can be directed to be
quashed on the ground of delay are:
(1) where by reason of the delay, the employer condoned the
lapses on the part of the employee;
(2) where the delay caused prejudice to the employee.
Such a case of prejudice, however, is to be made out by the
employee before the inquiry officer."
27. Ministry of Defence vs. Prabhash Chandra Mirdha,
reported in (2012) 11 SCC 565, is the next decision in line. Referring
to several of its earlier decisions, the Supreme Court reiterated that
in case the charge-sheet is challenged before a court/tribunal on the
ground of delay in initiation of disciplinary proceedings or delay in
concluding the proceedings, the court/tribunal may quash the
charge-sheet after considering the gravity of the charge and all
relevant factors involved in the case weighing all the facts both for
and against the delinquent employee and must reach the conclusion
which is just and proper in the circumstance. It was also held that
proceedings are not liable to be quashed on the grounds that
proceedings had been initiated at a belated stage or could not be
concluded in a reasonable period unless the delay creates prejudice
to the delinquent employee. It was stressed that gravity of alleged
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misconduct is a relevant factor to be taken into consideration while
quashing the proceedings.
28. The learned Judge presiding over the Division Bench in
Prabhash Chandra Mirdha (supra) had the occasion to author the
decisions in Chairman, Life Insurance Corporation of India vs.
A. Masilamani, reported in 2013 6 530, and Anant R. Kulkarni
vs. Y.P. Education Society, reported in (2013) 6 SCC 515. In the
latter decision, the Court observed as follows:
"14. The court/tribunal should not generally set aside the
departmental enquiry, and quash the charges on the ground
of delay in initiation of disciplinary proceedings, as such a
power is dehors the limits of judicial review. In the event that
the court/tribunal exercises such power, it exceeds its power
of judicial review at the very threshold. Therefore, a charge-
sheet or show-cause notice, issued in the course of disciplinary
proceedings, cannot ordinarily be quashed by the court. The
same principle is applicable in relation to there being a delay
in conclusion of disciplinary proceedings. The facts and
circumstances of the case in question must be carefully
examined taking into consideration the gravity/magnitude of
the charges involved therein. The court has to consider the
seriousness and magnitude of the charges and while doing so
the court must weigh all the facts, both for and against the
delinquent officers and come to the conclusion which is just
and proper considering the circumstances involved. The
essence of the matter is that the court must take into
consideration all relevant facts, and balance and weigh the
same, so as to determine, if it is in fact in the interest of clean
and honest administration that the said proceedings are
allowed to be terminated only on the ground of delay in their
conclusion."
29. The last decision on the point seems to be UCO Bank and
Ors. v. Rajendra Shankar Shukla, reported in (2018) 14 SCC 92.
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We quote the relevant portion of paragraph 12 from such decision
hereunder:
"12. *** The first issue of concern is the enormous delay of
about 7 years in issuing a charge-sheet against Shukla. There
is no explanation for this unexplained delay. It appears that
some internal discussions were going on within the Bank but
that it took the Bank 7 years to make up its mind is totally
unreasonable and unacceptable. On this ground itself, the
charge-sheet against Shukla is liable to be set aside due to the
inordinate and unexplained delay in its issuance."
(emphasis ours)
30. We may, in this connection, observe that various high courts
across the country have also consistently interdicted disciplinary
proceedings containing stale charges on the ground that it would be
unfair to allow such proceedings to continue and would result in
breach of principles of natural justice. In other cases, several high
courts have also refrained from quashing charges only on the ground
of delay. It would be unnecessary to burden this judgment by
referring to all such decisions. However, we consider it appropriate
to refer to only one decision since the explanation for the delay put
forward there, more or less, resembles the explanation that the
respondents proffered. That is a Division Bench decision of the Patna
High Court in Binay Kumar Singh vs. State of Bihar & Ors.,
reported in 1993 (3) SLR 327. The Court held that taking steps to
collect necessary papers/particulars in relation to the proposed
charges for 4 (four) years could hardly be said to be cogent
explanation and since the allegations had become stale by lapse of
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time, the disciplinary proceeding was not allowed to continue.
31. The principles that can be culled out from the aforesaid
decisions may be summarized as below:
a. It would always be desirable to initiate disciplinary
proceedings immediately after the alleged misconduct is
detected but if charge-sheet is issued after a considerable
length of time has passed since such detection, it would be
unfair to the charged officer to proceed against him on the
basis of stale charges.
b. Disciplinary proceedings may not be interdicted at the stage
of charge-sheet and should be allowed to proceed according
to the relevant rules since a charge-sheet does not affect
any legal right of the delinquent unless, of course, it suffers
from an invalidity that strikes at the root of the proceedings.
c. If there is delay in initiation of disciplinary proceedings by
drawing up charges against the delinquent and such
proceedings are challenged, the disciplinary authority is
under an obligation to explain the reasons for the delay;
and, depending upon the worth of such reasons, the Court
may proceed to decide one way or the other.
d. There cannot be any exact measurement of the length of
delay by reference to years to fall into the category of 'too
long a delay', and what would amount to the same has to
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be decided depending upon the facts of a given case.
