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[Cites 7, Cited by 0]

Gujarat High Court

Rupal P Gandhi vs State Of Gujarat & 2 on 4 August, 2016

Author: J.B.Pardiwala

Bench: J.B.Pardiwala

                    C/SCA/6386/2002                                                    JUDGMENT




                       IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

                          SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION  NO. 6386 of 2002

          
         FOR APPROVAL AND SIGNATURE: 
          
          
         HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE J.B.PARDIWALA

         ==========================================================

         1      Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see                           NO
                the judgment ?

         2      To be referred to the Reporter or not ?                                           NO

         3      Whether their Lordships wish to see the fair copy of the                          NO
                judgment ?

         4      Whether this case involves a substantial question of law as                       NO
                to   the   interpretation  of   the   Constitution  of   India  or   any 
                order made thereunder ?

         ==========================================================
                                   RUPAL P GANDHI....Petitioner(s)
                                             Versus
                               STATE OF GUJARAT  &  2....Respondent(s)
         ==========================================================
         Appearance:
         MR PH PATHAK, ADVOCATE for the Petitioner(s) No. 1
         MS MANISHA L. SHAH, GOVERNMENT PLEADER WITH MR SWAPNESHWAR 
         GOUTAM, AGP for the Respondent(s) No. 1 ­ 2
         MR PREMAL R JOSHI, ADVOCATE for the Respondent(s) No. 3
         ==========================================================

             CORAM: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE J.B.PARDIWALA
          
                                            Date : 04/08/2016 
                                            ORAL JUDGMENT

1. By this writ­application under Article 226 of the Constitution of  India,   the   writ­applicant   a   former   Medical   Officer   has   prayed   for   the  following reliefs:­ Page 1 of 12 HC-NIC Page 1 of 12 Created On Wed Aug 10 01:25:12 IST 2016 C/SCA/6386/2002 JUDGMENT 18(A) to issue an oder writ in the nature of mandamus and/or Certiorari or   other appropriate writ, order or direction, declaring the impugned decision of   respondent to terminate the services of petitioner vide order dt 8.2.2002 as   arbitrary,   illegal,   unjust   and   in   violation   of   Articles   14   &   16   of   the   Constitution of India and principles of natural justice and fair play and be   pleased   to   quash   and   set   aside   the   same   and   direct   the   respondents   to   reinstate the petitioner in service with all consequential benefits.

(B) to declare that there is no justification available to the respondents to   discontinue   the   petitioner   from   service   and   declare   that   the   powers   are   exercised   malafide   by   the   respondent   authority,   therefore,   be   pleased   to   quash and set aside the termination of petitioner and direct the respondents   to reinstate the petitioner in service with special cost and compensation and   pay all arrears to the petitioner with 18% interest.

(C)   pending   admission   and   final   disposal   of   this   petition,   be   pleased   to   suspend further implementation and operation of the order of termination of   petitioner  and direct  respondents  to reinstate  the  petitioner  in service  and   allow the petitioner to discharge his duties.

(D)  any   other   relief   to  which  this   Hon'ble   Court   deems  fit   and  proper  in   interest of justice together with cost.

AMENDED AS PER COURT'S ORDER DATED 06/02/2007:­ 18(AA)   to   declare   the   impugned   decision   on   the   part   of   respondents   to   discontinue  the   petitioner  from  service   w.e.f.31.03.2005   as   illegal,  unjust,   arbitrary   and   be   pleased   to   quash   and   set   aside   the   same   and   direct   respondents to reinstate the petitioner in service and grant all consequential   benefits as if she was not terminated.

(BB) to declare that applicant was illegally denied appointment to the post of   Medical Officer and continued to treat her as adhoc without any justification   and thereby terminated her services on the ground of being adhoc appointee,   as illegal, unjust, arbitrary and be pleased to quash and set aside the same   and direct opponents to treat applicant as appointed on the regular post of   Medical Officer pursuant to selection conducted in 1995 and further direct   opponents  to give  retrospective  effect  of appointment  to the  applicant   and   grant her all consequential benefits & pay arrears with 18% interest.

(CC) pending admission and final disposal of this application be pleased to  direct   the   opponents   to   reinstate   the   applicant   in   service   forthwith   and  allow her to discharge duties.

