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Gujarat High Court

Sangeetaben Bhupendrabhai Parekh vs State Of Gujarat on 24 April, 2018

Author: K.M.Thaker

Bench: K.M.Thaker

        C/SCA/21069/2015                                                ORDER



         IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

            SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 21069 of 2015

==========================================================
               SANGEETABEN BHUPENDRABHAI PAREKH
                             Versus
                       STATE OF GUJARAT
==========================================================
Appearance:
MR SAMIR B GOHIL(5718) for the PETITIONER(s) No. 1
MR D.M. DEVNANI, AGP (1) for the RESPONDENT(s) No. 1
MR PUNIT B JUNEJA(3972) for the RESPONDENT(s) No. 3
NOTICE SERVED(4) for the RESPONDENT(s) No. 2
==========================================================

 CORAM: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.M.THAKER

                                Date : 24/04/2018

                                  ORAL ORDER

1. Heard   Mr.   Gohil,   learned   advocate   for   the  petitioner   Mr.   Juneja,   learned   advocate   for   the  respondent No.3 and Mr. D.M. Devnani, learned AGP  for the respondent No.1.

2. In   present   petition   the   petitioner   has  prayed, inter alia, that:­ "13(A)   Quashing   and   setting   aside   letter   dated   17.10.2015  (Annexure­F)   and   directing   the   respondents   to   pay   lump   sum  financial   assistance   (compensation)   as   per   the   Government  Resolution dated 5.7.2011.

(B)   During   the   pendency   and   final   disposal   of   this   petition,  the respondents may be directed to reconsider the case of the  petitioner as per the Government Resolution dated 5.7.2011"

3. To   justify   the   relief   prayed   for   in   the  petition,   the   petitioner   has   narrated   below  1 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER mentioned facts:­ "2. The husband of the petitioner was serving as Junior Clerk  Class­IV   employee   under   the   respondent   No.3   and   he   died   on  12.10.1995   while   in   service.   The   petitioner   made   application  dated   17.1.1996   for   compassionate   appointment.   ...   The  respondent No. 3 forwarded the recommendation to the respondent  No. 2 vide letter dated 6.2.1996.....The aforesaid application  remained   pending   till   the   date   new   scheme   for   lump   sum  compensation came into force on 5.7.2011.

3. Thereafter,  the  respondent  no. 3  sent  the proposal  by the  letter  dated  24.12.2011  to the  respondent  No. 2  for lump  sum  compensation as per the government resolution dated 5.7.2011...  Since   there   was   no   response   from   the   respondent   authorities,  the petitioner made application dated 20.11.2012 requesting for  lump sum compensation.

4. Thereafter the respondent No. 2 sought information from the  respondent   No.   3   vide   letter   dated   2.11.2012.   By   the   letter  dated 21.11.2012, the respondent No. 3 forwarded the details to  the respondent No. 2....

5. Finally by the letter dated 17.10.2015, the respondent No. 2  rejected the claim for lump sum compensation on the ground that  the application cannot be said pending as per clause­5 of the  G.R. dated 5.7.2011....."

4. The   petitioner   seeks   lump   sum   financial  assistance (compensation) in accordance with the  policy declared vide G.R. dated 5.7.2011.

5. From above quoted facts it has emerged that  the   petitioner's   husband   was   serving   as   Junior  Clerk   (class­III     employee)   with   the   respondent  No.3 college. 

5.1 At this stage it is necessary to mention that  the   respondent   No.3   college   is   a   Grant­in­Aid  institute.

6. The  petitioner's  husband  died  in  harness  on  2 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER 12.10.1995. 

6.1 Sometime   thereafter   the   petitioner   herein  submitted application dated 17.1.1996 and prayed  for   appointment   on   compassionate   ground   in  accordance with the policy which was in force at  the relevant time. 

6.2 According   to   the   petitioner,   the   respondent  No.3   college   had   forwarded   application   dated  17.01.1996   to   the   respondent   No.2   in   February  1996.

