Patna High Court
Hira Lal Srivastava And Ors vs The State Of Bihar And Ors on 3 September, 2019
Equivalent citations: AIRONLINE 2019 PAT 2167
Author: Anjana Mishra
Bench: Chief Justice, Anjana Mishra
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Letters Patent Appeal No.785 of 2018
In
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.13561 of 2017
======================================================
1. Hira Lal Srivastava, S/o Late Parshuram Lal, Resident of Village-Rajpur,
Police Station-Rajpur, District-Buxar.
2. (i)Asturna Devi, wife of Late Bhuneshwar Paswan, Resident of Village-Orap,
P.S.-Itarhi, District-Buxar.
(ii) Nagendra Paswan, son of Late Bhuneshwar Paswan, Resident of Village-
Orap, P.S.-Itarhi, District-Buxar.
(iii) Bikrama Paswan, son of Late Bhuneshwar Paswan, Resident of Village-
Orap, P.S.-Itarhi, District-Buxar.
(iv) Santosh Paswan, son of Late Bhuneshwar Paswan, Resident of Village-
Orap, P.S.-Itarhi, District-Buxar.
(v)Mira Devi, wife of Manik Chand Paswan, resident of Village-Hysatpur,
P.S.-Chandra Shekhar Nagar, District-Balia (U.P.)
3. Suchit Yadav, S/o Late Keshav Yadav, Resident of Village-Chhotaki Absoli,
P.S.-Industrial Area, District-Buxar.
4. Shivjee Paswan, S/o Late Nagina Paswan, Resident of Village-Jawahi,
Jagdishpur, Police Station-Brahmpur, District-Buxar.
... ... Appellant/s
Versus
1. The State Of Bihar
2. The Principal Secretary,Home Department, Government of Bihar, Old
Secretariat, Patna.
3. The District Collector, Buxar.
4. The Superintendent of Police, Buxar.
... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Appellants : Mr. Bishwanath Prasad Singh, Sr. Advocate
Mr.Rang Nath Choubey, Advocate
For the S t a t e : Mr.P.K. Verma,AAG-3
Mr. Saroj Kumar Sharma, A.C. to AAG-3
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE
and
HONOURABLE JUSTICE SMT. ANJANA MISHRA
ORAL JUDGMENT
(Per: HONOURABLE JUSTICE SMT. ANJANA MISHRA)
Date : 03-09-2019
Patna High Court L.P.A No.785 of 2018 dt.03-09-2019
2/19
Re: I.A. No.1 of 2019
I.A. No.1 of 2019 has been filed for substituting the
names of legal heirs of appellant No.2 Bhuneshwar Paswan, who
is stated to have died on 05.07.2019, and for bringing on record
the names of his legal heirs as mentioned in paragraph 2 of the
said interlocutory application, which is extracted herein under:
(i)Asturna Devi, wife of Late Bhuneshwar Paswan, Resident of Village-
Orap, P.S.-Itarhi, District-Buxar.
(ii) Nagendra Paswan, son of Late Bhuneshwar Paswan, Resident of
Village-Orap, P.S.-Itarhi, District-Buxar.
(iii) Bikrama Paswan, son of Late Bhuneshwar Paswan, Resident of
Village-Orap, P.S.-Itarhi, District-Buxar.
(iv) Santosh Paswan, son of Late Bhuneshwar Paswan, Resident of
Village-Orap, P.S.-Itarhi, District-Buxar.
(v)Mira Devi, wife of Manik Chand Paswan, resident of Village-
Hysatpur, P.S.-Chandra Shekhar Nagar, District-Balia (U.P.)
2. Let the name of deceased appellant No.2 Bhuneshwar
Paswan be expunged and in his place the names of his legal heirs,
namely,Asturna Devi, Nagendra Paswan, Bikrama Paswan,
Santosh Paswan and Mira Devi, as stated in paragraph 2 be
substituted and brought on record as Appellant Nos.2(i), 2(ii),
2(iii), 2(iv) and 2(v) respectively.
3. Substitution petition (I.A. No.1 of 2019) stands
disposed of.
Re: LPA No.785 of 2018
The appellants/writ petitioners, by invoking Clause 10
of the Letters Patent Appellate Jurisdiction, seek to set aside an
order of the learned single Judge dated 23.04.2018 passed in
Patna High Court L.P.A No.785 of 2018 dt.03-09-2019
3/19
C.W.J.C. No.13561 of 2017, whereby prayer of the writ petitioners
for directing the respondents to appoint their sons on the post of
Choukidar/Dafadar by virtue of notification dated 05.03.2014 has
been rejected.