2. The case of the writ­applicant may be summarized as under:­ 2.1 On   04/12/1991,   by   an   office   order   issued   by   the   Director   of  Page 2 of 12 HC-NIC Page 2 of 12 Created On Wed Aug 10 01:25:12 IST 2016 C/SCA/6386/2002 JUDGMENT Medical Services E.S.I. Scheme, the writ­applicant was appointed as the  Insurance   Medical   Officer,   Class­II   in   the   Rajkot   Region   of   the   E.S.I.  Scheme purely on temporary and adhoc basis for a period of one year.

2.2 By an order dated 08/02/2002, the services of the writ­applicant  came   to   be   terminated.   In   such   circumstances,   she   came   before   this  Court with the present writ­application.

3. On 11/03/2003, the following order was passed. 

Heard. Mr.Pathak for the petitioner and Mr.Mehta, Ld. AGP for respondents   on   the   question   of   interim   relief.   The   contention   raised   on   behalf   of   the   petitioner   is   that   juniors   to   the   petitioner   are   continued   in   service   whose   details are mentioned on page 49. Mr.Pathak submitted that the petitioner is   also   ready   to   work   as   adhoc   Insurance   Medical   Officer­Cl.II,   more   particularly, when the juniors to the petitioner are  retained  in  service. Ld.   AGP has fairly admitted that the post is vacant as on today and so far as the   regular  selection  of the petitioner  is  concerned  since  her  name  was  in the   waiting list at Sl.No.19 and the said list was operated upto Sl.No.14 but he   submitted that the said list has expired upon the expiry of period of two years   the GPSC did not clear the name of the petitioner. However, the Ld. AGP has   not   been   able   to   dispute   the   contention   that   juniors   to   petitioner   whose   names are mentioned on page 49 to are even  today  continued  in  service  as   adhoc  Insurance Medical Officers­Cl.II.

           

2. Having considered the above, in my view that when the post is vacant and   at one point of time the  name  of the  petitioner  also  came  to  be  included   in   the   GPSC   waiting   list   and   when   the   juniors   to   petitioner   are   also   continued   as   Insurance   Medical   Officers­Cl.II   on   adhoc   basis   and   the   petitioner is also ready and willing to work on adhoc basis no prejudice will   be caused to anyone if the petitioner is also offered the work on adhoc basis   as Insurance Medical Officer­Cl.II until the outcome of this petition and also   subject   to   the   terms   and   conditions   as   stated   hereinafter.          

           

3. In view of the above, I am inclined to pass the following interim order:

     
"By  way of interim order it is directed that the respondents shall offer work   to   the   petitioner   on   adhoc   basis   as   Insurance   Medical   Officer­Cl.II   which   shall   be   subject   to   the   outcome   of   this   petition   and   also   subject   to   clarification     that   it     will     be   open   to   the   respondents   to   terminate   or   discontinue the  services  of  the  petitioner even  on  adhoc  basis if regularly   selected GPSC candidate is available or if it decides to terminate the services   of adhoc appointees on the post of Insurance Medical Officers­Cl.II subject to   fulfilling the principle of last come first go and as per the said principle the   service of the petitioner is also required to be terminated."
Page 3 of 12

HC-NIC Page 3 of 12 Created On Wed Aug 10 01:25:12 IST 2016 C/SCA/6386/2002 JUDGMENT DS permitted.

4. Pursuant   to   the   interim   order   passed   by   this   Court,   the   writ­ applicant   was   reinstated   in   service.   Once   again   vide   order   dated  31/03/2005, her services came to be terminated. This writ­application  was   accordingly   amended   and  the  order   dated  31/03/2005  has   been  made a subject matter of challenge. 

5. On behalf of the respondents, an affidavit­in­reply has been filed  interalia explaining the factual position as under:­

3. I say that the petitioner was appointed on adhoc basis for the post of   Medical   Officer   vide   order   dated   4.12.1991   with   certain   terms   and   conditions.   The   condition   Nos.8   and   15   of   the   said   order   say   that   the   appointment to the post is purely temporary and the services are liable to be   terminated   at   any   time   without   any   notice   and   without   assigning   any   reason.  I  say  that  the  extension   of  the   appointment  of  the   petitioner  was   made  upto  31.12.1995.  I say that  the  petitioner  appeared  in the  Gujarat   Public Service Commission examination and was selected. I say that the name   of the petitioner was entered in the waiting list. I further say that the said   waiting   list   was   valid   only   upto   a   stipulated   time.   I   say   that   as   per   the   Government   Resolution   dated   27.12.1983,   it   is   clearly   provided   that   the   waiting list will be valid only upto that particular year. I also say that it is   provided in the Government  Resolution that no appointment  will be made   from the said waiting list in the next year when a requisition is made by the   Government. (Hereto annexed and marked as Annexure­RI is the Government   Resolution dated 27.12.1983.)

