Full Judgment Text
C.A.1020-1021/2014 @ SLP(C)No.2920-2921/2014 @ CC No. 17498-17499/2013
[Non-Reportable]
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL No.1020-1021/2014
(@Special Leave Petition (Civil) 2920-2921/2014)
(Arising out of CC No. 17498-17499/2013)
State of Maharashtra …...... Appellant(s)
Versus
Vijay Kumar Aggarwal & Anr. ….......Respondent(s)
J U D G M E N T
A.K.SIKRI, J.
1.Delay Condoned.
2.Leave Granted.
3.Since counsel for the State of Maharashtra (Appellant) as well as Respondent
No. 1, who appears in person, were ready to argue the matter finally, we heard
both the parties at length.
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4.The issue involved in the present case is in a very narrow compass, though
actual matrix, stated in this matter, is irritatingly long. In any case, it is not
necessary for us to narrate all the background facts in their entirety. Eschewing
those details which are altogether unnecessary for the disposal of the present
appeal, we state here under those only facts that are relevant for our purpose.
5.Having successfully cleared the Civil Services Examination and being
allocated Maharashtra Cadre, as a member of the Indian Administrative Services
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(IAS), Respondent No. 1 joined the service in the State of Maharashtra on
1.09.1982. While, discharging duties in that capacity, he was suspended from
service vide order dated 26.05.1988 which was followed by charge-sheet dated
6.07.1988 for major penalty proceedings. Respondent No. 1 had challenged the
legality of suspension order as well as the validity of said charge-sheet.
However, we are not concerned with all those proceedings. We may only
mention that in all three charge-sheets were served upon Respondent No. 1
namely, charge-sheet dated 6.07.1988, 4.5.1998 as well as charge-sheet dated
5.10.1998. Though, departmental inquiries started in these cases and gave rise
to multiple litigation, some of which would be taken a note of hereinafter, it is
pertinent to mention at this stage that on the basis of departmental inquiry
conducted into the charges levelled vide charge-sheet dated 5.10.1998,
Respondent No. 1 was dismissed from service vide order dated 2.04.2007.
6. In the charge-sheet dated 4.05.1998, the mis-demeanour alleged against
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Respondent No. 1 was that he unauthorizedly absented from duty i.e. did not
join duty even after his suspension was withdrawn. In the third charge-sheet
dated 5.10.1998, the charge related to not filing of annual returns.
7. Respondent No. 1 had challenged the validity of these charge-sheets before
the Central Administrative Tribunal in which he could not succeed. His writ
petitions challenging the orders of the Tribunal were also dismissed. These writ
petitions were taken up along with four other writ petitions and all these writ
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petitions were decided by the High Court vide common judgment dated
14.12.2010. While repelling the challenge to the validity of the charge-sheets
the High Court had, inter alia, observed as under:-
“ We need not dilate on the issue for the simple reason the
petitioner could earn no promotion till he was exonerated in the
disciplinary proceedings and we note that the petitioner is facing
three inquiries and is himself responsible for the delay and we
note that in one of them i.e. the 2nd charge-sheet an order
dismissing him from service has already been passed which is
under challenge before the Tribunal.”
8. We may record here that initially Respondent No. 1 had filed C.M. in this
court and it had granted stay of the inquiry proceedings in the writ petition filed
by Respondent No. 1. However, that writ was dismissed on 7.10.2002 and
thereafter, Inquiry Officer was appointed on 20.12.2002. At that stage the
Respondent No. 1 had sought quashing of the charge-sheet dated 6.07.1988 by
filing OA No. 1386/06. In that OA, he had prayed for quashing of order dated
20.12.2002 as well, under which the inquiry officer was appointed to conduct an
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inquiry pertaining to the said charge-sheet. This OA was dismissed by the
Tribunal which was subject matter of challenge in Writ Petition(Civil) No. 2563
of 2007. This writ petition was also dismissed along with other batch matters by
the aforesaid common judgment. Discussion of the High Court, while declining
to quash the charge-sheet dated 6.07. 1988 is contained in paras 54 to 59 of the
said judgment dated 14.12.2010. We would like to reproduce certain portions
thereof, as under:-
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“The Original Application has been dismissed by the
Tribunal by the Tribunal holding that no mala fide against any
officer and much against the one who has issued the charge-sheet
has been established. It has been held that the charges are not
vague. It has been held that it is impermissible to consider the
evidence relied upon by the petitioner to determine whether the
charges are maintainable. It has been held that it cannot be said
that the charges do not attract a disciplinary action.