2. Briefly stated, the facts which gave rise to the
aforesaid writ application is that petitioner No.1 worked as a
Dafadar and superannuated on 06.11.2014. Prior to his
superannuation, the said petitioner made an application for being
placed under voluntary retirement with a request to appoint his son
in his place. Original Petitioner No.2-Bhuneshwar Paswan, also a
Choukidar, made a similar application in favour of his son and
sought voluntary retirement, but retired on 30.11.2014, which was
his actual date of retirement. Petitioner No.3 also a Choukidar
retired on 11.11.2014 and Petitioner No.4 retired on 30.11.2015
while posted as Choukidar. These petitioners, too, made similar
applications for grant of voluntary retirement and had made
requests for appointing their wards in their place. The date of
application and date of retirement of the respective petitioners are
mentioned herein below:
Petitioner's Name Date of Date of
Application Retirement
1.Hira Lal Srivastava 06.09.2014 06.11.2014
2. Bhuneshwar Paswan 22.08.2014 30.11.2014
Patna High Court L.P.A No.785 of 2018 dt.03-09-2019
4/19
3. Suchit Yadav 25.06.2014 11.11.2014
4.Shivjee Paswan 22.09.2014 30.11.2015
3. The said applications were made on the basis of the
Notification/Memo No.1/Cho-90-01/2014 Gri-A-1896/Patna dated
05.03.2014(Annexure 1 to the writ application). The text of the notification aforementioned (Annexure 1) is extracted hereunder :
"fcgkj ljdkj x`g ¼vkj{kh½ foHkkx vf/klwpuk la0&1@pkS0&90&01@2014 x`0vk0------------------------@iVuk] fnukad---------------------- Hkkjr&lafo/kku ds vuqPNsn 309 ds ijarqd }kjk iznÙk "kfDr;ksa dk iz;ksx djrs gq, fcgkj jkT;iky ,rn~ }kjk fcgkj pkSdhnkj laoxZ fu;ekoyh] 2006 dk la"kks/ku djrs gsrq fuEufyf[kr fu;ekoyh cukrs gS%& 1- laf{kIr uke] foLrkj ,oa izkjEHk%&¼1½ ;g fu;ekoyh fcgkj pkSdhnkj laoxZ ¼la"kks/ku½ fu;ekoyh] 2014 dh tk ldsxhA ¼2½ bldk foLrkj laiw.kZ fcgkj jkT; esa gksxkA ¼3½ ;g rqjar izo`r gksxkA 2- mDr fu;ekoyh] 2006 ds fu;e&2 ds mifu;e ¼5½ ds ckn fuEufyf[kr mifu;e Øe"k% ¼6½ ,oa ¼7½ tksM+s tk;saxs] ;Fkk%& **¼6½ LoSfPNd lsokfuo`fÙk ds ik= O;fDr ls vfHkizsr gS oSls pkSdhnkj@nQknkj ftldh vgZd lsok 20 o'kksZ dh gks x;h gks rFkk mudh mez 55 o'kZ ls de u gksA ¼7½ *vkfJr ls vfHkizsr gS ljdkjh lsod dh iRuh] iq=] vfookfgr iq=h ,oa fo/kok iq=&o/kq ftlus iquZfookg u dh gksA ** 3- mDr fu;ekoyh ds fu;e&5 esa fuEufyf[kr la"kks/ku fd;s tk;saxs %& ¼i½ mifu;e ¼2½ esa iz;qDr "kCn **vkBoh** dks "kCn **nloha vFkok led{k** }kjk izfrLFkkfir fd;k tk;sxkA ¼ii½ mifu;e&¼7½ ds ckn fuEufyf[kr ijarqd tksM+s tk;saxs] ;Fkk%& **ijarqd& ¼d½ pkSdhnkj loaxZ ds deZpkjh viuh ok/kZD; lsokfuo`fÙk dh frfFk ls de ls de ,d ekg iwoZ ds izHkko ls LoSfPNd lsokfuo`fÙk ,oa pkSdhnkj in Patna High Court L.P.A No.785 of 2018 dt.03-09-2019 5/19 ij vius }kjk ukfer fdlh vkfJr dks fu;ksftr djus ds fy, vkosnu dj ldsxkA ¼[k½ lkekU; iz"kklu foHkkx }kjk le;≤ ij vo/kkfjr U;wure ,oa vf/kdre mez&lhek laca/kh izko/kku mu ij ykxw jgsxkA ¼x½ LoSfPNd lsokfuo`fÙk ds i"pkr~ fu;qDr O;fDr ds vkfJr dks bl ijUrqd dk YkkHk vuqekU; ugha gksxkA ¼?k½ LoSfPNd lsokfuo`fÙk dk bPNqd pkSdhnkj laoxZ ds O;fDr dks lsokfuo`fÙk dh viuh bfPNr frfFk ls de ls de ,d ekg iwoZ vius inLFkkiu ftyk ds ftyk inkf/kdkjh dk viuk vkosnu nsuk gksxkA** fcgkj jkT;iky ds vkns"k ls g0@& ¼jktho jatu flUgk½ vij lfpo x`g foHkkx Kkikad%&1@pkS0&90&01@2014 x`0vk0 1896@ iVuk] fnukad 05-03-14 izfrfyfi%& v/kh{kd jktdh; eqnz.kky; xqytkjckx fcgkj] iVuk@ bZ&xtV dks'kkax] foÙk foHkkx] fcgkj] iVuk dk lh0Mh0 ds lkFk fcgkj xtV ds vlk/kkj.k vad esa izd"kukFkZ iszf'krA 2- muls vuqjks/k gs fd xtV dh 500 izfr;k¡ x`g ¼vkj{kh½ foHkkx dks miyC/k djk;h tk;A g0@& vij lfpo x`g foHkkx"