6.3 The   petitioner   has   alleged   that   the   said  application remained pending before the concerned  authority for almost five years and the authority  did   not   take   any   decision   with   regard   to   the  application dated 17.1.1996. 

6.4 According   to   the   petitioner   during   pendency  of the said application before the authority, the  respondent   State   cancelled   the   policy   to   grant  appointment on compassionate ground and instead,  in July 2011, introduced another scheme / policy  3 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER viz. to pay lump sum compensation to the heirs /  legal   representatives   of   the   deceased   vide   G.R.  dated 5.7.2011.

7. At   this   stage   it   is   necessary   to   note   an  interesting fact. 

7.1 The petitioner has claimed that though after  submitting   application   dated   17.1.1996   and   more  particularly   after   the   government   introduced  resolution   dated   5.7.2011,   she   did   not   submit  application   for   lump   sum   compensation   either   to  respondent   No.3   or   to   respondent   Nos.1   and   2,  however the respondent no. 3 on its own motion,  forwarded   proposal   vide   its   letter   dated  24.12.2011   to   the   respondent   No.2   for   lump   sum  compensation   to   be   paid   to   the   petitioner   in  light of G.R. dated 5.7.2011. 

7.2 From the petition or from the submission by  learned advocate for the petitioner any reason as  to   why   the   respondent   no.   3   should,   on   its   own  motion  and  without  any  request  / application   by  4 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER the petitioner   for lump  sum compensation  and  in  absence   of   declaration   by   the   petitioner   that  instead   of   appointment   on   compassionate   ground  lump  sum compensation  may be  paid,  forward  such  proposal to the respondent no. 2.

8. Any explanation on this count does not come  from the petitioner, not even from the respondent  no. 3 college.

9. Interestingly respondent no. 3 forwarded such  proposal,   without   consent   by   the   petitioner   to  the respondent no. 2 in December 2011.

10. The  petitioner   claims  that   in November   2012  (20.11.2012)  she approached  respondent  authority  with the request for lump sum compensation. 

11. The   petitioner   has   also   alleged   that   she  sought certain information from respondent no.3.

12. According to the petitioner's allegation, the  respondent   no.3   forwarded   certain   details   to  respondent   no.2   vide   its   communication   dated  5 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER 21.11.2012.

13. The   petitioner   has   the   alleged   that  subsequently in October 2015 the respondent no. 2  conveyed   the   decision,   vide   letter   dated  17.10.2015,   that   the   claim   for   lump   sum  compensation is rejected.

14. Feeling   aggrieved   by   said   communication   and  decision   the   petitioner   has   taken   out   present  petition.

15. The   respondent   Nos.1   and   2   have   filed  affidavit wherein it is averred and stated that:­ "5.   It   is   most   respectfully   submitted   that   by   way   of   the  present petition,  the petitioner has prayers for quashing and  setting aside the letter dated 17.10.2015 at Annexure­F at page  no.1l to the memo to the petition and directing the respondent  to   pay   lumsum   Financial   Assistant   (compensation)   as   per   the  Government   Resolution   dated   05.07.2011.   It   is   further   prayed  that the respondent may be directed to reconsider the case of  the   petitioner   as   per   the   Government   Resolution   dated  05.07.2011. 

6. It  is most  respectfully  submitted  that  the husband  of the  petitioner   namely   Bhupendrabhai   Parekh   was   expired   on  12.10.1995   and   the   application   for   compassionate   appointment  was made  before  the  respondent  no.3  i.e.  to the  Principal  of  Patel   Raman   Brothers   Arts   and   commerce   Collage   on   17.01.1996  and thereafter,  the  respondent  no.3  forwarded  the  application  to   the   respondent   no.2   i.e.   Joint   Director   office   of   the  Commissioner   Higher   Education   dated   06.02.1996   for  consideration   the   case   of   the   petitioner   for   compassionate  appointment   and   thereafter   the   respondent   no.2   had   sought  various details of the applications of the petitioner for the  purpose  of  compassionate  appointment  from  the respondent  no.3  but the same has not been provided to the respondent no.2 as on  date.

