Dismissed

Union of India v. Mr. Soumesh Vargheese

Karnataka HC4 Mar 2024WP/5664/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Karnataka High Court dismissed a writ petition challenging the Central Administrative Tribunal order that set aside an order of dismissal. In order, the court affirmed that the Tribunal correctly mandated a regular inquiry under natural justice principles, directing the disciplinary authority to conclude within three months.

What did the court decide?

Writ petition dismissed; Disciplinary Authority directed to conduct regular inquiry and decide within three months; other Tribunal orders intact.

Union of India Vs Mr. Soumesh Vargheese — Service and Employment | Karnataka HC (2024)

¶1

¶2

NC: 2024:KHC:9014-DB WP No. 5664 of 2024

¶3

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

¶4

DATED THIS THE 4^TH DAY OF MARCH, 2024

¶5

PRESENT

¶6

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE K.SOMASHEKAR

¶7

AND

¶8

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE RAJESH RAI K

¶9

WRIT PETITION NO. 5664 OF 2024 (S-CAT)

¶10

BETWEEN:

¶11

UNION OF INDIA, GENERAL MANAGER, SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY, RAIL SOUDHA, GADAG ROAD, HUBBALLI-580 020. FOR AND ON BEHALF OF UNION OF INDIA,

¶12

Digitally signed by K S RENUKAMBA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

¶13

CHIEF MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT, RAILWAY HOSPITAL, M.G.RAILWAY COLONY, SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAYS, BENGALURU-560 023.

¶14

PRINCIPAL CHIEF MEDICAL DIRECTOR, CENTRAL RAILWAY HOSPITAL, SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAYS, GADAG ROAD, HUBBALLI-580 020.

¶15

SENIOR DIVISIONAL SECURITY COMMISSIONER (SR.DSC), RAILWAY PROTECTION FORCE (RPF), BENGALURU RAILWAY DIVISION, SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAYS, BENGALURU-560 023.

¶16

POST COMMANDER, RAILWAY PROTECTION FORCE (RPF),

¶17

2 - NC: 2024:KHC:9014-DB WP No. 5664 of 2024

¶18

YESHWANTHPUR, BENGALURU DIVISION, BENGALURU-560 022.

¶19

…PETITIONERS

¶20

(BY SRI. ARAVIND KAMATH, SOLICITOR GENERAL OF INDIA ALONG WITH SRI. H. SHANTHI BHUSHAN, DSGI, ADVOCATE)

¶21

AND:

¶22

MR. SOUMESH VARGHEESE, S/O SRI P.A.VARGHEESE, AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS, OCE: NURSING SUPERINTENDENT, DIVISIONAL RAILWAY HOSPITAL, SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAYS, BENGALURU-560 023. (UNDER ORDERS OF DISMISSAL FROM SERVICE) RESIDING AT NO.B10, 703, BDA KAILASH APARTMENT, NEAR RAILWAY STATION VALAGERAHALLI, KENGERI, BENGALURU-560 059.

¶23

…RESPONDENT

¶24

THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO a)CALL FOR THE RECORDS b)SET ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 07.09.2023 PASSED IN OA NO.170/00033/2023 BY THE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL AT BANGALORE BENCH, BANGALORE (ANNEXURE-A) AS UNTENABLE.

¶25

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, RAJESH RAI K, J., MADE THE FOLLOWING:

¶26

3 - NC: 2024:KHC:9014-DB WP No. 5664 of 2024

¶27

ORDER

¶28

Though this matter is listed for preliminary hearing, the matter is taken up for final disposal.

¶29

For the order proposed, notice to the respondent is dispensed with.

¶30

The petitioners, in this writ petition, have challenged the legality and correctness of the order passed in Original Application No.170/00033/2023 dated 07.09.2023 by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Bangalore (for short 'the Tribunal'), wherein the Tribunal disposed of the application by setting aside the order passed by the Disciplinary Authority i.e., petitioner No.2 dated 27.05.2021, the Appellate Authority i.e., petitioner No.3 dated 13.10.2021 and the Revising Authority i.e., petitioner No.1 dated 14.07.2022. Further, the matter was restored to the file of Disciplinary Authority with a direction to petitioner No.2-Disciplinary Authority to conduct a regular enquiry in accordance with law and to take an appropriate decision in an expedite manner, in any event not later than six months from the date of receipt of the certified copy of the order. Further, the Tribunal directed the Disciplinary Authority

¶31

¶32

NC: 2024:KHC:9014-DB WP No. 5664 of 2024

¶33

to take a decision inasmuch as the applicant whether to be reinstated or to be placed under suspension until the disciplinary proceedings are concluded.