4. It appears from Clause 3(gha) of the said notification that the application for such request should be made one month prior to the date of retirement and, admittedly, all the applicants have made their applications. By letters issued on various dates, the petitioners were called upon and directed to deposit all relevant documents, but though the petitioners deposited their documents, it is the case of the petitioners that no action was taken thereon and Patna High Court L.P.A No.785 of 2018 dt.03-09-2019 6/19 on an oral request of the authority, the petitioners continued to discharge their duties and ultimately, on different dates they have superannuated from service, but the respondents wilfully avoided to issue any appointment letter in favour of their wards.
5. Having received no response from the respondents, the petitioners ultimately filed an application under the Right to Information Act, whereupon they received Letter/Memo No.02- 0871 dated 01.07.2017 informing them that as they have completed their service, they have no right to take benefit of Annexure 1.
6. Constrained by the inaction of the authority in not issuing the letters of appointment in favour of their sons, the petitioners had approached this Court, vide CWJC No.13561 of 2017, seeking a mandamus on the basis of Annexure 1. The said writ application was heard and dismissed vide order dated 23.04.2018, holding that no relief can be granted to the petitioners. The relevant portion of the said order is quoted hereunder:
"According to the resolution of the State Government dated 05.03.2014, Annexure-1 to the petition, those Chaukidars who have attained the age of 55 years or more and have completed 20 years of service, would be entitled for applying for voluntary retirement and in case they are granted voluntary retirement, they would be entitled to nominate one of their dependants for the purposes of appointment.
In the present case, admittedly the petitioners herein have superannuated from their services upon attaining the age of retirement and they have neither taken Patna High Court L.P.A No.785 of 2018 dt.03-09-2019 7/19 nor have been granted voluntary retirement, hence there is no provision in the aforesaid scheme for appointment of the sons of the petitioners herein in place of the petitioners.
In view of the aforesaid, no relief can be granted to the petitioners herein, hence the writ petition is dismissed."
Hence the present appeal.
7. Learned counsel for the appellants contended that the learned single Judge had clearly erred in coming to the conclusion that the petitioners have neither taken nor have been granted voluntary retirement. It was urged that the petitioners had made their applications well in time, seeking voluntary retirement and it was the authority who ought to have taken necessary steps to either accept or reject the said applications before the date of retirement. However, the issue was delayed at their own end and, therefore, they could not deprive the petitioners the benefit of Annexure 1. It was further urged that the learned single Judge had presumed that they had voluntarily continued to work and therefore their wards could not be granted any appointment letters. It is therefore also urged that the respondents may be further directed to take appropriate steps in pursuance of Annexure 1, as they are poor people and they have applied for appointment in the light of the Circular (Annexure 1).
Patna High Court L.P.A No.785 of 2018 dt.03-09-2019 8/19
8. Learned counsel for the appellants has also drawn the attention of the Court to the judgment on the same issue, bearing CWJC No.189 of 2017 and CWJC No.1142 of 2017, decided on 05th July, 2017 and also to an order dated 19th June, 2019 in MJC No.1713 of 2018, in which notices have been issued upon the State as to why proceedings for contempt be not drawn up. It is thus submitted that the Court may also call upon the State to answer the contention of the appellants.
9. This Court, while hearing the appeal on the contention that in similar circumstances Jharu Mahto was granted relief, called upon the State-respondents to address itself to the decision of this Court rendered on the issue.