7. It is most respectfully submitted that the respondent no.2  vide   letter   dated   24.12.2011   had   sent   a   proposal   of   the  petitioner   to   the   respondent   no.3   as   per   the   policy   dated  05.07.2011 and for the purpose of considering the case of the  6 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER petitioner   as   to   whether   the   petitioner   wants   lumsum  compensation due of compassionate appointment. 

8.   It   is   most   respectfully   submitted   that   the   office   of   the  respondent   no.2   had   written   a   letter   to   the   office   of   the  respondent   no.3 dated  28.05.2015  wherein,  it is  categorically  stated that it is the same of the respondent no.3 office that  the   application   of   the   petitioner   of   the   year   1996   for   the  purpose of compassionate appointment was sent to the office of  the   respondent   no.2   but   in   regards   to   the   same   it   is  respectfully submitted by the office of the respondent that no  further   communication   from   the   respondent   no.3   has   been  received   in   the   office   of   the   respondent   no.2   till   date.  Annexed herewith and marked as Annexure­R­I is the copy of the  letter dated 28.05.2015 and it is further consideration in the  letter  that  the office   of the  respondent   no.3 was  to  produce  all the relevant document within the period of 7 days from the  date   of   the   receipt   of   the   letter   and   according   to   the  resolution dated 05.07.2011. 

9.   It   is   most   respectfully   submitted   that   the   office   of   the  respondent   no.3 vide  letter  dated  22.09.2015  had  communicated  to   the   office   of   the   respondent   no.2   that   office   of   the  respondent   no.3   has   termite   and   bugs   therefore   the   office   of  the respondent no.3 could not send the relevant papers such as  inward register, outward register etc. in view of the above it  is   respectfully   submitted   that   since   the   office   of   the  respondent no.2 could not get appropriate/relevant document for  consideration   of   the   case   of   the   petitioner   for   the   purpose  compassionate   appointment   with   lumsum   compensation   the  application/representation of the petitioner is rejected by the  respondent no.2 herein." 

16. From the details mentioned by the respondent  Nos.1   and   2   in   the   affidavit   and   the   documents  annexed to the affidavit it has emerged that the  respondent   has   disputed   that   any   application  seeking   compassionate   appointment   was   forwarded  to   the   competent   authority   in   February   1996  either   directly   by   the   petitioner   or   by   the  respondent   no.3.   It   is   claimed   that   the  respondent had not received any application. 

17. From   the   said   affidavit,   particularly   the  7 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER details   mentioned   in   paragraph   No.6   and   the  document   dated   28.5.2015   (Annexure­R1   to   the  affidavit) it comes out that the respondent Nos.1  and   2   inquired   from   the   respondent   no.3   for  material to demonstrate that the application was  forwarded   in   February   1996   and   to   also   provide  the application and other relevant details.

18. Learned   AGP   for   the   respondent   has   claimed  that   the   respondent   No.3   never   submitted   any  details or material and at any point of time such  material   was   not   received   (by   the   respondent)  either directly from the petitioner or even from  the respondent no.3.

19. In   this   background   learned   advocate   for  petitioner   submitted   that   the   petitioner   had  submitted   application   to   the   principal   of   the  college   (respondent   no.3)   immediately   after   her  husband died. 

20. Mr.Gohil, learned advocate for the petitioner  submitted   that   the   application   remained   pending  8 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER till   2011   and   when   the   respondent   no.   1  introduced   new   policy   in   July   2011,   the  respondent  No.  3  college  forwarded  a request   to  the respondent nos. 1 and 2 that the petitioner  should   be   paid   lump   sum   compensation.   According  to learned advocate for the petitioner, since the  respondent   did   not   accept   the   request   and  rejected   the   petitioner's   demand   vide   decision  dated   17.10.2015,   the   petitioner   has   taken   out  this petition. According to the learned advocate  for   the   petitioner,   the   petitioner   is   entitled  for   compensation   in   accordance   with   G.R.   dated  5.7.2011   and   therefore   the   respondent   should   be  directed   to   pay   compensation   in   accordance   with  the said policy. 

