Rajasthan High Court - Jodhpur
State Of Rajasthan & Ors vs Meera Siksha Samiti,Sangariya & Ors on 2 April, 2018
Equivalent citations: AIRONLINE 2018 RAJ 739
Author: Gopal Krishan Vyas
Bench: Gopal Krishan Vyas
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT
JODHPUR
D.B. Spl. Appl. Writ No. 55 / 2017
1. State of Rajasthan Through the Principal Secretary to the
Government, Government of Rajasthan, Secretariat, Jaipur
2. The Secretary, Higher Education (Group-III), Governemnt of
Rajasthan, Jaipur
3. Joint Secretary to the Government, Higher Education,
Government of Rajasthan, Secretariat, Jaipur
4. Director, Directorate College Education, Government of
Rajasthan, Jaipur
5. Deputy Secretary (Admin), Higher Education (Group-III), Govt.
of Rajasthan, Jaipur
----Appellants
Versus
1. Meera Siksha Samiti, Sangariya (Regd.) Through Its Secretary
Sanjay Arya S/o Shri Om Prakash Arya, R/o- 1/262, Nai Abadi,
Ward No.15, Sangariya, District Hanumangarh
2. Mandeep Kaur D/o Shri Manoj Singh, R/o Ward No.21,
Gurunanak, Bast Gurudwara Road, Sangariya, District
Hanumangarh
3. Suman Sharma W/o Dr. Kishan Bhardwaj, R/o Jai Ambe Dental
Clinic, Agrasen Market, Sangariya, District Hanumangarh
4. Parminder Kaur W/o Shri Labh Singh, R/o Bhagatpur,
Sangariya, District Hanumangarh
5. Priyanka Modi D/o Shri Sushil Modi, R/o Ward No.14,
Sangariya, District Hanumangarh
----Respondents
Connected With
D.B. Spl. Appl. Writ No. 676 / 2017
1. State of Rajasthan Through the Principal Secretary, Department
of Higher Education, Govt. of Rajasthan, Secretariat, Jaipur.
2. The Director, Collection Education, Dr. Radha Krishnan Shiksha
Shankul, J.L.N. Marg, Jaipur.
3. Dy. Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Govt. of
Rajasthan, Secretariat, Jaipur.
(2 of 16)
[SAW-55/2017]
----Appellants
Versus
1. Mukesh Kumar Nagar S/o Sh. Madan Lal Nagar, Aged About 28
Years, Resident of Village Bhalapura (Bhajaneri), Tehsil Nainwa,
District Bundi (Rajasthan).
2. Prem Shankar Jangid S/o Sh. Shambhu Dayal Jangid, Aged
About 25 Years, Resident of Village Kalanala, Tehsil Nainwa,
District Buni (Rajasthan).
----Respondents
D.B. Spl. Appl. Writ No. 688 / 2017
1. State of Rajasthan Through the Principal Secretary, Department
of Higher Education, Govt. of Rajasthan, Secretariat, Jaipur.
2. The Director, College Education, Dr. Radha Krishnan Shiksha
Sankul, J.L.N. Marg, Jaipur.
3. Dy. Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Govt. of
Rajasthan, Secretariat, Jaipur.
----Appellants
Versus
1. Rajesh Kumar Mahawar S/o Shri Chauthmal Mahawar, Aged
About 41 Years, R/o House No. 09, Vijay Colony Extension, Behind
M.P. Govt P.G. College, Nimbaheda Road, Chittorgarh (Raj.)
2. Dr. Devi Prasad Chaturvedi S/o Shri Someshwar Lal Chatruvedi,
Aged About 42 Years, R/o Near Laxmi Nath Mandir, Gilon Ki Gali,
Chittorgarh (Raj.).
3. Smt. Dr. Kiran Bhatnagar W/o Sudhir Bhatnagar, Aged About
58 Years, R/o D-17, Road No. 10, Senti Bapu Nagar, Chittorgarh
(Raj.).
4. Arvind Kumar Sharma S/o Shambhu Lal, Aged About 34 Years,
R/o Raiwalon Ki Gali, Begun, District Chittorgarh (Raj.).
5. Dr. Manish Kumar Rawal S/o Kailash Chand Rawal, Aged About
32 Years, R/o C/o Dinesh Parashar, Near Higher Secondary
School, Begun, District Chittorgarh (Raj.).