10. A counter affidavit has been filed in this Appeal, in which it has been contended that pursuant to the applications made by the respective petitioners in pursuance of Annexure 1 for appointment of the wards of Choukidar/Dafadar who were completing 20 years of their service and their age was not less than 55 years and who wanted to take voluntary retirement within a minimum period of one month from the date of retirement, the authorities issued letters to the respective petitioners for depositing their relevant documents.
Patna High Court L.P.A No.785 of 2018 dt.03-09-2019 9/19
11. The contention of respondent No.3 in his appeal further was that admittedly, the petitioners continued to work and superannuated from the service upon attaining the age of retirement. It was pointed out that petitioner No.1 Hira Lal Srivastava worked till the date of his retirement i.e. 06.11.2014 and for the entire period, he has received full payment of salary up to 30.11.2014. Thus, his claim under the notification dated 05.03.2014 is not tenable. Moreover, the application so made was also rejected by the competent authority on 12.06.2017, vide Memo No.02-0785/Sa. Buxar (Annexure A to the counter affidavit) in the following terms :
"lekgj.kky;] cDlj ¼lkekU; "kk[kk½ Kkikad 02&0785@lka0] cDlj] fnukad 12@06@2017 iszf'kr] Jh ghjkyky JhokLro] lsokfuo`r nQknkj] Fkkuk$vapy& jktiqj] ftyk&cDljA fo'k;%& LoSfPNd lsokfuo`fr ds laca/k esaA mi;ZqDr fo'k; ds laca/k esa dguk gS fd vkids }kjk LoSfPNd lsokfuo`fr ds rgr pkSdhnkj ds in ij vius iq= ds fu;kstu gsrq vkosnu fn;k x;k FkkA vkids }kjk izkIr vkosnu ij vko";d dkjZokbZ djrs gq, okafNr izfrosnu ,oa dkxtkrksa dh ekWx vapykf/kdkjh] jktiqj ls dh x;hA vapykf/kdkjh] jktiqj }kjk izfrosfnr fd;k x;k gS fd Jh ghjkyky JhokLro fnukad &30-11- 2014 dks iqjk osru izkIr djrs gq, ok/kZD; lsokfuo`r gq, gSaA Patna High Court L.P.A No.785 of 2018 dt.03-09-2019 10/19 lsokfuo`fr ds i"pkr LoSfPNd lsokfuo`fr ds rgr fu;kstu dk dksbZ foHkkxh; izko/kku ugha gksus ds dkj.k vidk vkosnu fopkj.kh ugha gSA g0@& ojh; milekgÙkkZ] izHkkjh lkekU; "kk[kk] cDlj"
12. Similarly, Bhuneshwar Paswan (appellant no.2) whose date of retirement was 30.11.2014 also worked and received the full payment of salary up to 30.11.2014 and as such, his application for appointment was also rejected by the competent authority and he was informed vide letter dated 12.06.2017. Similarly, Suchit Yadav, who was Choukidar in Buxar P.S., District-Buxar continued to work till his date of retirement i.e. 11.11.2014 and he received full payment of salary up to 30.11.2014 and therefore his application was also rejected by a similar order dated 12.06.2017. A similar order was also passed in the case of Appellant No.4.
13. Learned counsel for the appellants further contended that since the appellants did not inform the intended date of retirement from service in their respective applications, the same was rejected as being technically incorrect. Over and above, the respective appellants had continued to discharge their duties as Dafadar/Choukidar in their respective places of postings till the Patna High Court L.P.A No.785 of 2018 dt.03-09-2019 11/19 date of their retirement and had also drawn the full salary up to the date of superannuation.
14. During the course of hearing of this application, learned counsel for the State also contended that the case of those applicants who are sought to be considered to be similar to that of the petitioners is, in fact, is at much variance for the reason that their applications had been rejected, inter alia, on the ground that the date of voluntary retirement was not mentioned in their applications and it had not been filed within a month before the expressed date of voluntary retirement.
15. However, in the present case, it is contended by the appellants that the applicants' applications were not rejected on account of the fact that they though they had not expressed their date of voluntary retirement, but because they had continued to serve and draw their salary up to the date of retirement and therefore the ratio of the decision as has been pointed out by the appellants could not benefit them in any manner.