21. Learned   AGP   opposed   the   petition.   He  reiterated the objection that the petitioner has  taken out present petition almost 20 years after  the concerned employee died.

22. Learned AGP vehemently emphasised that at any  point   of   time,   respondent   No.2   did   not   receive  9 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER any communication from respondent No.3, much less  the   petitioner's   application   for   compassionate  appointment   allegedly   forwarded   by   respondent  No.3 in 2006.  

23. Learned   AGP   further   submitted   that   when  respondent   No.2   received   the   communication   in  2012,   the   said   respondent   made   inquiry   with  respondent   No.3   and   inquire   from   the   respondent  No.3   to   forward   the   material   which   may   enable  respondent  No.3  to determine  as to  whether  such  application  was  ever  forwarded   or not and  which  may   also   enable   it   (i.e.   respondent   No.2)   to  process   the   application,   if   at   all   it   was  forwarded   to   respondent   No.2   at   the   relevant  time.     However,   respondent   No.3   never   submitted  the   details   /   material   and   respondent   No.2   did  not   receive   any   material   /   document   from  respondent   No.3   which   would   support   the   claim  that   the   petitioner's   application   was   forwarded  by   respondent   No.3   to   the   office   of   respondent  No.2 in 2006. 

10 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER

24. Learned   AGP   submitted   that   for   almost   20  years after allegedly submitting the application,  the petitioner did not take any step and/or did  not make  any  inquiry  with  respondent  No.2  which  establishes   that   there   is   no   justification   in  petitioner's   claim   and   the   petition   deserves   to  be rejected. 

25. I   have   considered   rival   submissions   and  material available on record.  

26. Two prominent and material aspects which have  emerged   from   the   record   and   from   the   rival  submissions are - 

(a) the concerned employee, i.e. the petitioner's  husband died in October 1995. The petitioner has  taken  out present  petition   in 2015,  i.e.  almost  20 years after the sad demise of her husband; and 

(b) the petition involves several disputed facts  which  are such  that  cannot  be determined   merely  on affidavit  but  would  necessitate  oral  as well  11 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER as   documentary   evidence,   more   particularly   in  view of the specific contention of the respondent  that   any   communication   from   respondent   No.3  allegedly forwarding the petitioner's application  in   2006   was   never   received   and   has   not   been  received   at   any   point   of   time   in   the   office   of  respondent No.2. 

27. The facts which have emerged from the record,  are slightly curious and not easily palatable.  

28. According   to   the   case   which   is   made   out   by  the petitioner, her husband died in October 1995.  Thereafter,  the petitioner,  allegedly,  submitted  application  seeking  appointment  on compassionate  ground in January 1996. 

29. However,   there   is   no   evidence   on   record   to  demonstrate   that   the   application   was   ever  forwarded to respondent Nos.1 and 2.

30. It is pertinent that the petitioner addressed  the   said   application   and   submitted   the   said  application   to   the   Principal   of   respondent   No.3  12 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER college. 

31. It is not the case of even present petitioner  that   she   had   forwarded   the   said   application   to  respondent   No.2   or   any   other   authority   with  respondent No.2 or respondent No.1.   

32. There is no evidence on record to even prima   facie  suggest   and   indicate   that   respondent   No.3  had   ever   forwarded   the   said   application   to  Commissioner,   Higher   Education,   under   the  communication dated 6.2.1996.  

33. A   document,   which   according   to   the  petitioner,   is   photocopy   of   the   letter   dated  6.2.1996, is placed on record at Annexure­B, page 

7.  