4. I   say   that   the   period   of   the   waiting   list   as   provided   by   the   Government Resolution was over. Therefore, the petitioner no longer has a   right for being appointed on the said post. I say that since the period of her   adhoc appointment had also got over, the Government asked for concurrence   of   the   Gujarat   Public   Service   Commission   for   extension   of   the   period   of   appointment of the petitioner as per Gujarat Public Service (Exemption from   Consultation) Regulation. I say that the Gujarat Public Service Commission   did   not   give   concurrence   for   the   extension   of   the   appointment   of   the   petitioner   and   communicated   not   to   extend   her   services.   Therefore,   the   Government resolved to discontinue the adhoc services of the petitioner.

5. I say that there is no question of seniority amongst the petitioner and   other   similarly   situated   persons.   Therefore,   there   is   no   question   of   any   discrimination meted out against the petitioner. Moreover, I say that when   the petitioner proceeded on medical leave she did not resume her duty after   completion of her medical leave and she did not care for assuming her duty   Page 4 of 12 HC-NIC Page 4 of 12 Created On Wed Aug 10 01:25:12 IST 2016 C/SCA/6386/2002 JUDGMENT for a longer period. The petitioner has remained absent for a period of 952   days, the details of which are as under:­ Sr.  Name of the Institution from  Period  Total  No. which the certificate issued. cert. 

Days 1 Civil Hospital, Gandhidham 25.8.97 to 23.9.97 30 2 Civil Hospital, Gandhidham 24.9.97 to 23.10.97 30 3 Civil Hospital, Gandhidham 24.10.97 to 23.11.97 30 4 Civil Hospital, Gandhidham 24.11.97 to 23.12.97 30 5 Dr. R.S. Khatri, Gandhidham 24.12.97 to 22.01.98 30 6 Patel Hospital, Gandhidham 23.01.98 to 23.02.98 30 (Dr. Hemang Patel) 7 Patel Hospital, Gandhidham 24.02.98 to 25.03.98 30 (Dr. Hemang Patel) 8 Patel Hospital, Gandhidham 26.03.98 to 24.04.98 30 (Dr. Hemang Patel) 9 Prashanthi   Ortho.   Hosp.,  25.04.98 to 30.06.98 67 Gandhidham (Dr. H.C. Hotchandani) 10 Dr. Amit C. Gandhi, Rajkot 01.07.98 to 30.09.98 92 11 Prashanthi   Ortho.   Hosp.,  01.10.98 to 31.10.98 31 Gandhidham (Dr. H.C. Hotchandani) 12 Dr. P.N. Joshi, Manavadar 01.11.98 to 30.11.98 30 13 Dr. P.N. Joshi, Manavadar 01.12.98 to 31.12.98 31 Therefore, it is clear that she is not serious about her work. I, therefore, say   that she has no right to complain before this Hon'ble Court that her services   are wrongly terminated and she should be reinstated in service.

6. I say that it is held in catena of judgments by this Hon'ble Court that   an adhoc employee does not have any right to the post. I, therefore, say that   the   present   petition   is   devoid   of   any   merit   and,   therefore,   requires   no   interference by this Hon'ble Court.(Hereto annexed and marked as Annexure­ RII is the copy of one such judgment deciding the very issue in Special Civil   Application No.807 of 2001.) 

6. The   additional   affidavit­in­reply   filed   on   behalf   of   the   State   of  Gujarat is as under:­

3. I say and submit that the petitioner was appointed on purely adhoc   basis   for   the   post   of   Insurance   Medical   Officer,   Class­II   vide   Government   order dated 4/12/1991 in which the condition No.8 & 15 of the said order   specify  that  the  post  is purely temporary  and the  services  are liable to be   terminated   at   any   time   without   any   notice   and   without   assigning   any   Page 5 of 12 HC-NIC Page 5 of 12 Created On Wed Aug 10 01:25:12 IST 2016 C/SCA/6386/2002 JUDGMENT reasons.   Annexed   hereto   and   marked   as   Annexure­I   is   the   copy   of   the   appointment order.