We may note that during arguments before us, the
petitioner was not understanding the difference between the
maintainability of an action vis-a-vis its sustainability. It appears
that before the Tribunal the petitioner was arguing with reference
to the material on which he wanted to rely and thereupon show
that the charges could not be sustained; needless to state the
issue, when a charge-sheet is challenged, is not whether the
charge can ultimately be sustained. The issue is whether there is
prima facie material to maintain the charge and whether on the
allegations made in the statement of imputation a charge is
attracted.
xxxxxx
The petitioner has not alleged any mala fide against any
officer and none has been impleaded as a respondent. During
arguments the petitioner wanted us to look into the material
which has yet to take the shape of evidence and thus we refrain
from commenting upon the issue for the reason it would be pre-
mature for us to express any view on the material on basis
whereof the charge-sheet has been issued. Thus, we find no
merit in WP(C) No. 2563 of 2007 and concur with the reasoning
of the Tribunal that it would be pre-mature to express any
opinion and as clarified by the Tribunal in para 83 of the
impugned decision, in case any final order is passed against the
petitioner, he may raise all legally permissible pleas.”
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9.The Respondent did not challenge the aforesaid order by approaching this
court. At this stage, the position relating to departmental inquiries against the
respondent, can be summed up as under:-
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1.Respondent No. 1 was served with three charge-sheets dated
6.07.1988, 4.05.1998 and 5.10.1998.
2.He had challenged the validity of these charge-sheets but failed
in his attempts.
3.Because of the pendency of various proceedings in one judicial
forum or the other, the departmental proceedings were delayed.
In fact, in so far as charge-sheet dated 6.07.1988 is concerned,
stay of proceedings was granted by this court which continued up
to October, 2002. Thereafter, when the Inquiry Officer was
appointed on 20.12.2002, Respondent No. 1 filed OA before the
Tribunal seeking quashing of the charge-sheet as well as orders
dated 20.12.2002. The Tribunal dismissed the said OA on
6.08.2007. Respondent No. 1 filed review petition which was
also dismissed on 17.01. 2007. Thereafter, he filed Writ
Petition(Civil) No. 2563 of 2007 which was dismissed on
14.12.2010.
4.In the meantime, the inquiry into second charge-sheet dated
4.05.1998 proceeded which resulted in the order of dismissal
from service passed against Respondent No. 1. The Respondent
No. 1 has challenged the dismissal order and his OA in this
behalf is pending before the Tribunal.
10. It so happened that Respondent No. 1 filed C.M. No. 18072 of 2011 in
already decided Writ Petition (Civil) No. 2563 of 2007. This C.M. was
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dismissed by the High Court vide its order dated 21.11.2011, observing that
under the garb of that C.M., Respondent No. 1 was in fact seeking review of the
judgment dated 14.12.2010 and as such it was not maintainable. Respondent
No. 1 thereafter filed another C.M. No. 19106 of 2011 in Civil Writ Petition
No. 2563 of 2007. In this C.M. No. 19106 of 2011, he submitted that inquiry
into the charge-sheet dated 6.07.1988 could not proceed as it was unduly
prolonged. He had relied upon order dated 21.07.2008, as per which High
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Court had directed that if it is permissible in law, the inquiry in question may be
continued pertaining to the said charge-sheet keeping in view the fact that in
another inquiry, penalty of dismissal from service was already inflicted upon the
petitioner. In the order dated 21.7.2008, further direction was given to conclude
the inquiry within 8 months. On that basis, in the C.M. Filed by Respondent No.
1, he had contended that no other inquiry could continue as he had been
dismissed from service in one enquiry. In the alternative, as the enquiry was not
concluded within 8 months as directed vide orders dated 21.7.2008, the charge-
sheet lapsed.
