Allahabad High Court
Mirja Barkat Ali vs Inspector General Of Police, Allahabad ... on 24 May, 2002
Equivalent citations: 2002(3)AWC2339, (2002)2UPLBEC1871
Author: R.B. Misra
Bench: R.B. Misra
JUDGMENT R.B. Misra, J.
1. In this writ petition, the petitioner has prayed to quash the orders dated 4.7.1996, 19.2.1998 and 26.3.1998 (Annexures-7A, 9 and 10 to the writ petition), i.e., dismissal order dated 4.7.1996 (Annexure-7A) by S.S.P., order dated 19.2.1998 (Annexure-9) rejecting the appeal by D.I.G. and order dated 26.3.1998 (Annexure-10) rejecting the revision by Inspector General of Police.
Heard Sri K. M. Misra, learned counsel for the petitioner as well as learned standing counsel for the respondents.
2. The brief facts necessary for adjudication of the writ petition are that the petitioner is a permanent constable of Civil Police and after putting more than 22 years in service on transfer from Allahabad to Jalaun was supposed to join on 12.7.1995. It appears that petitioner got ill and information about his illness was given to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Allahabad on 10.7.1995 through U.P.C., on request of the petitioner's wife, the D.I.G. stayed the transfer order on 31.7.1995 for a period of one year. On submission of a medical certificate of Dr. D. K. Srivastava, of M.L.N. Medical College, Allahabad, the petitioner was allowed to join on 29.10.1995. It appears a preliminary enquiry was conducted on 19.12.1996 by the Assistant Superintendent of Police {Annexure-1 to the writ petition) and a decision was taken to permit the petitioner to avail leave without pay for 109 days, i.e., from 4.7.1995 to 29.10.1995 with censure notice. The petitioner was served with a charge-sheet on 27.1.1996 mainly on the ground that he was absented from the duty for 109 days without giving information to the respondents committed negligence and dereliction in duty. The reply of the petitioner was submitted before the Inquiry Officer on 26.2.1996. The Inquiry Officer in his inquiry report, recommended for a minor punishment of reduction to the minimum in the petitioner's pay scale for a period of three years (Annexure -5 to the writ petition). The disciplinary authority, Superintendent of Police, Allahabad disagreeing with the Inquiry report, issued a show cause notice dated 27.4.1996 to the petitioner for a major punishment of dismissal, after obtaining the reply of the petitioner on 25.5,1996, the disciplinary authority by its order dated 4.7.1996 (Annexure-7A) disagreeing with the inquiry report, inflicted major penalty of dismissal, without examining the concerned doctor or to get his certificate verified by the C.M.O. (Chief Medical Officer) by its order dated 4.7.1996. The departmental appeal preferred by the petitioner was also dismissed on 19.2.1998 by the D. I. G., Allahabad Range (Annexure-9 to the writ petition) affirming the dismissal order. The revision preferred against the said order was also dismissed on 26.3.1998 by Inspector General of Police, Allahabad Zone (Annexure-10 to the writ petition). These three orders are impugned in the present writ petition.
3. The counter-affidavit has been filed on behalf of the respondents. According to the counter-affidavit, the petitioner neither informed nor applied for any kind of leave for his ailment and remained absent continuously even on information dates of inquiry for 8.3.1996 and 15.3.1996, the petitioner did not turn up where he was expected to produce the evidence and submit the names and address of witnesses for cross-examination. It was pointed out that the petitioner had submitted a letter dated 27.3.1996 saying that he might not place any other defence except the reply dated 22.2.1996. According to the respondents, the petitioner was given sufficient opportunity but, he neither produced any evidence in his defence nor participated in the enquiry proceedings. It has been averred In the counter-affidavit that the petitioner was in a habit of making absence for which he was punished several times for his unauthorised absence. Therefore, the inquiry officer was correct in giving his report on available records and the Disciplinary Authority was fully justified in passing the punishment order.
4. It has also been contended on behalf of the respondents that since the petitioner had remained absent from duty against the service conduct rules, he had been removed from the service. It has also been asserted that the quantum of punishment is not disproportionate on the gravity of the misconduct.