6. Babulal Bheel S/o Shri Ratan Lal Bheel, Aged About 33 Years,
R/o Village & Post Bangeda Ghata, Tehs. Nimbaheda, District
Chittorgarh (Raj.).
7. Mukesh Desai S/o Ramniwas Desai, Aged About 34 Years, R/o
(3 of 16)
[SAW-55/2017]
Village & Post Mangrop, Teh. Hameergarh, District Bhilawara
(Raj.).
8. Dr. Ashok Kumar Dhabhai S/o Shri Bihari Lal Dhabai, Aged
About 40 Years, R/o Saraswati Colony, Seeswali Road, Anta,
District Baran (Raj.).
9. Dr. Bhawani Singh Gurjar S/o Shri Ramswaroop Gurjar, Aged
About 47 Years, R/o 41, Ganesh Nagar, Moti Doongari, Jaipur
(Raj.).
10. Mohan Lal Dhakar S/o Shri Ram Chandra Dhakar, Aged About
32 Years, R/o Vill. Mandawada, Post Pachunda, Teh. Begun, Distt.
Chittorgarh (Raj.).
11. Dilip Kumar Kothari S/o Shri Devi Lal Kothari, Aged About 45
Years, R/o Near Bajrang Cinema, Begun, Distt. Chittorgarh (Raj.).
12. Mukesh Kumar Prajapat S/o Shri Kailash Prajapat, Aged About
32 Years, R/o Bheem Ji Ki Bawdi, Ward No. 9, Begun, Distt.
Chittorgarh.
13. Keshav Kant Sharma S/o Shri Omprakash Sharma, Aged
About 44 Years, Higher Secondary School Road, Begun, Distt.
Chittorgarh.
14. Radhey Shyam Gurjar S/o Shri Mangilal Gurjar, Aged About 25
Years, R/o Vill. & Post Dugar, Teh. Begun, Distt. Chittorgarh.
15. Anil Kumar S/o Shri Dataram, Aged About 24 Years, R/o Vill. &
Post Doomoli Khurd, Teh. Buhana, Distt. Chittorgarh.
16. Rajesh Kumar Mehar S/o Shri Shankar Lal, Aged About 41
Years, R/o Koilwara, Begun, Distt. Chittorgarh.
17. Shanti Lal Sharma S/o Shri Narayan Lal, Aged About 40 Years,
R/o Village Dhanora, Post Gulana, Teh. Begun, Distt. Chittorgarh.
18. Madan Lal Gurjar S/o Shri Heera Lal, Aged About 46 Years,
R/o Govindpura, Post Gulana, Teh. Begun, Distt. Chittorgarh.
19. Bhagirath Gurjar S/o Shri Rang Lal, Aged About 31 Years, R/o
Vill. & Post Sagunda, Teh. Begun, Distt. Chittorgarh.
20. Ladulal Raigar S/o Shri Dahnnalal, Aged About 46 Years, R/o
Raigar Basti, Begun, Distt. Chittorgarh.
21. Bhairulal Harijan S/o Shri Madanlal, Aged About 46 Years, R/o
Harijan Basti Begun, Distt. Chittorgarh.
22. Chhotulal S/o Shri Phoolchand, Aged About 44 Years, R/o
Raiwalon Ki Gali, Begun, Distt. Chittorgarh.
(4 of 16)
[SAW-55/2017]
----Respondents
D.B. Spl. Appl. Writ No. 819 / 2017
1. State of Rajasthan Through Principal Secretary, Higher
Education, Government of Rajasthan, Jaipur (Rajasthan)
2. Commissioner, Department of College Education, Block-IV, Dr.
Radha Krishanan Shiksha Shankul, Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg,
Jaipur, Rajasthan.
3. Principal Maharana Pratap College Rawatbhata, District-
Chittorgarh, Rajasthan.
----Appellants
Versus
1. Dr. Tej Singh Mavai S/o Shri Prahlad Gurjar, Aged About 45
Years, R/o Village Baloi, Post Bichidona, Via Malarna Station,
District Sawaimadhpur, Rajasthan.
2. Dr. Devika Meghnani D/o Shri Alam Chand Sajnani, Aged About
51 Years, R/o TV/102,anutara Colony, Rawatbhata Via Kota,
Rajasthan.