11.Accepting the contention of Respondent No. 1 that he has since been
dismissed pursuant to inquiry in the another charge-sheet, the High Court has
passed the impugned order dated 28.03.2012, restraining the appellant from
proceeding ahead with the charge-sheet dated 6.07.1988. Operative portion of
the order is as under:-
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“The inquiry against the petitioner is governed by the All India
Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969 and suffice would
it be to state that having levied penalty of dismissal from service
upon the petitioner in another separate inquiry pursuant to
another charge-sheet, the instant inquiry pertaining to the charge-
sheet dated 6.07.1988 cannot continue and the proceeding have
to terminate in as much as the Rules in question do not envisage
a penalty to be imposed upon somebody who is not a member of
the service and is not subject to the pension rules, Needless to
state as a result of being dismissed from service, the petitioner is
not entitled to any pension.
We accordingly disposed of the application restraining the State
of Maharashtra to proceed ahead with the Charge-sheet dated
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6.07.1988.”
12. It is clear from the above that only on the ground that Respondent No. 1 has
already been dismissed from service in another separate inquiry, the High Court
has held that in so far as charge-sheet dated 6.07.1988 is concerned, inquiry
cannot continue. We are of the opinion that the High Court is only partially
correct in his approach. No doubt, so long as Respondent No. 1 is facing
penalty of dismissal, no question arises to continue the inquiry into the charges
levelled vide charge-sheet dated 6.07.1988. It is because of the reason that with
the dismissal of Respondent No. 1 from service, as of now Respondent No. 1 has
ceased to be the employee of the Appellant. Moreover, the employee who has
already been dismissed from service cannot be imposed any other penalty on
the conclusion of inquiry pertaining to the charge-sheet dated 6.07.1988.
Therefore, at this stage no purpose is going to be served to continue with the
inquiry into the said charge-sheet. At the same time, it is also to be borne in
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mind that Respondent No. 1 has challenged dismissal order and the matter is
pending before the Tribunal. In case the said dismissal is set aside by the
Tribunal and/ or the High Court/ this Court and Respondent No. 1 is reinstated
in service as a result thereof, the relationship of employer-employee between the
parties shall also stand restored. In that eventuality, it would be permissible for
the appellant to proceed with the inquiry relating to charge-sheet dated
6.07.1988 as well. Therefore, normally such a direction of the High Court to the
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effect that “proceedings have to terminate” in so far as charge-sheet dated
6.07.1988 is concerned would not be correct. Instead of terminating these
proceedings appropriate order as that should normally be passed is to keep in
‘abeyance’. That is the course of action which is permissible under the extant
Rules as well as, in such circumstances.
13.Having clarified the legal position, a question that arises for consideration is
as to whether this Court would interfere with the orders passed by the High
Court, in the facts and circumstances of this case. We may make it clear that in
view of the aforesaid legal position we could have modified the orders of the
High Court with direction to keep the inquiry proceedings pertaining to the
charge sheet dated 6.7.1998 instead of terminating the inquiry. However, there is
another important fact, which cannot be lost sight of and that compels us not to
interfere with the impugned order of the High Court. The charge sheet in
question is dated 6.7.1988. It pertains to the charges of the period even prior
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thereto. This charge sheet is thus, more than 25 years old. Further no
departmental proceedings in respect of this charge sheet can start till the
conclusion of the judicial proceedings in respect of dismissal orders dated
2.4.2007 relating to the charge sheet dated 4.5.1998. That process would
consume few more years. We are, therefore, of the opinion that even if the
dismissal order against Respondent No. 1 is ultimately set aside and he is
reinstated back in service, reopening of the inquiry qua charge sheet dated
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6.7.1988 after 30 years or so would not serve any purpose. Thus, while not
agreeing with the reasons given by the High Court in the impugned order, for
our own reasons as mentioned above, we are not inclined to interfere with the
conclusion/ direction of the High Court in terminating the inquiry pertaining to
charge-sheet dated 6.7.1988, in exercise of powers conferred under Section 136
of the Constitution. As a result the present appeal is dismissed.
…........................................J.
[K.S. RADHAKRISHNAN]
…........................................J.
[A.K. SIKRI]
New Delhi
29th January , 2014
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