16. Shri P.K. Verma, learned Additional Advocate General No.3 has also drawn the attention of the Court to a clarificatory letter issued by the Under Secretary, Department of Home (Police) dated 22nd June, 2018, wherein the State Government after considering the queries has given the following Patna High Court L.P.A No.785 of 2018 dt.03-09-2019 12/19 clarifications at para (2) with regard to the amended provisions of 2014. In the said clarification, the State Government has issued directions in the following manner :
"i= la0&8@pkS0&90&06@2018 x`0vk0 3444 fcgkj ljdkj x`g foHkkx ¼vkj{kh "kk[kk½ isz'kd] fxjh"k eksgu Bkdqj] ljdkj ds voj lfpo lsok esa] lHkh ftyk inkf/kdkjh] fcgkj] iVukA iVuk] fnukad &22 twu 2018 fo'k; % pkSdhnkj laoxZ ds lnL;ksa }kjk LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk ds mijkar ukfer vkfJrksa dh pkSdhnkj ds in ij fu;qfDr ds laca/k esaA egksn;] funs"kkuqlkj mi;qZDr fo'k; ds laca/k esa dguk gS fd fcgkj pkSdhnkj laoxZ ¼la"kks/ku½ fu;ekoyh] 2014 }kjk pkSdhnkj laoxZ ds oSls dfeZ;kas] ftudh vgZd lsok 20 o'kksZ dh gks xbZ gks rFkk ftudh mez 55 o'kZ ls de ugha gks] dks ;g lqfo/kk iznku dh xbZ gS fd ,slk dehZ viuh ok/kZD; lsok fuo`fÙk dh frfFk ds de ls de ,d ekg igys dh frfFk ls LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk opt dj ldrk gS vkSj opt dh xbZ mDr frfFk ds de ls de ,d ekg igys vius }kjk ukfer vkfJr dh pkSdhnkj ds in ij fu;qfDr gsrq vius ftyk ds ftyk inkf/kdkjh dks vkosnu ns ldrk gSA 2- mDr izko/kku ds vkyksd esa fofHkUu ftyksa esa pkSdhnkj laoxZ ds dfeZ;ksa }kjk LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk dh bPNk O;Dr dj vius ukfer vkfJrksa dh fu;qfDr gsrq vkosnu fd;s tkrs gSa vkSj lacaf/kr ftyk inkf/kdkjh }kjk ,sls vkosnuksa ds laca/k esa mDr izko/kku ds vkyksd esa ;Fkksfpr fu.kZ; fy;s tkrs gSA mDr Øe esa fofHkUu ftyk inkf/kdkfj;ksa }kjk le;≤ ij ,sls ekeyksa ds laca/k esa dfri; ekxZn"kZu dh ek¡x dh tkrh gS] ftuesa ls dqN ekeys fuEuor gS %& Patna High Court L.P.A No.785 of 2018 dt.03-09-2019 13/19 ¼1½ pkSdhnkj laoxZ ds dehZ }kjk LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk dh bPNk O;Dr dj vius ukfer vkfJr dh pkSdhnkj ds in ij fu;qfDr gsrq lle; vkosnu fd;k x;kA bfPNr LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk fd frfFk ds ckn muds }kjk dk;Z djuk can dj fn;k x;k fdUrq muds ok/kZD; lsok fuo`fÙk ds frfFk rd mudh LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk ,oa vkfJr dh fu;qDr ls lacaf/kr vkosnu dk fu'iknu ftyk inkf/kdkjh }kjk ugha fd;k tk ldkA ¼2½ pkSdhnkj laoxZ ds dehZ }kjk LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk dh bPNk O;Dr dj vius ukfer vkfJr dh pkSdhnkj ds in ij fu;qfDr gsrq lle; vkosnu fd;k x;kA vkosnu ds mijkar Hkh mDr dehZ }kjk viuh ok/kZD; lsok fuo`fÙk dh frfFk rd dk;Z fd;k x;k ijUrq mDr vof/k dk osru izkIr ugha fd;k x;kA ok/kZD; lsok fuo`fÙk ds ,sls dehZ ds LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk ,oa vkfJr dh fu;qfDr laca/kh vH;kosnu dk fu'iknu lacaf/kr ftyk inkf/kdkjh }kjk ugha fd;k ldkA ¼3½ pkSdhnkj laoxZ ds dehZ }kjk LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk dh bPNk O;Dr dj vius ukfer vkfJr dh pkSdhnkj ds in ij fu;qfDr gsrq lle; vkosnu fd;k x;kA vkosnu ds mijkar Hkh mDr dehZ }kjk viuh ok/kZD; lsok fuo`fÙk dh frfFk rd dk;Z fd;k x;k vkSj osru izkIr fd;k x;kA dfri; ekeyksa esa ,sls dfeZ;ksa }kjk ok/kZD; lsok fuo`fÙk ds mijkar LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk dh bfPNr frfFk ds ckn ds eghuss dk fy;k gqvk osru pkyku ds ek/;e ls tek dj fn;k x;k vFkok tek djus dh bPNk O;Dr dh xbZ vkSj vius ukfer vkfJr dks fu;qfDr dj ysus dk