3. Dr. Kavita Gautam D/o Shri Shyam Manohar Vyas, Aged About
44 Years, R/o T-III/20 J, Anu Pratap Colony, Rawatbhata Via Kota,
Rajasthan.
4. Dr. Geeta Joshi D/o Shri K.C. Kandpal, Aged About 41 Years,
R/o T 2/12 ESL Colony, Rawatbhata Via Koata, Rajasthan.
5. Dr. Monika Nijhawan D/o Shri Gopi Lal, Aged About 38 Years,
R/o Type II 39 A, Anu Kiran Colony, Rawatbhata Via Kota,
Rajasthan.
6. Ramesh Chander Koli S/o Shri Hari Narayan Koli, Aged About
38 Years, R/o Sindhi Colony, Behind Panchayat Samiti, Shahpura
(Bhilwara), Rajasthan.
7. Dr. Richa Upmanu Sharma D/o Shri B.L. Upamanyu, Aged
About 36 Years, R/o H-2-30 Vikram Nagar, Township,
Rawatbhata, Via Kota, Rajasthan.
8. Hemlata Pathak D/o Shri R.K. Pathak, Aged About 31 Years,
R/o Shri Damodar Teswani 1/285 Metro Medical, Ganesh Talab,
Rajasthan.
9. Suendra Kumar Boyat S/o Shri Kesar Lal, Aged About 40 Years,
R/o Boyat Sadam Ward No. 6, Indra Colony Rawatbhata Via Kota,
Rajsthan.
(5 of 16)
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10. Rajmal Rebari S/o Shri Gokal Rebari, Aged About 31 Years,
R/o Village Bhatkhera, Post Baolon Ka Sanwata, Tehsil Ganrar,
District Chittorgarh, Rajasthan.
11. Gyan Chand Phulwani S/o Shri Vasudev Phulwani, Aged About
43 Years, R/o Plot No. 13, New Market, Rawatbhata, District
Chittorgarh Via Kota, Rajasthan.
12. Vikram Singh Gurjar S/o Shri Ramkalyan Gurjar, Aged About
31 Years, R/o F-17, RPS Colony, Rawatbhata, District Chittorgarh
Via Kota, Rajasthan.
13. Dhan Raj Gurjar S/o Shri Hajari Lal, Aged About 28 Years, R/o
Village Khalgoan, Post Mandesara, Tehsil Rawatbhata, District
Chittorgarh Rajasthan.
14. Narayan Gurjar S/o Shri Dev Lal Gurjar, Aged About 30 Years,
R/o P.G.- 58, RPS Colony, Rawatbhata, District Chittorgarh Via
Kota, Rajasthan.
15. Nargish Bee D/o Shri Sabbir Mohammad, Aged About 25
Years, R/o Village Bheinsroad Garh, Tehsil Rawatbhata, District
Chittorgarh, Rajasthan.
16. Parvat Singh Kanawat S/o Shri Banshi Lal, Aged About 36
Years, R/o Village Bheinsroad Garh, Tehsil Rawatbhata, District
Chittorgarh, Rajasthan.
17. Amar Lal Meghwal S/o Shri Mangilal Meghwal, Aged About 46
Years, R/o Near Gori Kirana Store, Hatchoke, Rawatbhata Via
Kota, Rajasthan.
18. Preetam Arora S/o Shri Kishan Lal Arora, Aged About 43
Years, R/o Near Jain Mandir, Hanuman Gali, Bajar No. 1,
Rawatbhata, Via Kota, Rajasthan.
19. Suresh Kumar Boyat S/o Shri Chotu Lal, Aged About 41 Years,
R/o Boyat Sadan Ward No. 6, Indra Colony Rawatbhata, Via Kota,
Rajasthan.
20. Mangi Lal S/o Shri Udai, Aged About 30 Years, R/o Village
Maupura, Tehsil Rawatbhata, District Chittorgarh, Via Kota,
Rajasthan.
21. Gopal Singh S/o Shri Bhawar Lal, Aged About 52 Years, R/o
Bheinsroad Garh, Tehsil Rawatbhata, District Chittorgarh.
Rajasthan.
----Respondents
D.B. Spl. Appl. Writ No. 820 / 2017
(6 of 16)
[SAW-55/2017]
1. State of Rajasthan Through Principal Secretary, Department of
Higher Education, Government Secretariat, Jaipur.