5. The petitioner has tried to assail the findings recorded by the disciplinary authority as well as appellate authority negativing the defence set up by the petitioner. I have carefully perused the enquiry report as well as the orders passed by the disciplinary authority as well as the appellate authority. The concurrent findings rejecting the defence of the petitioner are based on an appraisal of evidence and materials on the record which findings do not appear to suffer from any such legal infirmity which may justify, interference by this Court exercise the extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.
6. It has been urged on behalf of the petitioner that the punishment awarded to the petitioner for his unauthorised absence for a period of 109 days in the circumstances of the case is grossly disproportionate to the gravity of the misconduct. The petitioner's service is, governed by the provisions contained in the Police Act, 1861 and the provisions contained in the Police Regulations framed thereunder as applicable in the State of U. P. as well as the provisions contained in U. P. Subordinate Police Officers (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1991.
7. A perusal of the provisions contained in Section 7 of the Police Act indicate that the Inspector-General, Deputy Inspector General, Assistant Inspector-General and District Superintendent of Police may at any time dismiss, suspend or remove any police officer of the subordinate ranks who they shall think remiss or negligent in the discharge of his duty or unfit for the same. The provisions contained in the aforesaid section further provide that the said authorities may award any one or more of the punishment specified therein to any police officer of the subordinate rank who will discharge their duty in a careless or negligent manner or who by any act of his own shall render himself unfit for the discharge thereof. Under the aforesaid provision, the nature of the remissness or negligence which will entail in dismissal and the nature of remissness or negligence which may entail awarding of the lesser punishment provided for in the second part of the section have not been indicated and the question of determining in the quantum of punishment commensurate with the gravity of the remissness or negligence, etc., is left subject to the provisions contained in the Regulations at the discretion of the punishment authority.
8. In the rejoinder-affidavit, the arguments of writ petition were reiterated.
9. It has been contended on behalf of the petitioner that on the basis of the sole allegation (hat the petitioner absented himself from the duty for 109 days without any information, the punishment of dismissal is too harsh and excessive, particularly in view of the petitioner's explanation that he had been under medical treatment during the said period. In reference to the above submission, the petitioner has placed reliance on Union of India and others v. Girt Raj Sharma, AIR 1994 SC 215, where the punishment of dismissal on the ground of overstaying leave period by employee subsequent to order of rejection of application for extension of leave was taken as no wilful intention to flout the order and the punishment was treated as harsh and disproportionate and the relief of reinstatement with all monetary and service benefits granted with liberty to visit minor punishment by the department.
10. In Syed Zahir Hassain v. Union of India and others, 1999 (2) AWC 1183 (SC) : JT 1999 (1) SC 319, as observed in decision of this Court rendered by a Division Bench in the case of Lalta Prasad v. Inspector General of Police and others, AIR 1954 All 438. The use of the word 'think' in Section 7 referred to above is somewhat deliberate. As clarified by this Court in the aforesaid decision, the process by which the authorities mentioned in Section 7 of the Act must 'think' have been indicated by the regulations and it is through the essential process as prescribed in the regulations that they are required to arrive at their thought.
11. It may further be noticed that the provisions contained in the regulations clearly indicate that the punishment authority, while determining the quantum of punishment, has to consider whether the punishment to be inflicted is absolutely necessary in the interest of discipline and whether the delinquent has become incorrigible or that his conduct has rendered his retention in the force undesirable.
12. Obviously, therefore, there has to be an application of mind to assess as to whether the punishment proposed is commensurate to the gravity of the misconduct and as to whether the delinquent has become incorrigible and his retention in the force is undesirable. In this connection, it will not be out of place to notice that in the exercise of disciplinary jurisdiction in departmental proceedings, punishment is not and cannot be the 'end' in itself. The punishment for the sake of punishment is never contemplated. It should not be overlooked that ordinarily the main purpose of a punishment is to correct the fault of the employee concerned by making him more alert in the future and to hold out a warning to the other employees to be careful in the discharge of their duties so that they may not expose themselves to similar punishment. The degree of the severity of the punishment varies with the gravity of the misconduct.