¶34

The facts that are apposite from the record, which are necessary for disposal of this writ petition, are as under:

¶35

The respondent, who was appointed as Staff Nurse in Pay Scale of Rs.5000-8000, posted to Health Unit, South Western Railway, Belgaum vide Office Order No.22/2008 dated 18.01.2008. The respondent was promoted to the post of Nursing Sister in Pay Band-2 i.e., Rs.9300-34800 + GP Rs.4800/- and transferred from Health Unit, South Western Railway, Belgaum to Railway Hospital, South Western Railway, Begnaluru Division on his own request vide Office Order No.35/2016/MED dated 18.11.2016. On 14.05.2021, a raid was conducted by the Post Commander/RPF/Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore Division and one M.S.Karibasayya, who was working as Ambulance Driver, was arrested while selling 1 vial of Remdesivir Injection. Thereafter, two others were also arrested and based on their confession statement, the respondent was arrested. During the course of investigation, it has been found that the respondent colluding with the others were selling

¶36

5 - NC: 2024:KHC:9014-DB WP No. 5664 of 2024

¶37

vial of lifesaving drug at Rs.25,000/to Rs.40,000/-. Accordingly, a case has been registered in Crime No.4/2021 under Section 3(a) of Railway Property (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1966 (for short 'RP (UP) Act, 1966) and the respondent and others were produced before the Magistrate, Special Economic Court at Bangalore and sent to judicial custody.

¶38

In connection with the above incident, the respondent was placed under deemed suspension with effect from 15.05.2021 until further orders in terms of Rule 5 (2) of the Railway Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1968 (for short 'RS (D & A) Rules, 1968') vide order No.B/MD/227/RH/SV/2021 dated 17.05.2021. Further, considering the circumstances and gravity of the offence, the Department has decided to invoke Rule 14 (ii) of RS (D & A) Rules, 1968 and the respondent was dismissed from service with immediate effect vide penalty advice No.B/M/227/S.V. dated 27.05.2021. Against the said order, the respondent submitted an appeal under Rule 18 of RS (D & A) Rules, 1968 vide letter dated 27.07.2021. The Appellate Authority, after perusal of the documents, upheld penalty imposed by the Disciplinary Authority vide order dated 13.10.2021. Challenging the same, the respondent filed a

¶39

6 - NC: 2024:KHC:9014-DB WP No. 5664 of 2024

¶40

Revision Petition on 30.11.2021 under Rule 25 of RS (D & A) Rules, 1968 to the Revising Authority namely GM SWR Hubballi. However, before passing an order in the Revision petition, the respondent preferred O.A.No.170/00181/2022 challenging the penalty advice dated 27.05.2021 and the order dated 13.10.2021. The Tribunal, taking into consideration the submission made by the learned counsel that the revision petition is yet to be decided by the concerned authority, disposed of the application with a direction to petitioner No.1 to decide the revision petition dated 30.11.2021 and pass a reasoned and speaking order in accordance with law and to afford an opportunity to the applicant. Further, the Tribunal directed that the whole exercise shall be undertaken within a period of one month from the date of receipt of the said order. Posteriorly, the Revising Authority, vide order dated 14.07.2022, dismissed the revision petition filed by the respondent.

¶41

Aggrieved by the same, the respondent approached the Tribunal in filing Original Application No.170/00033/2023. The Tribunal, after considering the facts and circumstances of the case, allowed the application filed by the respondent vide order

¶42

7 - NC: 2024:KHC:9014-DB WP No. 5664 of 2024

¶43

dated 07.09.2023 as stated supra. The validity of the said order is challenged by the Union of India in this writ petition.

¶44

We have heard the Sri Arvind Kamath, learned

¶45

Solicitor General of India (SGI) for Sri H.Shanthi Bhushan, learned DSGI for the petitioners and perused the records.

¶46

It is the primary contention of the learned SGI appearing for the petitioners that the Tribunal erred while passing the impugned order by not considering the circumstances and the gravity of the offence committed by the respondent. He would submit that the respondent had entered into a criminal conspiracy with other Railway employees and for illegal gain, sold lifesaving Remdesivir Injection when the entire nation was reeling under lock down/restriction due to Covid-19 pandemic. The respondent confessed himself to that effect and as such, a criminal case has been registered against the respondent in Crime No.4/2021 under Section 3(a) of RP (UP) Act, 1966, thereby the reputation of the Railway Department being tarnished. Hence, imposition of the major penalty was just and proper.

¶47

8 - NC: 2024:KHC:9014-DB WP No. 5664 of 2024

¶48

Learned SGI would also emphasis to Rule 14 of RS (D & A) Rules, 1968 i.e., Special procedure in certain cases and submits that the Disciplinary Authority may consider the circumstances of the case and make such orders thereon as it deems fit, provided that the Railway servant may be given an opportunity of making representation on the penalty proposed to be imposed before any order is made in a case falling under clause (i). Hence, according to the learned SGI, the Disciplinary Authority has recorded cogent and valid reasons that it was not possible to hold an inquiry and had passed an order of penalty. In such circumstances, there is no violation of principles of natural justice since the same is subject to the provision of the Act and Rules. Sub-rule (ii) of Rule 14 of RS (D & A) Rules, 1968 provides for exception and the same has been exercised by assigning thereto which cannot be found fault within as much as appellant and Revision authorities have considered the contentions of the respondent. Accordingly, learned SGI prays to set aside the order passed by the Tribunal in O.A.No.170/00033/2023.