2. Director, Department of College Education, Government of
Rajasthan, Shiksha Sankul, J.L.N. Marg, Jaipur.
3. Commissioner, Department of College Education, Government
of Rajasthan, Shiksha Sankul, J.L.N. Marg, Jaipur.
----Appellants
Versus
1. Balmukund Meena S/o Shri Kalulal Mina, Aged About 35 Years,
R/o Village Haripura, Post Batawada, Tehsil & District Baran.
2. Dara Singh Meena S/o Shri Ramcharan Mina, Aged About 34
Years, R/o Village Bhagwanpura, Post Ajnawar, Tehsil Chipabarod,
District Baran.
3. Rajesh Kumar Gupta S/o Shri Jagdish Prasad Gupta, Aged
About 35 Years, Bus Stand Manoharthana, District Jhalawar.
4. Dhanraj Mina S/o Shri Ramnarian Mina, Aged About 41 Years,
R/o Village Jagga, Post Jagga, Tehsil Kanpura, District Jhalawar.
5. Dharmendra Mina S/o Ramgopal Mina, Aged About 31 Years,
R/o Village Nanawata, Post Nanawata, Tehsil Atru, District Baran.
6. Smt. Bhoomika Pareek W/o Shri Rajesh Kumar, Aged About 35
Years, R/o Pareek Bhawan, Haat Bazar, Atru, District Baran.
7. Smt. Minakshi Sharma W/o Shri Rajesh Kumar, Aged About 35
Years, Opposite Lavan Mandi, Harnavada Jagir, Chipabarod,
District Baran.
8. Smt. Priyanka Nama W/o Shri Naresh Namdev, Aged About 39
Years, Pasar Mohalla, Chipabarod, District Baran.
9. Smt. Mithlesh Malav W/o Shri Satyanarain, Aged About 32
Years, R/o Uma Sharda Bal Vidya Mandir, Salpura Road,
Chipabarod, District Baran.
10. Rakesh Kumar Malav S/o Shri Hansran Malav, Aged About 45
Years, R/o Village Rajpura Khalsa, Post Gordhanpura, Tehsil
Chipabarod, District Baran.
11. Hariom Sharma S/o Shri Devkinandan Sharma, Aged About 45
Years, R/o Indira Colony Ward. 3, Chabda, District Baran.
12. Chetna Prakash Jain S/o Shri Vikran Singh Jain, Aged About
42 Years, R/o Near Sabjimandi, Chipabarod, District Baran.
(7 of 16)
[SAW-55/2017]
13. Abdul Wahid S/o Shri Abdul Kalam, Aged About 35 Years, Haat
Mohalla, Chipabarod, District Baran.
14. Banwarilal Malav S/o Shri Mahendra Kumar, Aged About 39
Years, Village Gordhanpura, Tehsil Chipabarod, District Baran.
15. Babu Khan S/o Shri Iqbal Ahmed, Aged About 44 Years, R/o
Ward No. 19, Koli Mohalla, Chipabarod, District Baran.
16. Lokesh Namdev S/o Shri Vishnushankar Namdev, Aged About
27 Years, Pasar Mohalla, Ward No. 7, Chipabarod, District Baran.
17. Suresh Kumar Verma S/o Shri Ramchandra Verma, Aged
About 26 Years, R/o Village Sukhneri, Post Biledi, Tehsil
Chipabarod, District Baran.
18. Atik Ahmed S/o Shri Rafiq Ahmed, Aged About 39 Years, R/o
Opposite Government Hospital, Chipabarod, District Baran.
19. Girish Gaur S/o Shri Bhanwarlal Gaur, Aged About 30 Years,
R/o Station Road, Near Jain Dharamshala, District Baran.
20. Jagdish Prasad Nagar S/o Shri Ramcharan Nagar, Aged About
50 Years, R/o Village Pahad, District Baran.
----Respondents
D.B. Spl. Appl. Writ No. 821 / 2017
1. State of Rajasthan Through the Principal Secretary, Department
of Higher Education, Govt. of Rajasthan, Secretariat, Jaipur.
2. The Director, Collection Education, Dr. Radha Krishnan Shiksha
Shankul, J.L.N. Marg, Jaipur.
3. Dy. Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Govt. of
Rajasthan, Secretariat, Jaipur.