13. As observed by this Court in its decisions in the case of Shamsher Bahadur Singh v. State of U. P. and others, (1993) UPLBEC 488, ordinarily the maximum penalty resulting in an economic death of an employee could be awarded only in cases of grave charges where lesser punishment would be inadequate and may not have any curative effect or where the charge is such that in the exigencies of the case, a lesser punishment may not be found fit in the interest of administration or where considering the charge and the conduct of the delinquent indicating his incorrigibility and complete unfitness for police* service ; it becomes necessary to dispense with the services of the delinquent.
14. In Syed Zahir Hussain v. Union of India and others. 1999 (2) AWC 1183 (SO : JT J999 (1) SC 319. the appellant therein was absent from duty from 9.1.1985 to 15.1.1985 unauthorisedly. When he tried to resume his duties, he was placed under suspension and after departmental enquiry, he was dismissed from service. The petitioner went to the Tribunal, which took a view that the punishment of dismissal was grossly disproportionate but declined to interfere in exercising of its jurisdiction. The Supreme Court after having considered the facts and circumstances of the case viewed that "the punishment of dismissal from service is too harsh and on the contrary, it is required to be substituted by an appropriate lesser punishment." With these observations, the Supreme Court passed the following order :
"In our view, ends of justice will be served if we set aside the order of dismissal of the appellant and instead direct reinstatement of the appellant in service with continuity and with all other benefits save and except withdrawing 50 per cent of back wages from the date of dismissal, i.e., 11.10.1988 till today. In our view, this punishment which will involve substantial monetary loss to the appellant will meet the ends of justice and will be a sufficient corrective measure for the appellant. The request of learned counsel for the respondents that two future increments may also be withheld without cumulative effect does not appear to us to be justified on the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case. In our view, the aforesaid monetary loss to the appellant will meet the ends of justice so that he may be careful in future. It is ordered accordingly."
15. In case of R. N. Mail u. Union of India and another, 1994 (3) ESC 162 (All), the petitioner was a military personnel granted leave from 20.8.1985 to 2.9.1985 to visit his village in District Azamgarh to see his ailing mother who became more serious and shifted to Gola Bazar, Gorakhpur. The petitioner, who had to attend his mother, applied for extension of his leave, which was expiring on 2.9.1985 ; the petitioner received no communication from the respondents, he suffered mental stroke due to illness of his mother and family feud. The petitioner was dismissed from service on the charge of desertion. This Court, after having considered the facts and circumstances of that case, found as under :
"The punishment awarded to the petitioner, if tested on the doctrine of proportionality, is not commensurate with the gravity of the charges levelled against him. hence the punishment of dismissal is arbitrary and is, therefore, violative of the provisions of Article 14 of the Constitution of India."
With the above findings, the Court quashed the Impugned orders of dismissal with the liberty to the opposite parties to award any minor punishment to the petitioner of that case without holding any further inquiry.
16. The identical controversy arose in Writ Petition No. 11850 of 1994, Satyendra Singh v. Union of India and another, decided on 29.7.1997. In that case, the petitioner was absent from service for 44 days for which he was subjected to inquiry and thereafter punishment of removal from service was imposed. This Court applying the ratio of the decision in R. N. Mall's case (supra), came to the conclusion that the punishment of removal appears to be disproportionate and excessive in the background that the petitioner had absented himself without leave for 44 days on account of illness of his mother of which he has submitted Medical Certificate, resultantly the order of removal, being unsustainable in law, was set aside with liberty to the respondents other than removal or dismissal.
17. The petitioner has referred the above judgment of N. K. Musafir Yadau v. Commandant 47. Bn. C. R. P. F. Gandhi Nagar (Gujarat) and another, 2001 ESC 1701 (All), where this Court has held that the petitioner a constable in C. R. P. F. proceeded on leave and reported for duty having overstayed 60 days after expiry of sanctioned leave because he was to appear before Judicial Magistrate, who without having affording opportunity of defence convicted him and same day the commandant passed order of dismissal on charge of overstaying the leave, though he had sent an application for extension of leave with medical certificate, the order of dismissal was treated disproportionate and excessive arbitrary and unsustainable and were liable to be replaced by a minor punishment with reinstatement with 50% of emoluments (back wages) C. R. P. F. Act.