e. Should the delay be found to be too long and unexplained,
that would definitely have a bearing on the seriousness of
the disciplinary authority to pursue the charges against the
charged officer and the Court may, in a fit and proper case,
quash the proceedings because prejudice to the officer in
such case would be writ large on the face of it.
f. Even if, in a given case, the delay is satisfactorily explained,
the charge-sheet could still be quashed if the charged
officer proves to the satisfaction of the Court that he would
be severely prejudiced if the proceedings were allowed to
continue, a fortiori, lending credence to the claim of unfair
treatment.
g. For the mistakes committed by the department in the
procedure for initiating disciplinary proceedings, the
charged officer should not be made to suffer.
h. Delay in initiation of disciplinary proceedings per se may not
be a vitiating factor, if the charges are grave and in such
case the gravity of the charges together with the factors,
for and against the continuation of the proceedings, need
to be balanced before arriving at a just conclusion.
32. While we need to draw guidance from the above decisions and
embark on our journey to decide the question noted at the beginning
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of this judgment, we feel it appropriate to touch upon one aspect of
a service condition of a public servant which has a close relation with
point (f) supra. It relates to retirement on superannuation and the
effect of service of a charge-sheet containing stale charges
practically on the verge/eve of such retirement. After in-depth
consideration of the decisions noted above, we have not come across
any enlightening discussion therein on this aspect (although a couple
of decisions had noted that the officer/employee before it had
retired) and, therefore, an attempt to ascertain whether retirement
on superannuation could form one of the factors that the Courts
ought to bear in mind while considering a challenge of the present
nature, may be made. More so, because incidents are not rare where
an alleged act of omission/commission amounting to misconduct
remains under wraps for several years and days prior to retirement
of the concerned employee, proceedings are initiated by drawal of
charge-sheet by the disciplinary authority for reasons well-known.
33. Superannuation, as is well known, means discharge from a
post on account of the age fixed therefor uniformly for all or a
particular category of service holders and is a kind of retirement.
Service rules relating to public servants invariably provide that on
attaining a specified age, a public servant has to demit office and
retire from service. It is generally felt that after reaching a particular
age, a public servant becomes incapable to discharge the job
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entrusted to him for health reasons and, therefore, needs to be
replaced by younger blood. Even though a public servant is mentally
alert and physically fit to discharge his duty and age is merely a
number for him, yet, he has to retire and make way for others to fill
the breach.
34. Given this background, let us consider a situation where a
public servant who has reached the December years of his service
career and waiting in the departure lounge to exit service is served
with a charge-sheet concerning incidents which are more than a
decade old. Although we do not rule out that there could be just
reasons for the delayed initiation of disciplinary proceedings, by
reason of his advanced age the charged officer may not be in a
position to recollect or recall each single detail when called upon to
raise his defence to the charge-sheet. The more complex the charge,
the more difficult it could become to recapitulate events that might
have led to a particular action which, later on, forms the plinth of a
charge of misconduct. That the charged officer did not suffer any
discomfort or inconvenience before, because of the delay in initiation
of proceedings is, perhaps, no answer to brush aside the challenge.
If such officer has to proceed for retirement on superannuation
because of the age factor, it would be unreasonable and in certain
cases, could defy logic, to expect him meet and answer the charge(s)
relating to incidents of yesteryears although he is not considered
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capable to serve beyond the age of superannuation and be retained
in service. The odds would be against the charged officer and
prejudice to him inevitable in the scheme of things. Thus, the tests
laid down in respect of sustainability of delayed disciplinary
proceedings and/or stale charges forming part of the charge-sheet
ought to also, in our considered view, include the stage of the
charged officer's service career when he is called upon to disclose
his defence in respect of actions complained of as constituting
misconduct. Having said so, we now turn to the challenge at hand.
35. Learned advocates for the parties have been heard, the
materials on record have been perused and the impugned judgment
and order of the Tribunal has been read. The question as to whether
satisfactory explanation for the delayed issuance of a charge-sheet
has been proffered or not needs to be answered by looking at the
reply affidavit of the respondents filed before the Tribunal. Having
looked at the affidavit, we would be required to answer two
questions: first, whether such explanation satisfies the tests laid
down for the same to be regarded as satisfactory for delayed
initiation of disciplinary proceedings; if not, what consequence
should follow. Should the delay be held to have been satisfactorily
explained, it would require scrutiny as to what extent is prejudice
required to be shown or proved if the impugned action of the
disciplinary authority is alleged to violate principles of natural justice
33
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which now includes within its ambit the right of receiving a fair
hearing. In other words, has the petitioner suffered any prejudice
thereby warranting interdiction.
36. Beginning with the first aspect, there can be no quarrel with
the proposition that whether or not disciplinary proceedings initiated
after long delay should be interdicted, must depend on the facts of
each case. Neither can there be predetermined principles applicable
to all cases and in all situations where there is delay in
initiating/concluding the disciplinary proceedings nor can there be
any hard and fast rule in that regard. These principles flow from the
decisions in Chaman Lal Goyal (supra), N. Radhakishan (supra)
and V. Appala Swamy (supra) relied on by the Tribunal in the
impugned judgment. However, with all the respect and humility at
our command, we observe that the said decisions do not throw any
light as to when an explanation could amount to a satisfactory
explanation.