----Appellants
Versus
1. Yogesh Kumar Sharma S/o Sh. Vishnu Shankar Sharma, Aged
About 33 Years, Resident of Village & Tehsil Itawa, District Kota
(Rajasthan).
2. Pradeep Kumar Chaudhary S/o Late Shri Jagannath Choudhary,
Resident of Village & Post Phuleta, Tehsil Nainwa, District Bundi
(Rajasthan).
3. Murad Ali S/o Sh. Nazar Ali, Resident of Village & Tehsil
Nainwa, District Bundi (Rajasthan).
(8 of 16)
[SAW-55/2017]
4. Vinod Kumar Sharma S/o Shri Ram Narayan Sharma, Resident
of Nainwa, District Bundi (Rajasthan).
----Respondents
_____________________________________________________
For Appellant(s) : Mr. SS Ladrecha AAG
For Respondent(s) : Mr. HS Sidhu, Mr. Harshvardhan Singh, Mr.
Salit Trivedi, Mr. Nitish Rawat and Mr.
Akshat Verma
_____________________________________________________
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE GOPAL KRISHAN VYAS
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAMCHANDRA SINGH JHALA Judgment / Order Per Hon'ble Mr. Justice Gopal Krishan Vyas 02/04/2018 All above appeals are filed by the State of Rajasthan and others under Article 225 read with Section 134 of the Rajasthan High Court Rules, 1952 against the judgment of learned Single Judge dated 17.10.2016 passed in SBCWP No.9409/2014 (Meera Siksha Samiti, Sangariya Vs. State of Rajasthan & Ors.) whereby the learned Single Judge allowed the writ petition preferred by the respondent no.1 and set aside the order dated 26.9.2014 passed by the State of Rajasthan.
As per the facts, the respondent society was running Meera Girls College and Meera Girls Higher Secondary School at Sangaria, District - Hanumangarh, vide its resolution dated 25.07.2010 proposed acquisition of the educational institutions by (9 of 16) [SAW-55/2017] the State Government and approached the State of Rajasthan in this regard. The Joint Secretary to the Government, Higher Education (Group-III) Department vide its order dated 31.8.2013 communicated to the Director, College Education that the State Government has accepted the request of the Managing Committee for takeover the said institution by the State Government alongwith movable and immovable assets and granted administrative sanction to takeover the private college - Meera Girls College, Sangaria (Hanumangarh). In the communication it is indicated that it bears the concurrence of Finance (Exp.I) Department and further observed that formal financial sanction will be issued separately. In pursuance to the aforesaid communication dated 31.08.2013, the Director, College Education, Rajasthan, Jaipur constituted a Committee to undertake the procedure to takeover the institution and submit the same on or before 10.09.2013.
On 04.09.2013, the Dy. Director, Planning issued a communication for seeking information. Admittedly, by registered surrender deed dated 20.09.2013 was executed by the respondent
-Society in favour of Government of Rajasthan through Nodal Officer whereby the movable and immovable properties of the institution were relinquished in favour of the State. Thereafter vide communication dated 26.09.2013 issued by the Joint Director, College Education to the Joint Secretary, Higher Education (Group-III) Department, it was informed that the State Government has already issued its administrative sanction to (10 of 16) [SAW-55/2017] takeover the college. On 29.09.2013, one Indraraj Singh Chetiwal was posted from Government College, Suratgarh to Government Girls College, Sangaria, Hanumangarh as Acting/Working Principal, who took over the charge on 02.10.2013 from Dr. Harmendra Singh Garcha. Thereafter, the Director, College Education by its order dated 04.10.2013 delegated the financial powers to the said Indraraj Singh Chetiwal on 04.03.2014 and one Smt. Manju Bishnoi was transferred from Govt. College, Kaladera to Government Girls College, Sangaria.
As per the pleadings, the above actions whereby the administrative sanction was issued by the Government, surrender deed was executed by the respondent-Society, Principal was appointed and employees were transferred from other Government College, the process of takeover the college was completed, but suddenly after one year by order dated 26.09.2014 (Annex.- P/1), it was ordered that six colleges indicated in the order, which were taken over by the State Government, the said orders are de-notified with immediate effect and cancelled. The Joint Director, College Education vide communication dated 27.10.2014 submitted by the representation dated 02.10.2014 from the employees seeking payment of 13 months outstanding salary. The respondent-Society preferred the writ petition to question the action of the State in cancelling the order of taking over the college.