34. A glance  at  the  said  communication   reflects  that at the place marked 'date' (wherein the date  06­02­1996) is mentioned, certain overwriting is  apparent and visible.  At the place marked 'No.',  the   word   'Rahemrahe'   is   reflected.   However,   the  said   document   does   not   contain   any   outward  13 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER number.

35. It   is   pertinent   that   interestingly,   rather  curiously, respondent No.3 has very conveniently  not   filed   any   affidavit.     The   incumbent   in   the  office   of   Principal   of   respondent   No.3   college  who,   allegedly,   received   the   application   from  present petitioner and forwarded the application  to   respondent   No.2,   has   also   not   filed   any  affidavit   stating   that   he   had   received   the  application from the petitioner and had forwarded  the   said   application   to   respondent   No.2.   Apart  from the said fact, respondent No.3 has not filed  any   affidavit   identifying   the   signatures   which  are   reflected   from   the   document   at   Annexure­A  and/or   from   the   document   at   Annexure­B   as   the  signature   of   person   who   held   the   office   of  Principal at the relevant time.  Meaning thereby,  neither the said person himself has come forward  and declared that he had received the application  and had forwarded application to respondent No.2  nor   any   other   person   from   respondent   No.3   has  14 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER come forward to state, on oath, that to place on  record name of the person who held the office of  Principal   at   the   relevant   time   and   to   declare  that   the   signature   which   is   reflected   the  document at Annexures­A & B, is of the person who  held   the   office   at   the   relevant   time.   These  aspects   involved   in   present   case   -   which   are  rather major and prominent part of the matter -  do not inspire confidence in the claim.

36. Further,   when   respondent   Nos.1   and   2   made  inquiries with the petitioner to forward relevant  documents and material, respondent No.3 seems to  have   informed   respondent   Nos.1   and   2   that   the  material at that relevant period is not available  because it is destroyed by termite. 

37. The   respondents   are,   therefore,   right   in  their   submission   that   the   said   excuse   or   reply  gives   rise   to   doubt   rather   than   satisfying   the  query and the doubt about the document which is  placed at Annexure­B, page 7.   

15 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER

38. It   is   also   relevant   to   note   that   the  respondent Nos.1 and 2 claim that when respondent  Nos.1   and   2   called   for   relevant   document   from  respondent   No.3,   the   respondent   No.3   informed  that any documents or material with regard to the  petitioner's   application   are   not   available  because   the   documents   are   destroyed   by   termite  and that such reply neither answers the query nor  satisfies   the   doubt   about   the   veracity   and  genuineness of the document (placed on record by  the petitioner of this petition at Annexures­A &  B).     It   is   pertinent   that   if   the   reply   by   the  respondent No.3 had substance then there would be  explanation   with   regard   to   the   issue   viz.   when  the documents were lost by termite, how did the  petitioner come in possession of the document at  Annexure­B   more   particularly   when   copy   of   the  said document was not forwarded to the petitioner  /   was   not   marked   to   the   petitioner   at   relevant  time.

39. Aforesaid aspects are mentioned to illustrate  16 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER and to  demonstrate  that  the petition  gives  rise  to   the   several   doubt   about   the   facts   stated   by  the petitioner and that the petition is taken out  almost 20 years after (in 2015) the employee died  (in   1995)   and   it   raises   and   involves   several  issues of disputed facts. 

40. Another relevant aspect which is involved in  and arises in present petition, is that even if  it is assumed  that  the petitioner  had  submitted  application   in   1996   and   if   it   is   assumed   that  respondent   No.2   had   forwarded   the   said  application to respondent No.3 in February 1996,  then   also   there   is   no   explanation   from   the  petitioner's   side   with   regard   to   her   inaction  from 1996 to 2011.  