vuqjks/k fd;k x;kA ,sls dfri; ekeyksa esa ok/kZD; lsok fuo`fÙk ds mijkar isa"ku dh Hkh Lohd`fr ns nh xbZA ¼4½ pkSdhnkj laoxZ ds dehZ }kjk LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk dh bPNk O;Dr dj vius ukfer vkfJr dh pkSdhnkj ds in ij fu;qfDr gsrq lle; vkosnu fd;k x;kA fdUrq muds }kjk ukfer vkfJr pkSdhnkj ds ij ij fu;qfDr gsrq fu/kkZfjr "kS{kf.kd ,oa vU; vgZrk /kkfjr ugha djrk gSA ,sls dfri; ekeyksa esa lsok fuo`fÙk dh frfFk ds mijkar lacaf/kr pkSdhnkj }kjk vius nwljs vkfJr] tks pkSdhnkj ds in ij fu;qfDr gsrq fu/kkZfjr "kS{kf.kd vgZrk /kkfjr djrk gS] dks fu;qDr dj fy, tkus dk vuqjks/k fd;k x;k gSA ¼5½ pkSdhnkj laoxZ ds dehZ }kjk LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk dh bPNk O;Dr dj vius ukfer vkfJr dh pkSdhnkj ds in ij fu;qfDr gsrq lle; vkosnu ugha fd;k x;kA ¼6½ pkSdhnkj laoxZ ds dehZ }kjk LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk dh bPNk O;Dr dj vius ukfer vkfJr dh pkSdhnkj ds in ij fu;qfDr gsrq lle; vkosnu ugah fd;k x;kA muds }kjk viuh Patna High Court L.P.A No.785 of 2018 dt.03-09-2019 14/19 ok/kZD; lsok fuo`fÙk dh frfFk ds ckn tkudkjh dk vHkko crkrs gq, vius vkfJr dks fu;qfDr djus dk vuqjks/k fd;k x;kA 3- pkSdhnkj laoxZ ds lnL;ksa ds bfPNr frfFk ls LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk ,oa muds }kjk ukfer vfJrksa dh fu;qfDr ls lacaf/kr foHkkxh; vf/klwpuk la[;k &1896 fnukad 05-03-2014 }kjk xfBr fcgkj pkSdhnkj laoxZ ¼la"kks/ku½ fu;ekoyh] 2014 ds izko/kku Lor% Li'V gSaA pkSdhnkj laoxZ ds dehZ o'kZ 1990 ls ljdkjh lsod ? kksf'kr fd;s tk pqds gSaA fQj Hkh mudh lkekftd fLFkfr dks /;ku esa j[kdj ljdkj }kjk mUgsa LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk ysdj vius ukfer vkfJr dks pkSdhnkj ds in ij fu;qDr djkus gsrq fo"ks'k lqfo/kk iznku dh x;h gSA ;g lqfo/kk One time measure gSA vFkkZr~ bl izdkj fu;qDr vkfJr dks iqu% LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk ysdj vius vkfJr dks ukSdjh gsrq ukfer djus dk vf/kdkj izkIr ugha gSA blfy, mDr fcUnwvksa ij fu.kZ; ysrs le; fu;qfDr inkf/kdkjh;ksa }kjk bl rF; dks /;ku esa [kus dh vko";drk gS fd ljdkj }kjk nh x;h mDr fo"ks'k lqfo/kk dk vf/kd ls vf/kd ykHk pkSdhnkj laoxZ ds dfeZ;ksa dks izkIr gks ldsA 4- mDr vkyksd esa lE;~d :i ls fopkjksijkUr pkSdhnkj laoxZ ds lnL;ksa dh bfPNr frfFk ls LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk ,oa muds } kjk ukfer vkfJrksa dh fu;qfDr ds laca/k esa mi;qZDr dafMdk&2 eas mfYyf[kr lHkh fcUnqvksa ij fu.kZ; fy, tkus gsrq fuEufyf[kr fn"kk&funsZ"k fn;s tkrs gS& ¼1½ mi;qZDRk dafMdk&2¼1½ ds ekeys esa vkosnu lle; fn;k x;k vkSj LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk Lohd`r gksus dh izR;k"kk esa bfPNr LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk dh frfFk ds mijkar dke djuk can dj fn;k x;kA lacaf/kr dehZ ds vkosnu dk ;fn lle; fu'iknu dj fn;k tkrk rks viuh bfPNr lsok fuo`fÙk dh frfFk dks og dehZ lsok fuo`fÙk le>k tkrk vkSj mlds vkfJr dh pkSdhnkj ds in ij fu;ekuqlkj fu;qfDr ij fopkj dj mlds vkosnu dk fu'iknu fd;k tkrkA ;g dkjZokbZ ftyk inkf/kdkjh ds Lrj ls visf{kr FkhA ,slk ughs gksus ls lacaf/kr dehZ dk dksbZ nks'k ugha gSA vr,o ,sls ekeyksa esa ftyk inkf/kdkjh mudh LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk dh ?kVuksÙkj Lohd`fr nsdj muds }kjk ukfer vgZrk izkIr vkfJr dh fu;ekuqlkj fu;qfDr dj ldrs gSA ¼2½ mi;qZDr dafMdk&2¼2½ ds ekeys esa Hkh vkosnu lle; fn;k x;k vkSj LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk gksus vFkok bl laca/k esa dksbZ vkns"k izkIr ugha gksus dh fLFkfr esa bfPNr LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk dh frfFk ds mijkar Hkh dke djuk