4. I say and submit that the post of Insurance Medical Officers, Class­II   was advertised by GPSC to fill up the 77 vacancies under different categories   under E.S.I. Scheme, Gujarat. The said candidate was not in the selection list   but   she   was   kept   in   waiting   list   against   the   Sr.   No.19.   The   GPSC   has   recommended only 67 candidates including 01 S.T., 06 S.E.B.C. And 07 S.C.   Candidates. Considering the number of vacancies under different categories   and selection made accordingly. The GPSC recommended for only selected 67   candidates   and   they   were   appointed   by   the   Government.   Against   the   appointment orders of 67 candidates, 14 candidates did not join their duties   under E.S.I. Scheme, Gujarat.

5. I   say   and   submit   that   there   is   a   policy   to   operate   waiting   list.   Annexed hereto and marked as Annexure­II is the copy of the circular dated   27/12/1983. The rules say that if a selected candidate does not join his duty   or he gives up       job during his probation period, the candidates from the   waiting   list   can   be   asked   for   from   GPSC.   Hence,   as   per   the   rules   and   prescribed   procedure   of   the   Government   of   Gujarat   the   Government   has   asked for the waiting list to fill up the 14 posts of Class­II, Medical Officer on   which the selected candidates were ordered to join the duty but did not join   their duties. As the petitioner was selected under the categories of waiting list   against the Sr. No.19. The waiting list can be operated only within 2 years   after   the   selection.   The   said   waiting   list   expired   on   30 th  June,   1997.   Therefore, the question of appointment order to the petitioner does not arise   at all.

6. I   say   and   submit   that   as   per   GPSC   CONSULTATION   RULES,   it   is   necessary to get consent from GPSC for the continuation in case of more than   one year ad­hoc service. In this case the petitioners' services were continued   till December 31, 1995 with the consultation of GPSC. Then the procedure   was started. She was transferred at Nadiad from Jamnagar and she joined at   Nadiad on 7th  August, 1997. She had been absent from her duty from 25th  August, 1997. It was necessary to get her confidential assessment work report   for the continuation of ad­hoc services. She continued her absence from 25th  August, 1997. She willingly continued her absence giving the reason of her   sickness till 31st  December, 1998. However, she never tried to join her duty   again and continued her absence. She was given notice   however she did nto   care to join the duty.

7. I say and submit that after getting her confidential assessment work   report   the   proposal   was   sent   to   GPSC   for   consent.   But   because   of   her   irregular services the consent was not received. The said post is a Gazetted   post   and   it   is   difficult   to   continue   ad­hoc   services   without   the   consent   of   GPSC. Annexed hereto and marked as Annexure­III is the copy of the letter   dated 17/2/2002 from the GPSC.

8. I say and submit that for the continuation of ad­hoc doctors or the   discontinuation   of   their   services,   the   question   of   seniority   arise   under   the   circumstances   when   the   regularity   of   the   doctors   and   their   reports   are   satisfactory.



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HC-NIC                                        Page 6 of 12        Created On Wed Aug 10 01:25:12 IST 2016
                   C/SCA/6386/2002                                                            JUDGMENT



I say and submit that for discontinuation of the services, it is not only   the seniority which plays role regularity, sincerity and dedication towards the   job   is   utmost   important   as   the   candidate   is   performing   his/her   duties   is   directly related to the health of the common men, absence of any one of this   there is a direct impact of the health of common men. Such factors who also   play role in discontinuation of the services.

9. I say and submit that the petitioner was declared fit before which she   almost enjoyed total 992 days of leave after that she resume her duty almost   after a year which is enough to prove her regularity and keenness towards   the job. 