41. Another important fact is that the erstwhile  policy   came   to   be   cancelled   /   withdrawn   by  respondent   No.1   in   July   2011.   During   the  interregnum   i.e.   from   1995   to   2011,   the  petitioner  did  not take  any action   in pursuance  of the application which was allegedly submitted  17 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER in   1986.   She   did   not   pursue   the   application   -  never made any inquiry about the application and  its progress of application with respondent No.2  nor even with respondent No.3. It is not the case  of   the   petitioner,   in   the   memo   of   present  petition,   that   she   had   pursued   the   application  and   made   inquiries   about   its   progress   with  respondent  No.2  or respondent  No.1  or even  with  respondent   No.3.   During   entire   interregnum,   the  petitioner was completely inactive and passive in  the matter of her application.

42. Thereafter,   when   the   Government   introduced  new scheme / policy, without any request from the  petitioner,   the   respondent   No.3,   very   curiously  and   interestingly,   on   its   own   motion   forwarded  the   request   -   recommendation   to   respondent   No.2  that   the   petitioner   should   be   paid   lump   sum  compensation   in   light   of   the   policy   introduced  vide government resolution dated 5.7.2011. 

43. It   is   necessary   to   note   at   this   stage   (in  this context) that by this time almost 16 years  18 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER had passed since the sad demise of the employee. 

44. It is also necessary to note that before the  respondent   No.3   forwarded   such   request   to   the  respondent No.1 / respondent No.2 or even at the  time when the respondent No.3 took said action on  its own motion, the petitioner had not approached  respondent No.3 with such request and neither the  petitioner   had   not   raised   such   request   directly  with  respondent  No.1  or respondent  No.2  nor the  petitioner had given consent or authority to the  respondent   No.3   to   seek   lump   sum   compensation  instead   of   appointment   on   compassionate   ground.  It   is   not   the   case   even   of   the   petitioner   that  she had requested respondent No.3 to submit such  request and/or that she authorised the respondent  No.3 for such purpose and/or that she had given  her   consent   to   the   respondent   No.3   for   said  purpose.   Besides   this,   when   the   application  allegedly submitted in 1996 was still, allegedly,  pending  and  was not  rejected,  then  such request  by respondent No.3 on its own motion and without  19 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER petitioner's consent and authorisation, would not  have   any   value   in   law   and   such   request   by  respondent No.3 cannot be taken cognizance of and  cannot   be   processed   by   respondent   No.2   or  respondent No.1.  

45. In   this   background,   the   question   about   the  role and conduct of respondent No.3 arises. It is  not clear as to what promoted respondent No.3 to  take   such   action   on   its   own   motion,   more  particularly when the petitioner had, on her own  motion,   not   declared   that   she   was   ready   and  willing   to   forgo   her   claim   for   appointment   on  compassionate   ground   and   to   accept   compensation  instead of appointment and when she had not given  her authorisation and consent to respondent No.3.

46. Besides,   in   present   petition,   the   glaring  gross   delay   of   20   years   (sad   demise   in   1995)  taking   action   (filing   present   petition)   in   2015  cannot   be   ignored   and   said   delay   should   be  sufficient to reject any claim for appointment on  compassionate   ground   more   so   when   present  20 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER petition does not inspire confidence with regard  to   several   submission   by   petitioner,   more  particularly about the allegation and claim that  application was submitted in 1996 involves above  mentioned   disputed   issues   which   cannot   be  examined and determined in present petition. 

