In the
case of Deepti Prakash Banerjee (supra), after referring to various
decisions indicated as to when a simple order of termination is to
be treated as "founded" on the allegations of misconduct and
when complaints could be only as motive for passing such a simple
order of termination. In para 21 of the said judgment a distinction
is explained, thus:-
20. In the present case neither any formal departmental inquiry nor any
preliminary fact-finding inquiry had been held and a simple order of
discharge had been passed. The High Court has built an edifice on
the basis of a statement made in the written statement that the
respondent was habitual absentee during his short period of service
and has concluded therefrom that it was his absence from duty that
weighed in the mind of Senior Superintendent of Police as absence
from duty is a misconduct. The High Court has further gone on to
hold that there is direct nexus between the order of discharge of the
respondent from service and his absence from duty and, therefore,
the order discharging him from service will be viewed as punitive in
nature calling for a regular inquiry under Rule 16.24 of the Rules.We
are of the opinion that the High Court has gone completely wrong in
drawing the inference that the order of discharge dated 16-3-1990
was, in fact, based upon the misconduct and was, therefore, punitive
in nature, which should have been preceded by a regular
departmental inquiry.There cannot be any doubt that the respondent
was on probation having been appointed about eight months back.
As observed in Ajit Singh and others etc. v. State of Punjab and
another (supra) the period of probation gives time and opportunity to
the employer to watch the work ability, efficiency, sincerity and
competence of the servant and if he is found not suitable for the
post, the master reserves a right to dispense with his service without
anything more during or at the end of the prescribed period, which is
styled as period of probation. The mere holding of preliminary inquiry
where explanation is called from an employee would not make an
otherwise innocuous order of discharge or termination of service
punitive in nature.Therefore, the High Court was clearly in error in
holding that the respondent's absence from duty was the foundation
of the order, which necessitated an inquiry as envisaged under Rule
16.24 (ix) of the Rules."
In the case of Rajesh Kohli Vs. High Court of Jammu and
Kashmir and Another reported in (2010)12 SCC 783, the Hon'ble
Supreme Court has held and observed in para 23 as under:-
In
Pavanendra Narayan Verma v. Sanjay Gandhi PGI of Medical
Sciences, this Court has explained at length the tests that would
apply to determine if an order terminating the services of a
probationer is stigmatic. On the facts of that case it was held that
the opinion expressed in the termination order that the
probationer's "work and conduct has not been found satisfactory"