tkjh j[kk x;k vFkok muls dk;Z fy;k x;kA ijarq lacaf/kr dehZ }kjk LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk Lohd`fr gksus dh izR;k"kk ls bfPNr frfFk ds mijkar osru ugha fy;k x;kA Patna High Court L.P.A No.785 of 2018 dt.03-09-2019 15/19 bl ekeys esa Hkh f"kfFkyrk ftyk inkf/kdkjh ds Lrj ls cjrh x;h gSA ;fn ftyk inkf/kdkjh }kjk lle; mlds LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk ds vkosnu dks fujLr dj fn;k x;k gksrk rks ml dehZ ds vkfJr dh fu;qfDr dk nkok ugha curkA ;fn lacaf/kr dehZ ds vkosnu dk ftyk inkf/kdkjh }kjk ll;e fu'iknu dj fn;k tkrk rks viuh bfPNr lsok fuo`fÙk dh frfFk dks og dehZ lsok fuo`fÙk le>k tkrk vkSj muds vkfJr dh pkSdhnkj ds in ij fu;ekuqlkj fu;qfDr ij fopkj dj mlds vkosnu dk fu'iknu fd;k tkrkA ;g dkjZokbZ ftyk inkf/kdkjh ds Lrj ls visf{kr FkhA ,slk ughs gksus esa lacaf/kr dehZ dk dksbZ nks'k ughs gSa vr,o ,sls ekeyksa esa Hkh ftyk inkf/kdkjh mudh LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk dh ? kVuksÙkrj Lohd`fr nsdj muds }kjk ukfer vgZrk izkIr vkfJr dh fu;ekuqlkj fu;qfDr dj ldrs gSaA ¼3½ mi;qZDr dafMdk&2¼3½ ds ekeys esa vkosnu lle; fn;k x;k ijarq LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk dh bfPNr frfFk ds mijkar Hkh lacaf/kr dehZ }kjk viuh okLrfod ok/kZD; lsok fuo`fÙk dh frfFk rd u dsoy dke fd;k x;k cfYd mDr vof/k dk osru Hkh izkIr fd;k x;kA pw¡fd lacaf/kr dehZ }kj viuh okLrfod ok/kZD; lsok fuo`fÙk dh frfFk rd osru Hkh izkIr fd;k x;k vr,o ,sls ekeyksa esa mudh LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk dk vkosnu Lor% izHkkoghu gks tkrk gSA ,sls ekeys esa foÙk foHkkx dh jk; Hkh izkIr dh x;h gS vkSj foÙk foHkkx }kjk ,sls ekeysa esa LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk dh ?kVuksÙkj Lohd`fr iznku djus ds izLrko eas viuh lgefr ugha nh x;h gSA vr,o ,sls ekeys dh vLohd`r fd;k tk ldrk gSA ¼4½ mi;qZDr dafMdk&2¼4½ ds ekeys esa vkosnu lle; fn;k x;k ijarq vkosnu ds le; muds }kjk ukfer vkfJr pkSdhnkj ds in ij fu;qfDr gsrq fu/kkZfjr "kS{kf.kd ,oa vU; vgZrk /kkfjr ugha djrk gSA pw¡fd ljdkjh lsok esa fu;qfDr gsrq fcgkj lsok lafgrk ds fu;e&54 esa izko/kkfur vf/kdre mez lhek esa NwV fn;s tkus ds izko/kku ds vfrfjDr vU; fdlh fu/kkZfjr vgZrk esa NwV fn;s tksus dk dksbZ izko/kku ugha gS vkSj vkosnu fn;s tkus ,oa ,d ckj vkfJr ukfer djus ds mijkar vkfJr ifjoÙkZu dh Lohd`fr fn;s tkus dk dksbZ vkSfPkR; ugha gS] vr,o ,sls vkosnuksa dks vLohd`r fd;k tk ldrk gSA ¼5½ mi;qZDr dafMdk&2¼5½ ds ekeysa esa pw¡fd vkosnu lle; ugha fn;k x;k gSa vr,o fu/kkZfjr le; lhek esa ugha fn;s x;s vkosnuksa dks fu;ekuqlkj vLohd`r fd;k tk ldrk gSA ¼6½ mi;qZDRk dafMdk&2¼6½ ds ekeys esa Hkh pw¡fd vkosnu lle; ugha fn;k x;k gS vr,o tkudkjh ds vHkko ds uke ij dksbZ NwV Patna High Court L.P.A No.785 of 2018 dt.03-09-2019 16/19 fn;k tkuk fu;ekuqdwy ugha ekurs gq, fu/kkZfjr le; lhek esa ugha fn;s x;s vkosnuksa dks fu;ekuqlkj vLohd`r fd;k tk ldrk gSA 5- vuqjks/k gS fd pkSdhnkj laoxZ ds lnL;ksa dh bfPNr frfFk ls LoSfPNd lsok fuo`fÙk ,oa muds }kjk ukfer vkfJrksa dh fu;qfDr ds ekeyksa dks mi;qZDRk dafMdk&4 esa fn;s x;s fn"kk&funsZ"k ds vkyksd esa lle; fu'ikfnr djus dh d`ik dh tk; rkfd bl laoxZ ds lnL;ksa dks ljdkj }kjk nh xbZ fo"ks'k lqfo/kk dk vf/kd ls vf/kd YkkHk izkIr gks ldsaA fo"oklHkktu g0@& ¼fxjh"k eksgu Bkdqj½ ljdkj ds voj lfpo
17. It was thus submitted that in view of the clarification in para 4(3), the appellants are not eligible for availing the benefits of Annexure 1. It was thus contended that the appellants had no case and the learned single Judge has rightly dismissed the application of the appellants.
