9. The most important aspect of this matter is that when respondents
issued the so called show cause notice dated 02.12.2013 (Annexure P/6), it was
nowhere alleged that petitioner had suppressed any material fact or
misrepresented in any manner. Thus, there was no such allegation in the show
cause notice that petitioner was guilty of suppression or misrepresentation. This
is trite that an employee cannot be subjected to coercive action or punishment
for an allegation which was not a subject matter of charge-sheet/show cause
notice (See: AIR 1957 SC 7, Laxmi Devi Sugar Mills Ltd. v. Nand
Kishore Singh).
36. Further reliance has been placed on AIR 1957 SC 70, Laxmi Devi Sugar Mills Ltd. v. Nand Kishore Singh, particularly para 18. It was held in that case that the charge sheet which was furnished by the appellant to the respondent formed the basis of the enquiry which was held by the General Manager and the appellant could not be allowed to justify its action on any other grounds than those contained in the charge sheet. It was held that: "the respondent not having been charged with acts of insubordination which would have really justified the appellant and dismissing him from its employment (sic) the appellant could not take advantage of the same even though these acts could be brought home to him."
In support of their respective contentions, counsel for both parties have relied on the Supreme Court case in Laxmi Devi Sugar Mills v. Hand Kishore Singh, 1956 SCR 746: ((S) AIR 1957 SC 7). In that case, the steno-typist of the General Manager of Laxmi Devi Sugar Mills, the respondent in that case, was also the Vice-president of the Union of workers which was affiliated to the Indian National Trade Union Congress and was known as Chini Mills Mazdoor Sangh. After certain incidents, which it may not be necessary to mention here, the Vice-President of the Union (the respondent) made a speech criticising the attitude of the General Manager to the following effect:
He relied upon the judgments in the cases of Laxmi Dew Sugar Mills Ltd. v. Nand Kishore Singh reported in 1956 DGLS 71 : 1956 (II) L.L.J. 439 S.C., D.K. Yadav v. J.M.A. Industries Ltd. reported in 1993 DGLS 447 : 1993 (II) C.L.R. 116 S.C. Wheels India Ltd. v. State of U.P. and Ors. reported in 2005P C.L.R. 243 H.C. ALL.
But what is stated by us hereinabove would not in any
manner, vitiate the ultimate justification of the dismissal order
as held by the Labour Court. It is to be noticed that the charge
memo issued to the workmen has in specific terms stated that
the workmen concerned on 12th 13th October, 1980 entered
the Manager's bungalow, armed with deadly weapons, caused
damage to the property of the estate and illegally confined the
Manager and others between 8.30 p.m. on 12th October till 3
a.m. on 13th October, 1980. This allegation as found in the
charge memo has also been found to be proved by the Labour
Court. Therefore, the question for our consideration is: whether
this finding as alleged in the chargesheet by itself is sufficient
to justify the order of dismissal without the support of the
allegation of extortion. On this aspect of the case the decision
of this Court in Laxmi Devi Sugar Mills Ltd. (supra) will not
assist the respondents' case. In that case, the only charge
against the workman was that he instigated the other workmen
to demand the removal of the General Manager which charge
was not proved in the enquiry, then the management tried to
justify the removal by adducing evidence on other allegations in
regard to which there was no charge, in those factual situation
this Court held such justification based uncharged allegation
was impermissible.
10. The learned counsel for the petitioner next
contended that the allegations raised against the petitioner in
the memo of charges do not constitute any misconduct, as
provided for in the Kerala Khadi and Village Industries Board
Employees' Conduct Regulations ["the Conduct Regulations" for
short]. He placed reliance on the decisions of the Apex Court in
Rasiklal v. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation [AIR 1985
SC 504], A.L.Kalra v. Project & Equipment Corporation of
India Ltd. [1984 (2) LLJ 186 (SC)], Glaxo Laboratories (I)
Limited v. Labour Court, Meerut and others [1984 (1) LLJ
16 (SC)], Workmen of Lakheri Cement Works Ltd. v. The
Associated Cement Companies Ltd. [(1969) II SCWR 237]
and Laxmi Devi Sugar Mills Ltd. v. Nand Kishore Singh
[1956 (2) LLJ 439 (SC)] in support of the said contention.
According to the learned counsel, the allegations would only
constitute offences punishable under the Indian Penal Code for
W.P.(C).No.6908/2013 9
which the Board can only set the criminal law in motion. It was
pointed out that the Board can also institute appropriate
proceedings for recovery of the loss, if any, caused by the
petitioner. According to the learned counsel, the Board as an
employer can initiate disciplinary proceedings against an
employee only for such acts of commission or omission as are
included in the Conduct Regulations. It was also pointed out
that the Conduct Regulations do not contemplate a misconduct
of this nature. It was, however, conceded by the learned
counsel for the petitioner that the Conduct Regulations provide
that every employee of the Board shall, at all times, maintain
absolute integrity and devotion to duty. According to the
learned counsel, the said general statement is not sufficient to
confer authority on the Board to initiate disciplinary
proceedings against the petitioner on the so-called
misconducts alleged against him in the show cause notice.
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A careful reading of the allegations against the
aforesaid employees makes it clear that allegations
against them are relating to negligence and financial
irregularities. The Inquiry Officer in his report found
that the charge alleged against the said employees
are established. The disciplinary authority by order
dated 23.4.2012 found that the allegations which are
established against the petitioner are relating to
financial irregularity and embezzlement (xcu).
Accordingly, the punishment of dismissal from
service was inflicted on the petitioner. In addition, the
alleged amount of embezzlement Rs.1,42,030.65/-
was directed to be recovered from the petitioner.
This is settled in law that an employee cannot be
punished for an allegation which is not subject matter
of the charge-sheet. This view was taken by the
Supreme Court way back in Laxmi Devi Sugar Mills
Vs. Nand Kishore Singh-AIR 1957 SC-7.