18. In Narendra Kumar Jain v. Food Corporation of India and others, 2001 (3) AWC 2157 : 2001 (3) UPLBEC 2121, where this Court had observed that the order of dismissal on ground of charge of misconduct, allegations that petitioner failed to serve corporation honestly and sincerely, he did not supervise depot operation, etc., which caused damages to stocks kept therein, etc. etc., this order was found to be unjust and unfair, because it was passed merely on the basis of inspection note and without considering facts that at that time petitioner was on leave and there was corresponding responsibilities of supervisory staff, from which petitioner could not get desired assistance. The High Court in such situation could interfere with order of punishment, as petitioner was not solely responsible for alleged misconduct. In the instant case, extreme penalty of dismissal was not warranted and order of dismissal, therefore, not warranted. According to (Para 4) of Narendra Kumar's (supra). it cannot be gainsaid that this Court does not exercise the power of superintendence over the respondents under Article 227 of the Constitution but nevertheless the order impugned herein was open to judicial review under Article 226 of the Constitution. This Court did not hesitate in interfering in case and in impugned order which were passed in unjust and unfair manner or i.e., there has been a grave error in the decision making process itself. Therefore, powers of the High Court to convert order of punishment under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, awarding the punishment was taken in domain of disciplinary authority although the normally High Court does not enter into domain of disciplinary authority, but in the instant case order of dismissal of the petitioner was found to be disproportionate and extreme therefore, High Court converted it into compulsory retirement, keeping in view the fact that petitioner had attained retirement and also in view of ends of justice. According to (para 5) of Narendra Kumar (supra), this Court had observed that it would meet the ends of justice if the order of punishment of dismissal be converted into one of compulsory retirement as the Court was conscious of the legal position that normally it is within the domain of the disciplinary authority as to what punishment should be awarded and in case the Court finds that punishment in a given case is disproportionate to the misconduct, it should normally leave it to the punishment authority to award appropriate punishment but upon regard being had to the chequered history of the case and the fact that the petitioner had already attained the age of superannuation coupled with the fact that the incident giving rise to this case dates back to the year 1985, the Court considered that it would meet the ends of justice if the petitioner be compulsorily retired w.e.f. 29.9.1988 not as a measure of punishment but on the ground of being as dead wood.
19. It has been contended on behalf of the petitioner that the disciplinary authority disagreed with the finding of the Inquiry Officer recommending minor punishment to the petitioner on the assessment of the proved charges, without any reason, whatsoever. Impugned order stands vitiated on this score alone. In this respect, learned counsel for the petitioner has relied upon the judgment Punjab National Bank and others v. Kunj Bihari Misra, 1998 (7) SCC 84 : JT 1998 (5) SC 548, whenever the disciplinary authority disagrees with the enquiry authority on any article of charge, then before it records its own findings on such charge, it must record its tentative reasons for such disagreement and give to the delinquent officer an opportunity to represent before it records its findings. The report of the enquiry officer containing its findings will have to be conveyed and the delinquent officer will have an opportunity to persuade (he disciplinary authority to accept the favourable conclusion of the enquiry officer. The principles of natural justice require the authority which has to take a final decision and can impose a penalty, to give an opportunity to the officer charged of misconduct to file a representation before the disciplinary authority records its findings on the charges framed against the officer.
20. In Yogi Nath Bagde v. State of Maharashtra and another, 1999 (7) SCC 739 : 1998 (5) JT 548, where the Supreme Court has observed that disciplinary authority either to agree or disagree with the inquiry officer finding even after the disciplinary authority agrees that the finding of inquiry officer no problem arises if disciplinary authority differs and does not give punishment in consonance to the finding of the Inquiry Officer then also there is no problem. But problem arises when disciplinary authority imposes penalty over the finding of exoneration Indicated by investigating officer then the opportunity of hearing is essentially to be given to the affected party.
