Full Judgment Text
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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 4220 OF 2006
Rakhial Gram Panchayat ..Appellant
versus
Jagatsinh Adesinh Jhala ..Respondent
O R D E R
J.S.Khehar, J.
The respondent was appointed as an Octroi Clerk by the
Gram Panchayat, Rakhial, i.e., the appellant before this Court, on
31.3.1977, on temporary basis, inter alia, for a lump sum salary of
Rs.200/- per month. In addition to the above, he was not entitled
even to dearness allowance or any other allowance(s). In terms of
the order of appointment, the respondent actually assumed his
duties with effect from 1.4.1977.
The pleadings of the case reveal, that for a short
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period, the work of collecting octroi, which had originally been
vested in the Gram Panchayat, came to be executed through a
contractor. The respondent was accordingly required to serve under
a contractor, in continuation of his order of appointment dated
31.3.1977. The respondent originally declined to do so. But
subsequently, assumed his duties on 10.6.1986 under the Gram
Panchayat. Thereafter, the service of the respondent was dispensed
with with effect from 30.6.1986.
Even though, the challenge raised by the respondent has a
chequered history, it is relevant to mention, that the respondent
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succeeded in Letters Patent Appeal No. 933 of 1995, when a Division
Bench of the High Court on 29.7.2004 accepted, that the resolution
passed by the Gram Panchayat dated 30.6.1986, for dispensing with
the service of the respondent, was not in consonance with law. The
High Court accordingly set aside the above resolution. The
respondent was, therefore, ordered to be reinstated, against the
post of an Octroi Clerk. By the order passed by the High Court, the
respondent was deemed to be treated as having continuously rendered
service against the post of Octroi Clerk, with effect from the date
his services were dispensed with. He was also held entitled to
full back wages, besides other consequential benefits, for the
intervening period. The review petition filed by the appellant came
to be dismissed by the High Court, vide an order dated 14.09.2004.
The operation of the above order passed by the High
Court, was stayed by this Court on 24.10.2005. The aforesaid
interim order has continued till date.
It does not appeal to logic, that a temporary employee
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can be allowed to continue in service, when the very purpose for
which he is engaged does not survive. The pleadings in this case
reveal, that the obligation cast on Gram Panchayats to collect
octroi ceased in the year 2001. As such, even if one was not to
interfere with the conclusion drawn by the High Court, in setting
aside the resolution passed by the Gram Panchayat dated 30.06.1986,
it is apparent, that the respondent could not have continued beyond
the year 2001, and/or be paid emoluments for the period after 2001.
In the above view of the matter, we are of the view, that
if the calculation of the actual amount payable to the respondent
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is to be done at the rate of wages paid to him, when he was engaged
in service, the arrears of the respondent for the period from 1986
to 2001 could only have been determined at the rate of Rs.200/- per
month. BY the above yardsticks, the respondent would be entitled
to, only a sum of Rs.2,500/- per annum. If the amount had even been
doubled by the time his services were dispensed with, he would be
earning approximately Rs.5,000/- per annum, on 30.06.1986.
Keeping in all that mind, we are of the view, that the
ends of justice would be met, if a quantified lump sum amount is
paid to the respondent as back wages. We are satisfied in
quantifying the above amount at Rs.1,00,000/-(Rupees one lakh
only). The above amount shall be released to the respondent
within three months, from the date a certified copy of this order,
is furnished to the Gram Panchayat.
The appeal stands disposed of in the aforesaid terms.
…......................J.
[JAGDISH SINGH KHEHAR]
JUDGMENT
NEW DELHI; …......................J.
JULY 23, 2015. [ADARSH KUMAR GOEL]
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ITEM NO.107 COURT NO.4 SECTION IX
S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Civil Appeal No(s). 4220/2006
RAKHIAL GRAM PANCHAYAT Appellant(s)
VERSUS
JAGATSINH ADESINH JHALA Respondent(s)
Date : 23/07/2015 This appeal was called on for hearing today.
CORAM :
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JAGDISH SINGH KHEHAR
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ADARSH KUMAR GOEL
For Appellant(s) Mr. Preetesh Kapur, Adv.
Ms. Daisy Hannah, Adv.
for Mr. Sanjay Kapur,AOR
For Respondent(s) Ms. Nidhi,Adv.
UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following
O R D E R
The appeal stands disposed of in terms of the signed
order.
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(Renuka Sadana) (Parveen Kr. Chawla)
Court Master AR-cum-PS
[signed order is placed on the file]
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