47. From   above   mentioned   facts,   it   has   emerged  that: 

(a) The petitioner claims that she submitted  application (dated 17.1.1996) for appointment  on compassionate ground to respondent No.3; 
(b) There   is   no   material   on   record   to  demonstrate that the application was actually  submitted to respondent No.3 in January 1996; 
(c) It is not the case of the petitioner that  she   had   submitted   the   application   to   the  competent authority, i.e. respondent No.2 or  respondent No.1, in 1996;  
(d)   The   petitioner   claims   that   respondent  No.3 had forwarded the petitioner's aforesaid  21 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER application to respondent No.2 or respondent  No.1,   however,   there   is   no   material   to  establish   that   respondent   No.3   had   actually  forwarded the said application to respondent  No.2 or respondent No.1;
(e) It   is   pertinent   that   any   responsible  officer   for   respondent   No.3   has   not   filed  affidavit,   declaring   on   oath   that   from   its  end   the   application   was   forwarded   to  respondent   No.2   or   respondent   No.1.     Any  evidence (e.g. postal receipt and/or stamp /  signature by inward clerk of respondent No.1  or respondent No.2 acknowledging the receipt)  to demonstrate that the said application was  forwarded   by   respondent   No.3   to   respondent  No.2   or   respondent   No.1   in   1996,   is   not  placed on record either by the petitioner or  even by respondent No.3; 
(f) Respondent   No.3   has   maintained,  convenient   and   stoic   silence   and   any  statement   on   oath   about   the   receipt   of   the  22 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER application   from   the   petitioner   and/or   any  statement declaring that the application was  received   from   the   petitioner   and   it   was  forwarded to the authority, is not made;
(g) When   the   respondent   No.2   specifically  asked   respondent   No.3   to   give   the   details  related   to   petitioner's   application   (viz. 

when   was   the   application   forwarded   to   the  office of respondent No.2 and to also submit  evidence   which   would   demonstrate   that   the  application   was   forwarded   respondent   No.2),  however, respondent No.3 never submitted such  material to respondent No.2.  Even on record  of   this   petition,   respondent   No.3   has   not  placed   any   material   and,   as   aforesaid,   not  even filed affidavit declaring that the said  application was forwarded to respondent No.2;

(h) On   the   contrary,   in   reply   to   the   query  by respondent No.2, respondent No.3 seems to  have   informed   respondent   No.2   that   any  material   is   not   available   because   the  23 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER documents are destroyed by termite;

(i) On   one   hand,   respondent   No.3   declared  that the documents are not available because  the   documents   are   destroyed   by   termite,  whereas,   on   the   other   hand,   the   petitioner  has placed on record a copy of the letter by  respondent No.3, which reflects 6th  February,  1996   as   the   date   when   the   letter   was  addressed to respondent No.3, to support her  claim  that   her   application   was   forwarded   by  respondent No.3 to respondent No.2; 

(j) However, submission of copy of the said  letter on record of this petition gives rise  to   a   doubt   about   its   genuineness   and   also  gives rise to the question as to how the said  letter came in the hands of the petitioner.  It is not her case that she received letter  from   respondent   No.2   or   respondent   No.1   in  response to her application under RTI Act. It  is   also   not   her   case   that   she   received   the  said letter from respondent No.3 or that when  24 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER the   said   letter   was   allegedly   forwarded   to  respondent No.2, a copy thereof was marked to  her (i.e. the petitioner) as well. In absence  of such details, the possession of the letter  with   the   petitioner   raises   questions   and  doubt because the respondent No.3 claims that  any   documents   are   not   available   since   they  are destroyed by termite and said respondent  from this proceeding (it has preferred to not  file affidavit);

(k) Interestingly,   rather   curiously,   the  petitioner does not seem to have ever pursued  her application after she allegedly submitted  request in 1996 (i.e. for almost 20 years); 

(l) She   does   not   appear   to   have   made   any  inquiry about the progress in matter of her  request   either   with   respondent   No.3   or   with  respondent No.2. Having remained passive and  inactive   from  1996   to  2015,   the   petitioner,  after   almost   20   years,   woke   up   and   filed  present petition;

25 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER

(m) In the interregnum, almost 5 years after  the   petitioner   allegedly   submitted   the  application,   the   State   Government   cancelled  the   policy   to   grant   appointment   on  compassionate   basis   and   instead,   in   July  2011, Government introduced the policy to pay  lump   sum   compensation.   Till   then,   the  petitioner had never pursued her application  which was allegedly submitted in 1996;

(n) Interestingly,   even   after   introduction  of new policy, it was not the petitioner who  took the first step;  

(o) Curiously,   respondent   No.3,   without  consent   of   the   petitioner   and   without  authorisation  by   the   petitioner,   on   its   own  motion,   forwarded   a   request   to   respondent  No.2   to   pay   lump   sum   compensation   to   the  petitioner. 