Punishment to be imposed--discretion of the disciplinary authority.
(A) The punishment to be imposed by the disciplinary authority is the discretion of the authority concerned and unless such penalty grossly disproportionate there can be no occasion for the Court or Tribunal to interfere with the punishment. However, penalty should be commensurate with the magnitude of the misconduct committed. If a lesser penalty can be imposed without jeopardising the interest of the administration, then the disciplinary authority/punishing authority, should not impose the maximum penalty of dismissal from service. When the rules require that the disciplinary authority will determine the penalty after applying its mind to the enquiry report, then this shows that he has to pass a reasoned order. However, taking an overall and cumulative view, the disciplinary authority may impose maximum penalty but after considering all aspects of the case H. P. Thakore v. State of Cajarat, (1979) 1 LLJ 339 (Guj). When an authority proceeds to impose a penalty, the only question which is ordinarily to be kept In mind is to impose adequate penalty ; then punishment shall be neither too lenient nor to harsh Ansaroli Rakshak v. Union of India, 1984 Lab IC (NOC) 73 (Bom).
Punishment not to be disproportionate to the gravity of the charge established.
(B) Ordinarily the Court or Tribunal cannot interfere with the discretion of the punishing authority in imposing particular penalty but this rule has exception. If the penalty imposed is grossly disproportionate with the misconduct committed, then the Court can interfere. The railway employee on being charged with negligence in not reporting to the railway hospital for treatment was removed from service. The Supreme Court has thought it fit to interfere with the punishment of removal from service and modify it to withholding of two increments Alexander Pal Singh v. Divisional Operating Superintendent, (1987) 2 ATC 922 (SC).
But when the police constable working as gunman of Deputy Commissioner of Police while on duty was wandering near the bus stand with service revolver in a heavily drunken condition and when he was brought to hospital he began abusing the doctor on duty, the imposition of penalty of dismissal of service cannot be held to be disproportionate because the constable was guilty of gravest misconduct State of Punjab v. Ex. Constable Ram Singh. (1992) 4 SCC 54 : 1992 SCC (L & S) 793 : (1992) 21 ATC 435.
(C) When the charge of misconduct against the Civil Judge in disposing of the Land Acquisition Reference cases have been proved partially and for fixing higher valuation of land than was legitimate in L. A. Reference was not proved for which he can be given benefit of doubt, the Supreme Court has modified the penalty of dismissal to compulsory retirement V. R. P. Katarki v. State of Karnataka, AIR 1991 SC 1241 : 1991 Supp (1) SCC 267 : 1991 SCC (L & S) 1043 : (1991) 16 ATC 555 : 1991 Lab IC 1001. In another case, when the employee had 29 years of unblemished record and P.S.C. on consultation had not agreed to the proposal of dismissal, but he was dismissed, the Supreme Court, after the death of employee, held that the evidence in support of the charges which led to dismissal was not very strong and in order to grant relief to poor widow, the punishment of dismissal should be converted to compulsory retirement so that the widow will get the appropriate financial benefit Kartar Singh Grewal v. State of Punjab, AIR 1991 SC 1067 : (1991) 2 SCC 635 : 1991 SCC (L & S) 780 : (1991) 2 LLN 54 : 1991 Lab IC 1082.