37. On perusal of all the decisions that we have noted above, we
do not consider it to be the requirement of law that the delay of each
month or each year has to be explained; however, whatever be the
length of delay, the explanation has to be acceptable to the Court.
As the Supreme Court has laid down in matters where appeals are
carried or applications are filed beyond the period of limitation and
condonation of delay is prayed, the length of delay is immaterial.
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Acceptability of the explanation is the only criterion; sometimes
delay of the shortest range may be untenable due to want of an
acceptable explanation, whereas in certain other cases, delay of long
periods can be condoned if the explanation is satisfactory. There is
no reason not to extend this principle to this class of cases too.
38. Since there cannot be any doubt that a satisfactory explanation
of the delay could sustain a delayed charge-sheet containing stale
charges, it needs to be understood what is meant by an 'explanation'.
An 'explanation' is designed to give someone all of the facts and lay
out the cause for something. It helps clarify the circumstances of a
particular event and allows the person to point out that something
that has happened is not his fault, if it is really not his fault. For the
purposes of the present case, it was necessary for the respondents
to explain on what account the delay occurred. Briefly put, delay was
caused because the draft charge-sheet went through several stages
before taking a final shape, thereby consuming a lot of time. None
appears to have taken responsibility. In such circumstances, the
question that obviously arises is, is the explanation for the delay
really an explanation or is it an 'excuse'? Although people tend to
see 'explanation' and 'excuse' as the same thing and struggle to find
out the difference between the two, there is a distinction which,
though fine, is real. An 'excuse' is often offered by a person to deny
responsibility and consequences when under attack. It is sort of a
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defensive action. Calling something as just an 'excuse' would imply
that the explanation proffered is believed not to be true.
39. The events that followed detection of alleged involvement of
the petitioner have been noted above in paragraph 3 and 17 (supra).
40. A recapitulation of the said events touching upon initiation of
disciplinary proceedings against the petitioner would reveal that
during the relevant period, i.e., after involvement of the petitioner
transpired in September, 2007 till issuance of the charge-sheet on
October 23, 2013, there were periods in between when the
respondents are found to be in deep slumber. On February 4, 2008,
initiation of major penalty proceedings against the petitioner was
advised by the CVC. The Board then made a request on May 12,
2008 to the DGV to furnish draft charge-sheet to be issued to the
petitioner. After a year, on May 19, 2009 to be precise, the Board
sent a reminder to the DGV for furnishing the draft charge-sheet.
Second and third reminders dated September 10, 2009 and May 3,
2010, respectively, followed. Why was the first reminder sent after a
year, and why the second and third reminders were separated by 6
(six) months have not been explained. On May 19, 2010, the Board
was informed by the DGV that the CoC (G) by his letter dated
January 1, 2009 had forwarded the draft charge-sheet along with
authenticated copies of the relied upon documents to the AD-V
Section of the Board. The conclusion is, therefore, inevitable that
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despite having the draft charge-sheet as far back as in January,
2009, request was made on May 19, 2009 for furnishing the draft
charge-sheet. Request for furnishing another set of the draft charge-
sheet and authenticated copies of the relied upon documents was
made by the Board to the CoC (G) on September 9, 2009. Pursuant
thereto, on September 23, 2010, the CoC (G) furnished a copy of
the draft charge-sheet. Since it was advised that the authenticated
copies of the relied upon documents may be obtained directly from
the ACB/CBI, the Board on November 2, 2010 requested the SP to
furnish certified copies of the relied upon documents. Reminders
dated February 9, 2011, March 9, 2011 and March 29, 2011 were
sent whereupon the SP sent a reply that all the relied upon
documents together with the report of the ACB/CBI had been
supplied to the CVO of the Board on September 14, 2007. Instead
of obtaining authenticated copies of the relied upon documents from
its own CVO, the ACB/CBI was again approached by the Board on
November 29, 2012 and April 29, 2013 with a request to provide
copies of the relied upon documents. This is surely not the way to
handle a sensitive and serious case, as the respondents would like
to impress upon us. The situation demanded a high level of diligence
and sincerity, which was sadly lacking. The ACB/CBI finally handed
over the relied upon documents once again on October 9, 2013 and,
thereafter, on October 18, 2013 approval of the competent authority
37
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for issuance of charge-sheet to the petitioner was obtained leading
to the charge-sheet dated October 23, 2013 which was served on
him on October 28, 2021.
41. The entire sequence of events as noticed above leaves the
respondents in very poor light. Mr. Ramamurthy is right in
contending that the movement of the file from one desk/office to
another and/or exchange of correspondence for 5 (five) years
without tangible result, does not evince any intention on the part of
the disciplinary authority to act with promptitude and cannot be
regarded as an explanation, far less a satisfactory explanation; on
the contrary, it is a defensive action to ward off an attack. To amount
to an explanation, the events must have referred to the valid
circumstances resulting in delayed issuance of the charge-sheet prior
to October 23, 2013 and which, by exercise of due diligence, could
not be avoided. There does not seem to be any insurmountable
impediment that could not be taken care of by the disciplinary
authority, if he was really diligent. Neither was there any order of
stay passed by any competent court of law nor was there any
administrative order that restrained the disciplinary authority from
placing the file on the fast track and drawing up the disciplinary
proceedings by issuance of charge-sheet within a reasonable time
on detection of involvement of the petitioner. Office Memorandum
dated May 23, 2000 issued by the CVC required issuance of charge-
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sheet within a month of receipt of advice of the CVC which, in the
instant case, was received on February 4, 2008. Even if the said
requirement is treated to be directory and failure to draw up the
charge-sheet within a month of receipt of the advice of the CVC may
not be interdicted only on such ground, we would consider a period
of 6 (six) months from receipt of such advice to be a reasonable
period within which the charge-sheet should have been drawn up,
extendable to a year in exceptional cases. The analogy is drawn
looking at the decision of the Supreme Court in Prem Nath Bali vs.