Before learned Single Judge, the learned counsel for the respondent vehemently argued that the order dated 26.09.2014 (11 of 16) [SAW-55/2017] has been passed in gross violation of principles of natural justice without providing an opportunity of hearing and the order is non- speaking order, no reasons are indicated, no provision has been quoted for such action, therefore, the order impugned is bad in the eye of law. It is also submitted that there is no provision in law for de-notifying any institution once it is taken over. In support of aforesaid arguments, the respondent-petitioner made reference of provisions of the Rajasthan Civil Services (Appointment and other Service Conditions of Employees of Private Institutions and other Establishments taken over by the Government), Rules 1977 („the Rules of 1977‟) and submitted that under the Rules of 1977, there is no provision for de-notification or cancelling the order of takeover the institution, once the process of takeover was completed, merely by passing an administrative order, the same cannot be cancelled therefore, the action of the State Government is in violation of principles of natural justice because no opportunity of hearing was given to the society before passing such order and it is also pointed out that after taking over of the institution, the salary etc. of the teachers have not been paid and therefore prayed that the order impugned may kindly be quashed. In support of above arguments, attention of the learned Single Judge was invited towards the judgment in case of Mohinder Singh Gill & Anr. v. The Chief Election Commissioner & Ors.: AIR 1978 SC 851 and Vinod Kumar v. State of Haryana : (2013) 11 SCC 293 and submits that the order impugned may kindly be quashed.
(12 of 16) [SAW-55/2017] The appellant respondents refuted all the allegations and said that as per the office record there was no such decision of the State Government to take over the institution in question, but somehow the order was passed to take over the institution with movable and immovable property, but in fact, there was no such decision taken by the State, therefore, no interference is called for.
The learned Single Judge after considering the entire facts of the case allowed the writ petition solely on the ground that order impugned is against the principles of natural justice because no opportunity of hearing was given prior to passing non-speaking order, therefore, such type of order is not sustainable in law. The learned Single Judge further observed that the reasons indicated in the reply of the State regarding lack of financial consent is incorrect on its face as it is obvious from the order dated 31.8.2013 that the order was issued with concurrence of Finance Department. The learned Single Judge allowed the writ petition while following the judgment in case of Mohinder Singh Gill (Supra) and quashed the order dated 26.9.2014 (Anex.P/1) passed by the Dy. Secretary (Admn.), Higher Education (Group- III) Department, Jaipur with all consequences as if the order dated 26.9.2014 was never passed qua the said college.
In these appeals the State Government has challenged the judgment dated 17.10.2016 rendered by the learned Single Judge on various grounds and tried to satisfy this Court that there is no illegality in the action taken by the State of Rajasthan so as to (13 of 16) [SAW-55/2017] quash the order dated 26.9.2014, but there is no wishper about the fact whether any opportunity of hearing was given to the respondent institution or not.
Learned AAG vehemently argued that without any proper legal decision, the order was passed to take over the institution in question which is obvious from the record of the State that no such decision was taken by the State Government to take over respondent private institution in question, therefore, the learned Single Judge was under obligation to consider every aspect of the matter in right perspective, but it has not been done, therefore, the order impugned may kindly be quashed.
Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent institution vehemently argued that no such reasons which are taken in the reply, were communicated by the appellants before cancelling the order dated 31.8.2013. As per the record, the State Government accepted the request of Managing Committee of private college for taking over the institution alongwith all movable or immovable assets. It is also argued that the learned Single Judge held that before passing impugned order no opportunity of hearing was given which is basic element of principles of natural justice, therefore, order impugned is bad in the eyes of law.
After hearing counsel for the parties, we have perused the judgment and considered the law laid down by the Apex Court.
In case of Mohinder Singh Gill (supra), the Hon'ble Supreme Court gave the following verdict:
(14 of 16) [SAW-55/2017] "When a statutory functionary makes an order based on certain grounds, its validity must be judged by the reasons so mentioned and cannot be supplemented by fresh reasons in the shape of affidavit or otherwise. Otherwise, an order bad in the beginning may, by the time it comes to court on account of a challenge, get validated by additional ground later brought out."