However, even though the Supreme Court has power to modify the penalty imposed by the disciplinary authority in exercise of equitable jurisdiction under Article 136 of the Constitution, but the High Court or the Administrative Tribunal has no such jurisdiction to interfere with the punishment imposed by the disciplinary authority. This is the view of the Supreme Court in Samarendra Kishore Endow's case. It is held that the High Court/ Administrative Tribunal cannot interfere with the punishment if imposed after holding enquiry and if it is considered that the punishment imposed is harsh, the proper course is not to modify the penalty but to remit the matter to the appellate or disciplinary authority. The Supreme Court has observed as follows :
"Imposition of appropriate punishment is within the discretion and judgment of the disciplinary authority. It may be open to the appellate authority to interfere with it, but not to the High Court or to the Administrative Tribunal for the reason that the jurisdiction of the Tribunal is similar to the powers of the High Court under Article 226 is one of judicial review. It is not an appeal from a decision but a review of the manner in which the decision was made. The power of the judicial review is meant to ensure that the Individual receives fair treatment and not to ensure that the authority after according a fair treatment reaches on a matter which it is authorised by law to decide for itself a conclusion which is correct in the eyes of law Bhagat Ram v. State of H. P., (1983) 2 SCC 442 : 1983 SCC (L & S) 454, is no authority for the proposition that the High Court or Tribunal has jurisdiction to impose any punishment to meet the ends of justice. The Supreme Court in Bhagat Ram's case, exercised the jurisdiction under Article 136 of the Constitution. The High Court or the Tribunal has no such power. Bank of India v. Samarendra Kishore Endow, (1994) 2 SCC 537 : 1994 SCC (L & S) 687 : (1994) 1 LLJ 872 : (1994) 1 SLR 516."
Samarendra Kishore Endow case, is the authoritative pronouncement of the Supreme Court in the matter of jurisdiction of the High Court or the Administrative Tribunal by way of judicial review of the penalty. It does not ordinarily have power to interfere with the penalty if there is no infirmity in the enquiry but if the punishment imposed is harsh, the proper course for the High Court/Tribunal is to refer the matter to the appellate authority or the disciplinary authority for reconsideration of the penalty imposed. But in the instant case when on a proper departmental enquiry, the respondent was removed from service on the basis of the charges of falsely claiming reimbursement of travel expenses on his transfer and there was also another charge of release of construction loan of Rs. 1,00,000 in one case to a co-employee without verifying the progress of construction, then the Supreme Court on taking the view that the punishment was harsh directed the appellate authority to consider whether a lesser punishment is not called for in the facts and circumstances of the case.
(D} The three-Bench judgment of the Supreme Court in B. C. Chaturvedi v. Union of India, (1995) 6 SCC 749 : 1996 SCC (L & S) 8, has to some extent modified the view expressed in Samarendra Kishore Endow's case, by holding that even though the High Court/Tribunal, while exercising the power of judicial review cannot normally substitute their own conclusion on penalty and impose some other penalty, if the punishment Imposed by the disciplinary authority or the appellate authority shocks the conscience of the High Court or the Tribunal, it would be appropriate to grant the relief either directing the disciplinary, or the appellate authority to reconsider the penalty or to shorten the litigation, it may itself, in exceptional and rare cases, imposed appropriate punishment with reasons in support thereof.
(E) The decision of B. C. Chaturuedi's case has also been reiterated by the Supreme Court in Union of India v. G. Ganayuthan, AIR 1997 SC 3387 : (1997) 7 SCC 463 :
1997 SCC (L & S) 1806. In that case, the Government employee whose disciplinary enquiry was continued even after retirement was imposed penalty of 50% pension and gratuity and he moved the Central Administrative Tribunal against such order. The Tribunal held that gratuity not being part of pension cannot be curtailed and modified the deduction of pension for a limited period. In appeal by special leave, the Supreme Court has held that the Tribunal had no jurisdiction to interfere with the penalty when there is no contention that the punishment imposed is illegal or vitiated by procedural irregularity and there is no finding that the decision is one which no sensible person who weighed the pros and cons could have arrived at nor is there a finding, based on material that the punishment is an outrageous defiance of logic.
(F) When the appointing authority disagreed with the findings of the enquiry officer in respect of charges 1 and 2 and found those charges also proved even though the disciplinary authority approved the report of enquiry officer and recommended a particular penalty, it is held by the Supreme Court that when the Regulation 68 (3) (Hi) of the Bank Regulation clearly stipulates that the appointing authority is not bound by the recommendation of the disciplinary authority relating to penalty of compulsory retirement being quite valid and legal, it cannot be subjected to judicial review on the ground that the appointing authority while imposing penalty cannot differ with the recommendation of the disciplinary authority State Bank of Hyderabad v. Rangachary, 1994 Supp. (2) SCC 479 : 1994 SCC (L & S) 1022 : (1994)27 ATC 937.