(p) It   was,   interestingly,   almost   one   year  after   the   respondent   No.3   took   the   step   on  26 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER its   own   motion,   that   the   petitioner  approached   the   authority   with   request   for  lump sum compensation;

(q) The   respondent   No.3   has   not   cared   to  explain the reason as to why respondent No.3  took   initiative   of   submitting   request   for  lump   sum   compensation,   that   too   without  consent   of   the   petitioner   and   without   any  authorisation   by   the   petitioner   and   without  the declaration by the petitioner that she is  ready   and   willing   to   accept   lump   sum  compensation   instead   of   appointment   on  compassionate ground;

(r) There   is   no   material   on   record   to  establish that the signature on the document,  i.e. letter dated 6.2.1996 is of the person  who   held   office   of   Principal   in   1996.     The  alleged / so­called author of the letter has  not filed affidavit and not declared that he  addressed   said   letter   and   he   had   forwarded  the   application.   Any   affidavit   recognising  27 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER the   signature   and/or   accepting   the   said  document   as   the   official   communication   by  respondent   No.3   to   respondent   No.2,   is   not  filed. 

48. Conjoint   reading   of   above   mentioned   issues,  which   arise   from   the   material   available   and   in  absence of relevant material on record, not only  give   rise   to   several   issues   of   disputed   facts  (which   would   necessitate   documentary   and   oral  evidence   including   cross­examination)   but,   in  light of above mentioned issues as well as other  issues which arise in present case, the case set  up   by   the   petitioner   as   well   as   the   details  mentioned   in   the   petition   do   not   inspire  confidence.  

48.1  The said aspects raise a cloud of doubt over  the petitioner's bona fides and about genuineness  of her claim and they do not convince the Court  to   hold   that   this   is   a   fit   case   to   exercise  prerogative writ jurisdiction.  

28 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER 48.2   Actually, in light of the facts of present  case, the petitioner should avail ordinary civil  remedy   (e.g.   civil   suit)   so   as   to   seek  declaration   and   consequential   relief   before  appropriate forum where the disputed aspects can  be   established   with   cogent   and   sufficient  evidence.  

49. Besides above mentioned aspects, this Court,  having regard to the fact that the petitioner has  raised   the   claim   and   initiated   present  proceedings, almost 20 years after the sad demise  of the employee, is, even otherwise, not inclined  to   entertain   present   proceedings   and   exercise  prerogative writ jurisdiction.  

50. Having regard to above mentioned aspects and  the   reasons   mentioned   above,   this   Court   is   not  inclined   to   entertain   this   petition.   The  petitioner,   if   she   wants   to   pursue   her   claim,  despite   passage   of   more   than   20   years,   then   th  petitioner   may   do   so   before   alternative   remedy  and appropriate forum, in accordance with law.  29 C/SCA/21069/2015 ORDER

51. It   is   clarified   that   the   observations   made  hereinabove   with   regard   to   issues   of   disputed  facts   are   mentioned   only   illustratively   to  demonstrate that the petition involves issues of  facts  which  are not  capable  of  adjudication  and  determination in writ jurisdiction.  However, the  said   narration   should   not   be   construed   as  expression   of   opinion   of   this   Court   on   merits  with regard to the said or other issues involved  in present case. It is clarified that this Court  has   not   expressed   any   opinion   with   regard   to  merits   of   the   petitioner's   claim   and/or   its  maintainability.  

With   the   aforesaid   clarifications   and  observations, the petition is disposed of.

(K.M.THAKER, J) BHARAT   30