High Court of Delhi, reported in (2015) 16 SCC 415, where the
Supreme Court has held that it is the duty of an employer to ensure
that departmental enquiry initiated against a delinquent employee is
concluded within the shortest possible time by taking priority
measures, as far as possible within six months which may further be
extended to six months in certain circumstances. Considering any
volume of papers that the disciplinary authority would be required to
look into, any period beyond one year is bound to be viewed as
unreasonable. Having noticed the turn of events right from the time
the police report was filed in 2007, we are inclined to hold that the
'explanation' proffered is really an 'excuse', unworthy of acceptance.
42. Since the decision in Chaman Lal Goyal (supra) introduced
the concept of prejudice by referring to A.R. Antulay (supra), we
are at this stage reminded of certain other Constitution Bench
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decisions of the Supreme Court. Our following discussion is intended
to provoke a thought for the reason mentioned in the first sentence
of the paragraph that follows, and is not to be understood as an
attempt on our part to doubt the decision in Chaman Lal Goyal
(supra) in any manner, for, conscious of the ratio therein by which
we are bound, we would distinguish the same. In the first of such
Constitution Bench decisions, viz. E.P. Royappa vs. State of Tamil
Nadu, reported in (1974) 4 SCC 3, Hon'ble P.N. Bhagwati, J.
speaking for himself, as well as Hon'ble Y.V. Chandrachud and
Hon'ble V.R. Krishna Iyer, JJ., laid down the law that the basic
principle which informs Articles 14 and 16 is equality and inhibition
against discrimination. These articles strike at arbitrariness in State
action and ensure fairness and equality of treatment. It can, thus,
safely be concluded that arbitrariness is anathema to State action in
every sphere and wherever the vice percolates, technicalities ought
not to impede tracing and striking it down. Hon'ble Y.V. Chandrachud,
CJ. speaking for the Constitution Bench in Olga Teliis vs. Bombay
Municipal Corporation, reported in AIR 1986 SC 180, ruled that
there can be no estoppel against the Constitution and that there can
also be no waiver of Fundamental Rights. That the rule of audi
alteram partem is comprehended within the guarantee of Article 14
of the Constitution is the law laid down by Hon'ble D.P. Madon, J.
speaking for the majority in Union of India vs. Tulsiram Patel,
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reported in (1985) 3 SCC 398. In A.R. Antulay vs. R.S. Nayak,
reported in (1988) 2 SCC 602, Hon'ble Sabyasachi Mukharji, J.
speaking for the majority observed that "(N)o prejudice need be
proved for enforcing the fundamental rights. Violation of a
fundamental right itself renders the impugned action void. So also
the violation of the principles of natural justice renders the act a
nullity".
43. The petitioner has not specifically argued that issuance of a
charge-sheet containing stale charges is arbitrary. However, on facts
and in the circumstances, it may not require much application of
mind for a sensible person to be inclined to the view that the action
complained of is indeed arbitrary. An arbitrary action offends Article
14 and is, thus, void. Since no prejudice is required to be proved for
violation of a Fundamental Right, the question of proving prejudice
may not arise. However, since issuance of the charge-sheet is not
challenged on the ground of arbitrariness, we leave it for a decision
in an appropriate case in future as to whether delayed issuance of
charge-sheet amounts to arbitrariness in State action and could be
nullified on the touchstone of Article 14 without prejudice being
proved.
44. Having held that the charge-sheet has been belatedly issued
without satisfactory explanation but leaving it aside only for the
moment, we now propose to attempt a balancing exercise of the
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factors for and against the plea that the delay in initiating the
disciplinary proceedings should be the ground for quashing thereof
bearing in mind the principle of law laid down in Chaman Lal Goyal
(supra).
45. The alleged incident of M/s. Pacific International Exporters
being allowed to successfully claim excess drawback, contrary to law,
occurred in the year 2000. Keeping this in mind, the factors in favour
of the petitioner are:
(i) The petitioner was made to face disciplinary proceedings
initiated more than thirteen years later and almost on
the eve of his retirement on superannuation.
(ii) There is no explanation why the petitioner's involvement
in such alleged unlawful action did not get noticed in the
audit report leading to the FIR. On the contrary, in the
meanwhile, he was promoted in 2002. Promoting the
petitioner after the alleged incident, though does not
amount to condonation of past misconduct or
misdeameanour, this shows that the respondents
considered him to be competent to hold the higher post.