(G) A member of the Central Reserve Police who only because he overstayed the leave for twelve years for which he had sufficient reason and had no intention to wilfully disobey the order was dismissed from service, the High Court on the interpretation of Section 11(1) of the Central Reserve Police Force Act, 1949 quashed the dismissal order and reinstated him with all consequential benefit. The Central Government moved the Supreme Court in appeal by special leave. The Supreme Court in the facts of the case has held the dismissal to be harsh, upheld the order of reinstatement of service but gave liberty to the Government to impose any minor penalty for such misconduct. Union of India v. Girirqj Sharma, AIR 1994 SC 215 : 1994 Supp. (3) SCC 755 : (1994) 1 LLJ 6O4.
(H) When the police constable was dismissed from service for using abusive language, but what the abusive words used were not disclosed in the enquiry, then only because a police constable used abusive language, there can be no straight] acket formula that in all such cases the constable should be dismissed from service. So, the Supreme Court has considered the punishment to be harsh and disproportionate to the gravity of the charge and modified the penalty to stoppage of two increments with cumulative effect. Ram Kishan v. Union of India. (1995) 6 SCC 157 : 1995 SCC (L & S) 1357 : (1995) 31 ATC 475. When subsequent to promotion as inspector the police officer failed to deposit his service revolver and six live cartridges ; the Supreme Court has held that penalty of dismissal is too harsh when his previous record was unblemished and at the relevant time he was sharing a room with two colleagues. So, the Supreme Court substituted the penalty to compulsory retirement, Mehonga Singh v. I. C. of Police, (1995) 5 SCC 682 : 1995 SCC (L & S) 1320 : (1995) 31 ATC 437.
(I) On the finding delinquent guilty of demanding and accepting illegal gratification, the order of dismissal has been passed against the delinquent. The same has been challenged on the ground that the penalty is harsh and that there is only one witness to prove the charge and that there was no earlier charge of misconduct against him. The Supreme Court has held that it is for the disciplinary authority to decide about the punishment and merely because there was solitary evidence to prove the charge the finding of the guilt by the enquiry officer and disciplinary authority is not illegal. It is also observed that merely because there was no allegation of misconduct against the delinquent employee earlier is inconsequential. Even the recommendation of the Public Service Commission to take a lenient view is not binding on the Government. It was held that the interference with the penalty on the facts of the case is not called for N. Rajarathinam v. State of T. N., (1996) 10 SCC 371 : 1997 SCC (L & S) 90.
The police constable who was dismissed on account of absence without leave from 7th November, 1986 to 1st March, 1988 on holding the departmental enquiry filed civil suit challenging such punishment on the ground that the disciplinary rules applicable to him provided that the dismissal could be resorted to if there was a gravest act of misconduct. The trial court dismissed the suit on the ground that it could not interfere with the order of punishment imposed in a disciplinary proceedings. But the appellate court remanded the matter for reconsideration of the trial court on the point of punishment. The Supreme Court has disapproved the order passed by the appellate court. It is held that it is for the disciplinary authority to pass appropriate punishment and the civil court cannot substitute its own view to that of the disciplinary as well as that the appellate authority on the nature of punishment to be Imposed upon the delinquent, as he was absent without any leave for over one and half years it ought not to have interfered with the degree passed by the trial court dismissing the suit. State of Punjab v. Bakshi Singh, AIR 1997 SC 2696 : (1997) 6 SCC 381 : 1997 SCC (L & S) 1510 : (1997) 2 LLN 1019 : 1997 (4) SLR 590. The Supreme Court has also held that when on the charge of demand and acceptance of illegal gratification by the inspector of police, the inspector has been dismissed from service, then the police officer being guilty of grave misconduct resorting to corruption, there is no occasion for interference with the order of punishment imposed by the disciplinary authority.
Government of A. P. v. B. Ashok Kumar, AIR 1997 SC 2447 : (1997) 5 SCC 478 : 1997 SCC (L & S) 1215 : 1997 (4) SLR 242 : (1997) 2 LLN 600 : 1997 Lab IC 2353.