I say and submit that there was no communication gap at all. When   she came to join her duty on 21 st January, 1999, the Officer in­charge guided   her to contact at the Directorate for the joining of her duties. But in spite of   that petitioner has reported the directorate office on 30/3/2000 i.e. almost   after   a   year.   The   Directorate   immediately   issued   the   necessary   orders   for   which   she   can   resume   her   duty   and   the   petitioner   has   reported   her   duty   immediately   after   that.   This   is   sufficient   to   prove   that   there   was   no   discrimination malafide intention against the petitioner but one has to carry   out the activities/ procedure prescribed rules of the Government. Government   has   sanctioned   her   leaves   from   24/9/1997   to   2/4/2000   vide   No.KRV/102001­1014­Ch,   dated   1/8/2002   on   after   termination   of   her   service.   This   also   shows   that   there   was   no   discrimination   against   the   petitioner.

10. I say and submit that the petitioner's service were terminated because   of her negligence  in joining  duty a fall absence  for long  period as per the   recommendation of the GPSC.

11. I   say   and   submit   that   the   details   of   selection   process   and   the   appointment through GPSC has been already narrated in Para No.2.

I say and submit that the say of the petitioner is not correct as it is   already made clear that when she resume the duty she was correctly guided   to contact   the  directorate  office  to carry  out  formalities.  But  she  her  own   turned   up   almost   after   a   gap   of   one   year.   As   soon   as   she   reported   the   Directorate office on 30/3/2000 on the same day the directorate office has   issued necessary  order  to join the duties  and she reported  for the duty on   3/4/2000.   This   is   suffice   to   say   that   there   was   no   discrimination   or   communication gap.

7. The last affidavit dated 26/12/2012 filed by the State Government  states as under:­

3. I say and submit that the Gujarat Public Commission had published   an advertisement non:­72/1995 of total 77 Insurance Medical Officer­II on   dated 31.07.1994, which are as under:­ Page 7 of 12 HC-NIC Page 7 of 12 Created On Wed Aug 10 01:25:12 IST 2016 C/SCA/6386/2002 JUDGMENT Sr. Category Post No. 1 Ganeral Category 57 2 Scheduled Cast 6 3 Scheduled Tribe 11 4 S.E.B.C. 3 Total 77

4. I say and  submit  that  the  GPSC  had  published  the  final  result  on   06.06.1995,  wherein the  following  candidates  were  included  in select  list/   waiting list:­ Sr. Category Select list Waiting list No. 1 Ganeral Category 57 27 2 Scheduled Cast 6 13 3 Scheduled Tribe 11 0 4 S.E.B.C. 3 3 Total 77 43

5. I say and submit that as the petitioner belongs to General Category,   the details of the Insurance Medical Officer­II belonging to general Category   are as under:­ Sr. Subject Date Vacancies  No. (General  Category) 1 Selected candidates by GPSC 01/07/95 57 2 Duty joined by candidates 02/08/95 44 3 Post of IMO (class­II) remain Vacant 13 4 1st Requisition to GPSC for vacant post 19.07.1996 12(*) 5 Out of 12 candidate 08 had joined  02/12/96 8 6 Post of IMO (Class­II) remain vacant 4 7 2nd Requisition to GPSC for vacant post 03/04/97 4 8 Out of 04 candidate 03 had joined  3 9 Post of IMO (Class­II) remain vacant 1 10 3rd Requisition to GPSC for vacant post 27.05.1997 1 11 Candidate joined the duty 20.08.1997 1 12 Total (12+4+1)= 17 (*) Total   13   post   were   vacant   but,   by   inadvertent   calculations   made   Page 8 of 12 HC-NIC Page 8 of 12 Created On Wed Aug 10 01:25:12 IST 2016 C/SCA/6386/2002 JUDGMENT requisition   for   12   posts   were   called   for.   Therefore,   total   17   names   from   waiting list of General Category were called for from GPSC.

6. I say and submit that looking to the above facts that the Health and   Family Welfare Department had operated waiting list for 3 times and called   for total 17 names from general Category. Out of 12 names to be called for   requisition, 01 name which was inadvertently not called for. The 01 name   which was not operated at the first time even if the names from the waiting   list have been called for after calculation of 13 names  even than the total   upto   Sr.   No.18   candidate's   list   could   be   operated.   I   further   say   that   the   petitioner was kept on waiting list at sr. no.19.