(iii) During the next three years that the investigation into
the FIR was carried on from 2004 and the petitioner's
involvement ultimately transpired at the time of filing of
police report in 2007, there was no independent
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departmental probe by the respondents to find out
whether apart from the said Hemant Kothikar, anyone
else was involved. This is a serious
omission/failure/lapse for which the petitioner should
not suffer the ill-effects of delayed proceedings.
(iv) What transpired between 2008 and October, 2013 have
been noted above. The explanation for not issuing the
charge-sheet dated October 23, 2013 is not an
explanation but a lame excuse, which is clearly
unacceptable.
(v) The sealed cover procedure was adopted owing to
judicial proceedings, which ultimately culminated in the
petitioner's exoneration from the charges and, thereby,
he lost the chance of being considered for promotion to
the post of Chief Commissioner of Customs and Excise
Since both proceedings, judicial and disciplinary, arise
out of the same set of facts, not being able to know the
fate of consideration is itself a prejudice writ large and
the petitioner may not separately be required to prove
prejudice.
(vi) Had the respondents delayed issuance of the charge-
sheet beyond October 31, 2013, rule 9(2)(b)(ii) of the
Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 would have
43
WP-5764-2021 & 2888-2019
barred initiation of disciplinary proceedings. This gives
reason to believe that the disciplinary authority activated
himself only on the verge of the petitioner's retirement
on superannuation and to overcome the statutory bar,
the charge-sheet was issued a week prior thereto. If
indeed the disciplinary authority was serious enough to
have an early conclusion of the proceedings,
appointment of the Inquiry Officer also ought not to have
taken almost a year after the charge-sheet.
(vii) The petitioner did plead in the original application why
and how he is likely to be prejudiced if the enquiry were
conducted into the stale charges.
46. Now let us trace the factors against the petitioner:
(i) Technicalities should not be allowed to stand in the way
of disciplinary proceedings and the same should be
allowed to take its own course.
(ii) Despite involvement in acts of misconduct in 2000 which
went unnoticed, the petitioner was not denied promotion
in 2002.
(iii) The charge against the petitioner is serious. Deliberate
acts or negligence of public servants leading to loss of
public revenue has to be dealt with iron hands.
(iv) The Tribunal had been approached and interim relief
44
WP-5764-2021 & 2888-2019
obtained staying disciplinary proceedings on the ground
that it was to run parallelly with judicial proceedings and
submission of written reply to the charge-sheet would
amount to a disclosure of defence, thereby prejudicing
his defence at the trial. However, having obtained a stay
of the disciplinary proceedings on such ground, the
disciplinary proceedings were attacked on different
grounds at the time of final hearing of the original
application.
47. Upon such balancing, we are of the considered view that the
factors for quashing the delayed charge-sheet far out-weigh the
factors against. There are certain features in this case that would
distinguish Chaman Lal Goyal (supra). The enquiry here has not
commenced, whereas there, by the time the court was approached,
the enquiry was more than halfway through. That apart, here the
petitioner pleaded why he would be prejudiced whereas that was not
the case there. We, therefore, consider it more appropriate, in the
interest of justice as well as the interest of the administration, that
the proceedings initiated against the petitioner ought to be laid to
rest, meaning thereby that the charge-sheet as well as appointment
of the Inquiry Officer may not be carried forward. This course of
action would be just and proper, more so in the circumstances that
nearly a year's time was taken by the disciplinary authority to
45
WP-5764-2021 & 2888-2019
appoint the Inquiry Officer and also that in the judicial proceedings
the petitioner came out unscathed.
48. Although we are conscious that mere exoneration in the
criminal proceedings does not warrant an order interdicting
disciplinary proceedings, both having origin to common set of facts
and common witnesses/evidence, yet, the time taken since the
alleged act of omission/commission giving rise to the departmental
charge-sheet and all other attending circumstances do call for being
noticed. Mr. Shetty is right in his contention that the criminal court
acquitted the petitioner holding that the charges were not proved
beyond reasonable doubt and that it was not recorded to be a case
of honourable acquittal. We have set out the findings of the Special
Court supra. Perusal of paragraphs 19 and 20 of its judgment,
emphasized by us, would leave none in doubt of findings being
returned on appreciation of the evidence on record that evidence led
by the prosecution did not point to the guilt of the petitioner and also
that he had not committed any wrong or offence. PW-4, Ashok
Chaudhary, did depose that the petitioner, accused no.3, had allowed
the duty drawback in manual file S-2 and S-10; however, those files
were not part of the evidence led by the prosecution. That apart,
Ashok Chaudhary could not remember whether file S-2 and S-10
were in respect of M/s. Pacific International. Regard being had to
such evidence, the Court was of the view that it cannot be said
46
WP-5764-2021 & 2888-2019
beyond reasonable doubt that it was the petitioner, accused no.3,
who had sanctioned the duty drawback in this case. The Court did
not stop at that; it went on to record in the next paragraph that even
if it is assumed that the petitioner, accused no.3, had sanctioned the
duty drawback, he did not commit any wrong in view of legal
provision regarding the issuance of duty drawback. There is no
indication in the judgment of the witness being won over; rather, to
our surprise, Mr. Shetty was heard to submit that disappearance of
file S-2 and S-10 is attributable to the petitioner. If indeed that be
so, why the petitioner was not proceeded against on such allegation
has not been explained. The submission of Mr. Shetty has been
raised to be rejected, which we hereby do. Although the Special
Court while concluding its judgment may not have expressly said
that it is a case of honourable acquittal and, on the contrary, had
recorded in the operative part that the charges against the accused
including the petitioner had not been proved beyond reasonable
doubt, we are left to wonder whether the findings (in paragraphs 19
and 20 noted supra) would not bring the case of the petitioner within
the ambit of an honourable acquittal in every sense and purpose?