(J) When a bus conductor was charged for taking certain passengers without tickets and on holding departmental enquiry he was found guilty and the disciplinary authority removed the respondent from the post of the conductor, he moved the High Court challenging the order of removal. The High Court while concurring with the finding of the authority that the charges levelled against the respondent were proved held that the punishment awarded did not commensurate with the gravity of the charge. On that basis the High Court set aside the punishment and directed the reinstatement of the respondent. Being aggrieved an appeal by special leave has been filed by the Corporation before Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has held that it has consistently taken the view that under the judicial review the Court shall not normally interfere with the punishment imposed by the authority and this will be more so when the Court found the charges were proved and interference with the punishment on the facts of the case cannot be sustained. U. P. Road Transport Corporation v, A. K. Parul, 1999 (1) AWC 632 (SC) : 1999 (1) Cal LT (SC) 77. When the respondent, a police constable was dismissed from service on the ground that he illegally extracted money from the auto-rickshaw driver by misusing his official position then the interference by the Administrative Tribunal with the penalty imposed by the departmental authority is not warranted in this case, because it is only in a case where the punishment was totally irrational in the sense that it was in outrageous defiance of logic or moral standard that a Court or Tribunal can interfere with the punishment imposed by the Administrative Authority. As in this case, the police constable was guilty of grave misconduct, there was no reason as to why the Tribunal should interfere with the punishment imposed by the disciplinary authority.
State o/Karnataka v. H. Nagraj, 1998 (4) AWC 406 (SC) : (1998) 9 SCC 671.
21. In the present case, it has been contended on behalf of the petitioner that having turned down petitioner's request to examine the only material witness, namely, Dr. D. K. Srivastava, or get the medical certificate verified from the Chief Medical Officer (C.M.O.), respondent's action in dismissing the petitioner Is violative of the principle of natural justice and thus, stands vitiated on this score also. In this respect, petitioner has referred Hardwari Lal v. State of U.P. and others, 1999 (8) SCC 582, where the Supreme Court has held that failure to examine material witness, appellant a police, constable, charged of having abused his colleague while he (appellant) was under the influence of liquor, however neither complainant nor the other employee accompanied the appellant to hospital for medical examination, examined as witnesses. The inquiry was held to be vitiated being in violation of natural justice and the plea rejected that there was other material sufficient to come to conclusion one way or the other, observing that impact of complainant's testimony could not be visualised and also evidence of the employee who accompanied the appellant in apprehension and the applicant was reinstated and the applicant's dismissal order was set aside with a reinstatement with 50% of back wages. In the present case, according to the petitioner the punishing authority itself has not chosen to impose the penalty of dismissal contemplated in the first part of Section 7 of the Police Act. This shows that the District Superintendent of Police was not satisfied that the misconduct in question was sufficient to warrant the award of the punishment of dismissal.
22. In the present facts and circumstances of the case, and in the light of above discussions, I find that the impugned punishment is too harsh and is clearly disproportionate to the charge established against the petitioner. The penalty of removal from service awarded under the impugned order is too severe and excessive. Moreover. I further find that the respondent authority has not at all taken into consideration the effect of the relevant provisions regulating the procedural safeguards and the factors indicated in the decision of Shamsher Bahadur Singh v. State of U. P. (supra), which have to be taken note of, while determining the quantum of punishment. In the circumstances. therefore. the impugned orders passed by the respondent authorities clearly stand vitiated in law.
23. On careful consideration, this Court finds that sufficient ground has, therefore, been made out for interference by this Court and the matter requires to be remanded on the question of awarding any of the lesser punishment.
24. Accordingly, in view of the conclusions indicated hereinbefore, the writ petition succeeds in part. The impugned punishment is set aside and the matter is remanded to the punishing authority which shall award any of the lesser punishment having due regard to the nature and circumstances of the case and in the light of the observations made hereinbefore with a further direction that the matter should be disposed of as expeditiously as possible, preferably within three months.