7. I   further   say   and   submit   that   the   petitioner   has   claimed   that   01   candidate   named   Dr.   Shirish   Gandhi   had   resigned   from   his   duty   on   04.06.1996; this name could have been included in the first requisition made   to GPSC. It is to clarify that Dr. Shirish Gandhi  had resumed his duty on   02.08.1995 at Ankleshwar after being selected by GPSC. His resignation was   sanctioned on 04.06.1996. He tendered his resignation after resumption of   his duty. Therefore, the post of Dr. Gandhi cannot be considered as vacant as   he  has  already  resumed,  and  thereafter  resigned  and  by that  way  he  has   utilized that  post, which  was  advertised  by the  Government  and the  same   post can be considered vacant only for the next requisition/ Advertisement of   the   State   Government.   Moreover,   once   the   candidate   has   resumed   and   resigned on particular post than such names from the waiting list cannot be   called for because  names  from the waiting  list can only be called for only   when there is vacant post, where the candidates who have been given orders   to   resume   to   duty   and   has   not   resumed   the   duty.   Thus,   the   post   of   Dr.   Gandhi under consideration cannot be termed as vacant post and the name   of the petitioner cannot be called for form waiting list from GPSC.

8. I further  say and  submit  that  the  petitioner  has  also  claimed  that   another 01 candidate named Dr. Umesh Shah had resigned from his duty on   28.5.1997; this name could have been included in the requisition made to   GPSC.  It is to clarify that Dr. Umesh Shah had also resumed his duty on   08.10.1995 at D­31, ESIS, Ahmedabad after being selected by GPSC. He had   resumed   the   duty   and   after   that   he   tendered   his   resignation   which   was   accepted   and   sanctioned  on  28.05.1997.   Therefore,  the  post  of  [Dr.  Shah   cannot be considered as vacant as he has already resumed, and then after   resigned, and by that way he was utilized that post, which was advertised by   the  Government  and  the  same  post can be considered  vacant  for  the  next   requisition/ advertisement of the State Government. Dr. Shah had resumed   his duty on:­ 08.10.1995, he resigned on: 28.05.1997 and the requisition for   the vacant post was called on 27.05.1997. Moreover, once the candidate has   resumed   and   resigned   on   particular   post   for   such   post   names   from   the   waiting list cannot be called for because names from the waiting list can only   be called for when vacant post is available, where the candidates who have   been given orders to resume to duty and has not resumed the duty. Thus, the   post of Dr. Shah under consideration cannot be termed as vacant post and   the name of the petitioner cannot be called for from waiting list from GPSC.

9. I say and submit that, looking to the above facts, only 18 posts were   vacant at that time and 17 names have been called for, petitioner was kept   Page 9 of 12 HC-NIC Page 9 of 12 Created On Wed Aug 10 01:25:12 IST 2016 C/SCA/6386/2002 JUDGMENT on waiting list at Sr. no­19, thus, question does not arises to call her name   from waiting list from GPSC.

10. The petitioner was selected but was in the waiting list. The waiting   list remains in force for a period of two years from the date of its publication   or till the new list is published, whichever is earlier. The list was published in   June,   1995   and   was   therefore,   become   inoperative   in   June,   1997.   The   petitioner   was   not   appointed   till   June   1997   and   thereafter,   the   said   list   became   in   operative   since,   the   petitioner   was   placed   in   the   waiting   list,   therefore  it was not incumbent upon the State Government to give her an   appointment.

8. Thus, it appears that in the year 1995, the GPSC had issued an  advertisement for filling up 77 posts of the Insurance Medical Officer­II.  It   also   appears   that   pursuant   to   the   said   advertisement,   the   writ­ applicant had applied and was placed in the waiting­list at Sr. No.19.  The waiting­list was operated for three times. 17 candidates from the  waiting­list falling in the General Category were appointed. Before the  writ­applicant could be considered, the life of the waiting­list came to an  end. With that the entire recruitment came to an end. Despite the same,  the   writ­applicant   continued   in   service   as   an   adhoc   employee.   What  weighed with the authority in terminating her adhoc employment was  the leave of 992 days. She was found to be irregular in her work and  even after the expiry of the sanctioned leave, she did not resume and  remained unauthorizedly absent.  No misconduct has been alleged in the  simple   order   of   termination.   No   stigma   could   be   said   to   have   been  attached to such innocuous order of termination. If something has been  imputed   in   the   affidavit­in­reply   which   to   a   certain   extent   could   be  termed as stigmatic, it would not make an otherwise innocuous order  stigmatic in nature.

