41. But in the case in hand, the Disciplinary Authority has not
acted on the Inquiry Report submitted by earlier Inquiry Officer
Rather, it has taken a decision to hold a de novo proceeding, hence the
said judgment is clearly distinguishable.
23. That apart, he states that the judgment of the Guwahati High
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Court in the case of Md. Safiqul Haque (supra) is also not in
conformity and contradicts with the law laid down by the Supreme
Court in the case of Haryana Financial Corporation v. Kailash
Chandra Ahuja, (2008) 9 SCC 31, wherein it has been held that mere
non supply of inquiry report would not ipso facto vitiate the whole
inquiry proceedings.
15. In the present case the Enquiry Officer had found that
the charges against the appellant had been proved.
Nevertheless the disciplinary authority came to the
conclusion that the summary of allegations which had
initially been prepared did not bring out all the relevant
facts. In the absence of detailed summary of allegations
the appellant must have been placed at a disadvantage. It
is on the basis of the summary of allegations that
evidence of prosecution witnesses was recorded and
opportunity granted to cross-examine them. Such right
cannot be effectively exercised if the summary of
allegations is vague. Realizing this serious infirmity, the
disciplinary authority ordered the re-framing of the
summary of allegations and de novo enquiry. We find no
illegality have been committed. Apart from the law laid
down by the Supreme Court we find that even Section 21
of the General Clauses Act, 1897 would give a power to
an authority to rescind, amend or revoke an order passed
by it. What has happened, in effect, in the present cases is
that the order dated January 17, 1980, whereby the
enquiry was initially ordered, has been rescinded and a
fresh enquiry ordered. The principles enshrined in
Section 21 of the General Clauses Act, are clearly
applicable and it cannot be said that the disciplinary
authority could not act in the manner in which he did.
Rather we do no find any infirmity in the decision of the
learned Single Judge and in our opinion he rightly came
to the conclusion that the disciplinary authority has not
acted contrary to law. No other contention is raised. This
appeal is accordingly dismissed. There will be no order
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as to costs."
In this regard, he has relied upon the judgment in the case of Nahar
Singh v. Union of India, 1991(21) DRJ 171, which relies upon the
judgments of the Supreme Court in State of Assam v. J.N. Roy
Biswas, (1976) 1 SCC 234 and K.R. Deb v. CCE, (1971) 2 SCC 102,
wherein it was held that depending on the facts of each case it is
possible to order de novo inquiry if there has been no proper inquiry
because of any serious defect. If, for example, principle of natural
justice have been violated then it is open to the Disciplinary Authority
to come to the conclusion that a de novo inquiry should be held.