We may refer to the decision in Inspector General of Police v. S.
Samuthiram, reported in (2013) 1 SCC 598, for tracing the
meaning of honourable acquittal. There, the Supreme Court
explained that "(W)hen the accused is acquitted after full
47
WP-5764-2021 & 2888-2019
consideration of prosecution evidence and that the prosecution had
miserably failed to prove the charges levelled against the accused,
it can possibly be said that the accused was honourably acquitted".
The judgment of the Special Court not having been carried in appeal,
has attained finality; and, in our view, the findings therein referred
to above do bring the case of the petitioner within the ambit of an
honourable acquittal. However, since this discussion is not intended
to be one other ground for the ultimate view we propose to take but
it has been necessitated only for being a factor favouring quashing
of proceedings, we say no more.
49. The upshot of the discussion on delayed issuance of the
charge-sheet dated October 23, 2013 is that there being no
satisfactory explanation therefor, the respondents cannot be allowed
to proceed with such charge-sheet; thus, the petitioner is entitled to
succeed in his claim that the disciplinary proceedings including the
charge-sheet dated October 23, 2013 and all further orders in
connection therewith ought to be set aside. It is ordered accordingly.
50. While also setting aside the judgment and order of the Tribunal
under challenge, we further direct that the sealed cover be opened
and the recommendation of the Departmental Promotion Committee
be considered. If the petitioner had been recommended, an order of
promotion be issued as Chief Commissioner of Customs and Excise.
Such order will take effect from the date the peers of the petitioner
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WP-5764-2021 & 2888-2019
were promoted. The petitioner shall not be entitled to any arrears of
monetary benefit for such promotion, except that his pension shall
be calculated based on the pay that he would have last drawn as
such Chief Commissioner. Let the order of promotion be issued within
a month. If the Departmental Promotion Committee has not
recommended the petitioner for promotion, he shall be so intimated.
In such case, his pension shall be calculated based on the last pay
drawn by him. The terminal benefits including pension, gratuity and
other benefits to which the petitioner is entitled, based on promotion
or otherwise, as the case may be, shall be released as early as
possible but positively within 3 (three) months of issuance of the
order of promotion as above. The petitioner shall be entitled to
interest on such unpaid amount at the highest rate that nationalized
banks offer for fixed deposits.
51. Writ Petition No. 5764 of 2021 is, accordingly, allowed. No
costs.
WRIT PETITION NO. 2888 OF 2019
52. Hearing of this writ petition was concluded on October 27,
2021. The order passed while reserving judgment records the
submission advanced on behalf of the respondents by Mr. Helekar,
learned advocate, that no additional affidavit was filed before the
Central Administrative Tribunal, Mumbai Bench, Mumbai (hereafter
49
WP-5764-2021 & 2888-2019
"the Tribunal", for short) after O.A.No.184 of 2010 was remanded
and that his prayer for extending opportunity to the respondents to
file such an affidavit before us stands rejected. Such additional
affidavit was the implied requirement of an order of a coordinate
Bench of this Court [cor. the Hon'ble Acting Chief Justice and Hon'ble
M.S. Karnik, J.] dated January 24, 2018 while disposing of Writ
Petition No.851 of 2013 (being an earlier writ petition of this
petitioner, whereby the order of the Tribunal impugned therein was
set aside and the original application remanded for hearing afresh)
to bring on record, in a manner known to law, the reasons that
delayed issuance of charge-sheet to the petitioner. We could have
disposed of this writ petition on that day itself having regard to the
submission that no additional affidavit was filed. However, since
hearing of another writ petition [Writ Petition No. 5764 of 2021] was
concluded a few days before where the issue of delay in initiation of
disciplinary proceedings was under consideration, we thought it
appropriate to deliver the judgment on this writ petition after
disposal of such writ petition.
53. Perusal of the judgment and order dated January 24, 2018 in
Writ Petition No.851 of 2013 would reveal that a consignment of
Government stores worth Rs.25.61 lakh was dispatched on January
10, 2002 from Ministry of Defence, Canteen Stores Department,
Mumbai to Bareilly by road through an approved transport
50
WP-5764-2021 & 2888-2019
contractor, M/s. Adarsh Parivahan. The consignment did not reach
the destination and this incident came to light through a report of
the auditor dated March 28, 2003. Preliminary inquiry was conducted
in June 2004. A show-cause notice was issued on December 24, 2004
to the petitioner calling upon him to explain why disciplinary
proceedings should not be initiated. After receipt of the petitioner's
reply dated December 21, 2004, no departmental action was taken
against him; instead, the respondents instituted a summary suit in
this Court for recovery of money against the said contractor and such
suit was decreed on February 27, 2006. More than 40 (forty) months
after the aforesaid suit was decreed, the petitioner was served with
Memorandum of Charges dated December 18, 2009 under rule 14 of
the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules,
1965. Article of Charge-I alleged that the petitioner had not
reconciled the monthly truck statement received from CSD Depot,
Bareilly with the truck dispatch register of Base depot and thereby
non-receipt of the consignment at Bareilly depot went unnoticed.