9. Ms. Kamani, the learned counsel has placed reliance on the two  decisions of the Supreme Court i.e.(i) in the case of 'Naseem Ahmad and  Others Vs. State of Uttar Pradesh and Another'  reported in  (2001) 2  SCC 734  and   (ii)   in   the   case   of   'State  of  Jammu  and Kashmir  and  Others Vs. Sat Pal' reported in (2013) 11 SCC 737.  Both the judgments  Page 10 of 12 HC-NIC Page 10 of 12 Created On Wed Aug 10 01:25:12 IST 2016 C/SCA/6386/2002 JUDGMENT are on the issue of operation of the waiting­list. In my view, both the  judgments are of no avail to the writ­applicant. 

 

10. Ms. Kamani,   the learned counsel also placed strong reliance on  the   decision   of   the   Supreme   Court   in   the   case   of  Balmer  Lawrie   &  Company Limited and Others Vs. Partha Sarathi Sen Roy and Others  reported in (2013) 8 SCC 345. The case before the Supreme Court was  one of a Government Company, an instrumentality of a 'State' within the  meaning   of   Article­12   of   the   Constitution.   The   respondent   employees  therein, were  terminated  in  view of  the  Clause  11(a)  of  the  letter  of  appointment   which   provided   that   the   company   would   have   a   right,  which would be exercised at its sole discretion, to terminate the services  of   such   employees   by   giving   them   three   calendar   months'   notice   in  writing, without assigning any reason for such decision. The respondent  challenged the said termination order by filing writ petition in the High  Court of Calcutta, praying for the issue of a writ of mandamus,  directing  that   the   said termination order be quashed. The High Court took the  view   that  the   company  was   neither   a  'State',   nor  any  other   authority  within the meaning of Article­12 of the Constitution, and thus the writ­ petition itself was not maintainable. The matter went to another learned  Single Judge, who took the view that the company was a State within  the meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution. The matter was referred to  a third Judge Bench who took the view  that the company was a 'State'  within   the   meaning   of   Article   12   of   the   Constitution.   The   Company  being aggrieved, carried the matter before the Supreme Court. 

11. The Supreme Court considered the Clause­11(a) of the letter of  appointment, which reads as under:­   Clause 11(a) of the letter of appointment reads as under:

"The Company shall have the right, at its sole discretion, to terminate your  services by giving you three calendar months notice in writing and without  Page 11 of 12 HC-NIC Page 11 of 12 Created On Wed Aug 10 01:25:12 IST 2016 C/SCA/6386/2002 JUDGMENT assigning any reason. The Company also reserves the right to pay you in  lieu   of   notice,   a   sum   by   way   of   compensation   equal   to   three   months  emoluments   consisting   of   basic   salary,   dearness   allowance,   house   rent  assistance and bonus entitlements, if any, after declaration of bonus".

12. In para­40, while declaring Clause­11 of the appointment letter as  violative of Article 14 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court observed  as under:­ Undoubtedly, the High Court has not dealt with the issue on merits with  respect   to   the   termination   of   the   services   of   the   respondents   herein.  However,   considering  the  fact  that  such  termination  took  place  several  decades ago, and litigation in respect of the same remained pending not  only before the High Court, but also before this Court, it is desirable that  the dispute come to quietus. Therefore, we have dealt with the case on  merits. In keeping with this, we cannot approve the "hire and fire" policy  adopted   by   the   appellant   company,   and   the   terms   and   conditions  incorporated   in   the   Manual   of   Officers   in   1976,   cannot   be   held   to   be  justifiable, and the same being arbitrary, cannot be enforced. In such a  fact­situation,   clause­11   of   the   appointment   letter   is   held   to   be   an  unconscionable clause, and thus  the  Service  Condition Rules are held to  be violative of Article­14 of the Constitution to this extent. The contract of  employment is also held to be void to such extent.

13. The   Court   also   considered   the   other   terms   and   conditions  incorporated in the Manual of Officers and found to be unreasonable. In  the facts of that case, the contract of employment was ultimately held to  be void to a certain extent. This judgment also in my view is of no avail  of the writ­applicant. 

14. In   view   of   the   above,   this   writ­application   fails   and   is   hereby  rejected. Rule is discharged. 

(J.B.PARDIWALA, J.)  aruna Page 12 of 12 HC-NIC Page 12 of 12 Created On Wed Aug 10 01:25:12 IST 2016