18. We have heard learned counsel for the appellants and the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State and perused the materials on record.
19. The short point for consideration is as to whether the appellants-writ petitioners having made their applications for voluntary retirement with a request for appointing their respective wards ought to have been allowed by the respondents in the light of the then extant circular.
20. We have considered and find that admittedly their applications were well within time of the date of superannuation, Patna High Court L.P.A No.785 of 2018 dt.03-09-2019 17/19 but for some reason or the other, their applications could not be processed at the level of the District Magistrate who was the authority under the Rules and accordingly, since no instructions were forwarded to the concerned employees, they did not abandon their services and continued to function till the date of their superannuation.
21. We further observe that the appellants had also forwarded the testimonials of their respective wards on being called upon to do so and the respondents have not denied the same. Nevertheless, their applications were not considered within their date of superannuation and therefore they continued to function on their respective posts and had also drawn salary. The order of rejection was also issued much after the date of superannuation, i.e., in the year 2017 and they could not be faulted for any delay on their part. However, we find that their case does stand distinguished from the case of the petitioners of CWJC No.189 of 2017 and CWJC No.1142 of 2017, wherein their cases were rejected well within the date of their superannuation and not after as was the case of the petitioners, who continued to work and draw their salary. Therefore, these appellants cannot draw a parallel to the writ petitioners of the aforementioned cases. No doubt, the respondents took a long time to determine the cases of the Patna High Court L.P.A No.785 of 2018 dt.03-09-2019 18/19 appellants, but the petitioners having worked and drawn salary without any demur on their part, their applications were rendered infructuous with flux of time. Their cases could be appreciated had they stopped working or had not received their salary up to the date of retirement.
22. However, noticing the clarificatory letter of 2018, we find that the respondents have delved into the issue of those persons who continued to work and drew salary. We find at Clause 4(3) that when any employee continues to work up to the date of retirement and also draws his salary, then such application itself has become infructuous as the Finance Department had given a categorical note against the grant of such facility of voluntary retirement to such employee.
23. In view of the aforementioned provisions in the clarificatory letter, we find and hold that the respondents cannot be directed at this stage to re-consider the applications of the appellants for grant of such benefit of employment of their wards in accordance with the provisions of Annexure 1.
24. In view of the aforementioned observations and considerations made by us in the light of the stand taken by the respondents vis-a-vis each of the cases of the petitioners, we do not find any reason to interfere with the order of the learned single Patna High Court L.P.A No.785 of 2018 dt.03-09-2019 19/19 Judge. The appeal is devoid of any merit and is accordingly dismissed.
(Amreshwar Pratap Sahi, CJ)
(Anjana Mishra, J)
PNM
AFR/NAFR
CAV DATE N.A.
Uploading Date
Transmission Date N.A.