Due to the petitioner's negligence, the department had suffered a
loss of Rs.10,71,450/-. The allegation in Article of Charge-II was that
the petitioner had failed to "check the register, initialed and put up a
letter to Traffic Officer, Base Depot towards the release of Bank
guarantee amounting to Rs.2,29,100/- against the transporter M/s.
Adarsh Parivahan without confirming any dues from the transporter".
51
WP-5764-2021 & 2888-2019
Vide Article of Charge-III, the petitioner was charged with failing to
advise "the concerned staff working under him to monitor the receipt
details of trucks with the master register of transporter to confirm
receipt of consignment at the consignee depot nor the master
register was put up to his superiors. Due to above lapse, non-receipt
of consignment at Bareilly Depot could not be noticed. Moreover, the
register of the transporter was closed and kept aside at the end of
the financial year 2001-02, as the transporter was not awarded any
contract for the subsequent year 2002-03, as stated by Shri V.B.
Mule himself. There is no transparency in discharging of official
duties thereby causing loss to the department". All these acts,
according to the disciplinary authority of the petitioner, amounted to
negligence in discharge of his assigned duties and exhibited
misconduct unbecoming of a Government servant.
54. The charge-sheet was challenged by the petitioner before the
Tribunal by presenting an original application, which was registered
as O.A.No.184 of 2010. The primary ground of challenge was the
delay in initiation of disciplinary proceedings. In a reply affidavit
dated February 23, 2010, the respondents in paragraph 2.4
conceded that there was delay in serving the charge-sheet on the
petitioner but such delay was attributed to official procedure. In an
additional reply affidavit dated August 10, 2010 (filed in response to
the petitioner's rejoinder affidavit), it was pleaded in paragraph 3
52
WP-5764-2021 & 2888-2019
that late receipt of concurrence from the appropriate authority
resulted in delay in issuing the charge-sheet. By an order dated
August 23, 2012, the Tribunal dismissed the original application
relying upon a synopsis of events that was tendered in course of
hearing and which, obviously, did not form part of the pleadings.
Such order was the subject matter of challenge in Writ Petition
No.851 of 2013. Upon hearing the parties, the coordinate Bench
proceeded to pass the following order:
"9. Heard learned Counsel. We find some substance in the
contention of the learned Counsel for the petitioners that the
Tribunal has relied upon the brief synopsis and the events
mentioned therein while arriving at the finding that the delay
is satisfactorily explained. We further find that in the reply filed
by the respondents there is no mention of the details which
are set out in the brief synopsis. It is also the submission of
the learned Counsel for the petitioners that the brief synopsis
which is at Exh.M to the petitions was tendered after
completion of the pleadings and when the arguments were in
progress. We find that it is on the basis of the sequence of
events and the action taken by the respondents as mentioned
in the synopsis but which are not part of the pleadings that the
Tribunal proceeded to hold that the delay has been
satisfactorily explained. In our opinion the Tribunal could not
have relied upon the events mentioned in the synopsis which
events were clearly beyond the pleadings of the materials on
record.
10. In this view of the matter, in our opinion, the matter
needs to be remitted back to the Tribunal for a fresh decision
on merits and in accordance with law. Hence the following
order.
ORDER
1. Impugned order dated 23/8/2012 passed by the Tribunal in O.A. No.184 of 2010 and O.A. No.243 of 2010 is quashed and set aside.
2. O.A. No.184 of 2010 and O.A. No.243 of 2010 are remitted back to the Tribunal for a fresh decision on merits and in accordance with law.
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WP-5764-2021 & 2888-2019
3. The Tribunal is requested to hear and decide the O.As.
as expeditiously as possible and preferably within the period of six months from today.
4. Interim order granted by this Court is continued for a period of 10 weeks from today.
5. The question of grant of interim relief may be considered by the Tribunal on its own merits, if an application is so made.
6. All contentions on merits are kept open.
7. Writ Petitions are partly allowed.
8. Rule is partly made absolute with no order as to costs."
(emphasis ours)
55. In view of the aforesaid order of remand, what was expected of the respondents was to file an additional affidavit to place on record the explanation for the delay and not to rely on the excuse of official procedure and non-receipt of concurrence as reasons that delayed initiation of the disciplinary proceedings. As has been noted in the order dated October 27, 2021 passed by us, the respondents did not file any additional affidavit.
