Union Of India & Ors vs B.V.Gopinath on 5 September, 2013
In the judgment of the Apex Court in the case of B.V.
Gopinath (Supra) relied upon by the learned Senior counsel for the petitioner,
the Hon'ble Supreme Court have been pleased to hold that the Disciplinary
Authority alone is required to exercise the power of initiation of Departmental
Proceeding as also approval of the charge memo. This power could not be
delegated as it would be against the established maxim Delegatus non potest
delegare. After referring to Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and
Appeal) Rules, 1965 which were in contention in the said case, the Hon'ble
Supreme Court found that though the decision to initiate Departmental
Proceeding was taken by the competent authority i.e. Finance Minister, but the
charge memo was not approved by the Finance Minister. In such circumstances,
the Hon'ble Court was pleased to hold that the requirement of rules and the
settled principles of law that the Disciplinary Authority alone has the power to
take a decision both in matters of initiation of Departmental Proceeding and
approval of charge memo, has not been followed. Paragraph-41, 46 and 50 of the
report is quoted hereunder for better appreciation.