In case of SN Mukherjee Vs. Union of India reported in (199) 4 SCC 594 the Constitution Bench of the Hon'ble Supreme Court specifically held that record of reasons is necessary. Paras nos.36 and 39 of the judgment are as under:
"36. Reasons, when recorded by an administrative authority in an order passed by it while exercising quasi-judicial func- tions, would no doubt facilitate the exercise of its juris- diction by the appellate or supervisory authority. But the other considerations, referred to above, which have also weighed with this Court in holding that an administrative authority must record reasons for its decision, are of no less significance. These considerations show that the re- cording of reasons by an administrative authority serves a salutary purpose, namely, it excludes chances of arbitrari- ness and ensures a degree of fairness in the process of decision- making. The said purpose would apply equally to all decisions and its application cannot be confined to deci- sions which are subject to appeal, revision or judicial review. In our opinion, therefore, the requirement that reasons be recorded should govern the decisions of an admin- istrative authority exercising quasijudicial functions irrespective of the fact whether the decision is subject to appeal, revision or judicial review. It may, however, be added that it is not required that the reasons should be as elabo- rate as in the decision of a Court of law. The extent and nature of the reasons would depend on particular facts and circumstances. What is necessary is that the reasons are clear and explicit so as to indicate that the authority has given due consideration to the points in controversy. The need for recording of reasons is greater in a case where the order is passed at the original stage. The appellate or revisional authority, if it affirms such an order, need not give separate reasons if the appellate or revisional author- ity agrees with the reasons contained in the order under challenge.
39. The object underlying the rules of natural justice "is to prevent miscarriage of justice" and secure "fairplay in action." As pointed out earlier the requirement about re- cording of reasons for its decision by an administrative authority exercising quasi-judicial functions achieves this (15 of 16) [SAW-55/2017] object by excluding chances of arbitrariness and ensuring a degree of fairness in the process of decision-making. Keep- ing in view the expanding horizon of the principles of natural justice, we are of the opinion, that the requirement to record reason can be regarded as one of the principles of natural justice which govern exercise of power by adminis- trative authorities. The rules of natural justice are not embodied rules. The extent of their application depends upon the particular statutory framework whereunder jurisdiction has been conferred on the administrative authority. With regard to the exercise of a particular power by an adminis- trative authority including exercise of judicial or quasi- judicial functions the legislature, while conferring the said power, may feel that it would not be in the larger public interest that the reasons for the order passed by the administrative authority be recorded in the order and be communicated to the aggrieved party and it may dispense with such a requirement. It may do so by making an express provi- sion to that affect as those contained in the Administrative Procedure Act, 1946 of U.S.A. and the Administrative Deci- sions (Judicial Review) Act, 1977 of Australia whereby the orders passed by certain specified authorities are excluded from the ambit of the enactment. Such an exclusion can also arise by necessary implication from the nature of the sub- ject matter, the scheme and the provisions of the enactment. The public interest underlying such a provision would outweight the salutary purpose served by the require- ment to record the reasons. The said requirement cannot, therefore, be insisted upon in such a case."
In both these judgments, the Hon'ble Apex Court categorically held that order which affects civil consequences, must be passed after providing an opportunity of hearing by reasoned order.
After hearing learned counsel for the parties, we have perused the judgment and considered the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court. Admittedly, in this case, before passing the order impugned no opportunity of hearing was given to the respondent institution. It is also required to be observed that in the order dated 31.8.2013 no reasons are incorporated whereby (16 of 16) [SAW-55/2017] the respondent institution was taken over by the government, meaning thereby, the learned Single Judge has rightly considered the fact that order has been passed in violation of principles of natural justice.
In view of the above, we are in complete agreement with the finding given by the learned Single Judge so as to quash the order dated 26.9.2014 passed the Dy. Secretary (Admn.), Higher Education (Group-III) Department qua the Meera Girls College, Sangaria, District Hanumangarh. Therefore, there is no question to interfere in the order impugned. However, it is made it clear that if the appellant State is still desirous to take action so as to quash the order dated 31.8.2013, the State Government will be at liberty to give notice to the respondent institution and after receiving reply if any and providing an opportunity of hearing, the State Government will be free to decide the question of taking over the institution by speaking order within a period of three months.
Consequently, all the aforesaid appeals are hereby dismissed with above observations.
(RAMCHANDRA SINGH JHALA) J. (GOPAL KRISHAN VYAS) J. cpgoyal/ps