56. While the matter stood thus, the Tribunal rather surprisingly [speaking through the same Member (Administrative) presiding over the Division Bench, who also dismissed the original application presented by the petitioner in Writ Petition No.5764 of 2021 (Bhupendra Pal Singh v. Union of India & Ors.)], proceeded to dismiss O.A.No.184 of 2010 once again by passing the following order:
"15. The respondents have attempted to explain the delay by showing how they have been pursuing the transporter in the Civil case and after succeeding, in the criminal case and they have failed to even secure his 54 WP-5764-2021 & 2888-2019 presence in Court. It was only after giving up on the police for production of the accused, that they took up the charge-sheet that they had initially contemplated in 2005 and issued in December 2009. The delay of about 4-5 years between the show-cause notice and issue of charge-sheet has evidently been covered by attempts of the respondents to save the applicants from the consequences of a disciplinary enquiry but in the process, they have now attracted the charge of delay.
16. However, in the facts and circumstances of the case, it is evident that the delay is not excessive given the detailed nature of the explanations furnished by the respondents and no significant prejudice has been claimed or can be considered to have been caused to the applicant by the delayed issue of a charge-sheet. In the circumstances, the reliefs claimed in this OA for quashing the charge-sheet on the ground of delay and on other grounds such as that the articles of charge do not indicate misconduct or are without valid basis are, therefore declined. The OAs are accordingly dismissed as devoid of merits. The interim orders granted earlier in both these cases are withdrawn with immediate effect and respondents are directed to complete the enquiry expeditiously. There shall be no order as to costs."
57. Incidentally, O.A. No.184 of 2010 was considered along with another O.A. No.243 of 2010 and the same also came to be dismissed by the aforesaid order. The latter original application was by another employee who was sought to be similarly proceeded against like the petitioner.
58. Perusal of the impugned judgment would not reveal that the Tribunal was considering O.A. No.184 of 2010 on remand, pursuant to the order this Court. The earlier order dated August 23, 2012 of the Tribunal dismissing O.A. No.184 of 2010 having been set aside by this Court by the order dated January 24, 2018 on the ground 55 WP-5764-2021 & 2888-2019 that the reply affidavit did not disclose satisfactory reasons for delayed issuance of the charge-sheet and that the Tribunal erred in placing reliance on the synopsis of events, which did not form part of the pleadings, and also since no additional affidavit was filed by the respondents before the Tribunal, we are simply left to wonder how the Tribunal, after remand, could repeat the same mistake of not trying to ascertain whether the reason put forth by the respondents for the delay could be justified on the basis of the materials on record.
59. We have noted from the impugned judgment and order dated March 1, 2019 that the learned advocate for the petitioner had referred to, inter alia, the decision of the Supreme Court in N. Radhakishan (supra), P.V. Mahadevan (supra), M.V. Bijlani (supra) and Rajendra Shankar Shukla (supra).
60. Despite such decisions of the Supreme Court being brought to the notice of the Tribunal, it proceeded to hold against the petitioner on the ground that the Court or the Tribunal ought not to interfere at the stage of show-cause or charge-sheet. True, the Court does not ordinarily interfere at the show-cause or charge-sheet stage; however, interference in some very rare and exceptional cases can always be made and the show-cause/charge-sheet quashed if the same is found to be wholly without jurisdiction or for some other reason it is wholly illegal. The Tribunal proceeded as if in no case can 56 WP-5764-2021 & 2888-2019 the validity of a show-cause/charge-sheet be examined and that the notice/charged employee must wait for a punishment to be imposed for approaching the Tribunal. The approach of the Tribunal was clearly wrong.
61. We are of the considered opinion that the reasons assigned by us while allowing Writ Petition No.5764 of 2021, as above, would squarely apply on facts and in the circumstances of the present case and that there being no valid and acceptable explanation for the delay of almost 6 (six) years in issuance of the charge-sheet coupled with the fact that the petitioner attained the age of superannuation on November 30, 2011, it would be just and proper and in the interest of justice to set aside not only the impugned judgment and order of the Tribunal dated March 1, 2019 but also the Memorandum of Charges dated December 4, 2009. It is ordered accordingly.
62. Since, in this case too, the sealed cover procedure was adopted by the Departmental Promotion Committee qua the petitioner's promotion to the post of Superintendent, we direct in tune with prayer clause 8.02 of the original application that the respondents shall look into the recommendation contained in the sealed cover and promote the petitioner to the post of Superintendent, if found fit. Such order, to be issued within a month from date, will take effect from the date the petitioner's promotion was due. While the petitioner shall not be entitled to any arrears of monetary benefit for 57 WP-5764-2021 & 2888-2019 such promotion, his pension shall be calculated as if he had retired on superannuation as Superintendent and based on the pay that he would have last drawn as such. If the Departmental Promotion Committee did not recommend the petitioner for promotion, an intimation shall be sent to him in that behalf. In such case, the petitioner shall be entitled to pension based on the last pay drawn by him. The terminal benefits including pension, gratuity and other benefits to which the petitioner is entitled, based on promotion or otherwise, as the case may be, shall be released as early as possible but positively within 3 (three) months of issuance of the order of promotion as above. The petitioner shall be entitled to interest on such unpaid amount at the highest rate that nationalized banks offer for fixed deposits.
63. Writ Petition No.2888 of 2019 stands allowed, but without any order for costs.
(M. S. KARNIK, J.) (CHIEF JUSTICE) PRAVIN DASHARATH PANDIT Digitally signed by PRAVIN DASHARATH PANDIT Date: 2021.12.22 19:50:30 +0530 58