¶49

9 - NC: 2024:KHC:9014-DB WP No. 5664 of 2024

¶50

We have carefully perused the records made available before us including the impugned order passed by the Tribunal.

¶51

It could be seen from the penalty advice dated 27.05.2021 passed by the petitioners' authority, the authority concluded that the respondent has involved himself in criminal conspiracy, involving severe moral turpitude as he has willfully defrauded railway administration by holding a Government position. The said finding of the authority is only based on the registration of FIR in Crime No.4/2021. The respondent was implicated in the said crime based on his confession statement. Before conducting any investigation by the concerned police in Crime No.4/2021 and without providing any opportunity to the respondent to prove his innocence, the authority hurriedly passed the Penalty Advice. Though the same was questioned by the respondent by preferring an appeal to Chief Medical Superintendent, Railway Hospital, Begnaluru, the said authority also not considered the plea of the respondent. Further, the Disciplinary Authority without holding any inquiry by invoking Rule 14 (ii) of RS (D & A) Rules 1968 imposed major penalty of dismissing the respondent from the service vide order dated

¶52

10 - NC: 2024:KHC:9014-DB WP No. 5664 of 2024

¶53

27.05.2021. Nevertheless, the Disciplinary Authority also failed to consider the representation submitted by the respondent in a manner know to law. By close scrutiny of the order passed by the Disciplinary Authority would indicate that the same was passed based on preponderance of probabilities without proving the guilt of the respondent beyond reasonable doubt. The reason assigned for the same by the Disciplinary Authority is that due to Covid-19 pandemic, it would possible to hold an inquiry in the manner provided in RS (D & A) Rules 1968. Hence, a careful perusal of the reasoning of the Disciplinary Authority and the facts and circumstances of the case, it could be easily gathered that the orders passed by the Disciplinary Authority and the Appellate Authority are against the principles of natural justice and without providing proper opportunity to the respondent to put forth his case/defence in the matter. The Honble Apex Court in the case of Tarsem Singh vs. State of Punjab and others reported in 2006 (13) SCC 581, in paragraph Nos.10 & 11, held as under:

¶54

"10. It is now a well-settled principle of law that a constitutional right conferred upon a delinquent cannot be dispensed with lightly or arbitrarily or out of ulterior motive or merely in order

¶55

11 -

¶56

NC: 2024:KHC:9014-DB WP No. 5664 of 2024

¶57

to avoid the holding of an enquiry. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant has taken us through certain documents for the purpose of showing that ultimately the police on investigation did not find any case against the appellant in respect of the purported FIR lodged against him under Section 377 IPC. However, it may not be necessary for us to go into the said question

¶58

11. We have noticed hereinbefore that the formal enquiry was dispensed with only on the ground that the appellant could win over aggrieved people as well as witnesses from giving evidence by threatening and other means. No material has been placed or disclosed either in the said order or before us to show that subjective satisfaction arrived at by the statutory authority was based upon objective criteria. The purported reason for dispensing with the departmental proceedings is not supported by any document. It is further evident that the said order of dismissal was passed, inter alia, on the ground that there was no need for a regular departmental enquiry relying on or on the basis of a preliminary enquiry. However, if a preliminary enquiry could be conducted, we fail to see any reason as to why a formal departmental enquiry could not have been initiated against the appellant. Reliance placed upon such a preliminary enquiry without complying with

¶59

12 - NC: 2024:KHC:9014-DB WP No. 5664 of 2024

¶60

the minimal requirements of the principle of natural justice is against all canons of fair play and justice. The appellate authority, as noticed hereinbefore, in its order dated 24-6-1998 jumped to the conclusion that he was guilty of grave acts of misconduct proving complete unfitness for police service and the punishment awarded to him is commensurate with the misconduct although no material therefore was available on record. It is further evident that the appellate authority also misdirected himself in passing the said order insofar as he failed to take into consideration the relevant facts and based his decision on irrelevant factors."

¶61

On careful perusal of the law laid by the Hon'ble Apex Court in the aforesaid case, we are of the considered opinion that the Tribunal has rightly set aside the orders passed by the authorities and restored the matter to the file of the Disciplinary Authority. Hence, we find no good reasons to interfere with the order passed by the Tribunal.

¶62

In view of the above discussion, we proceed to pass

¶63

the following:

¶64

ORDER

¶65

i) The writ petition, being devoid of merits, is dismissed .

¶66

13 - NC: 2024:KHC:9014-DB WP No. 5664 of 2024

¶67

ii) However, the Disciplinary Authority i.e., petitioner No.2 is directed to conduct the regular enquiry in accordance with law and take an appropriate decision in an expedite manner, in any event not later than three months from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order.

¶68

iv) The rest of order/observation made by Tribunal stands intact.

Sd/JUDGE

Sd/JUDGE

List No.: 1 Sl No.: 20

Union of India v. Mr. Soumesh Vargheese

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Union of India v. Mr. Soumesh Vargheese

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Cases cited

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

Similar cases

Nanjappa Vs P.V. Poornema

Sri. Cheluve Gowda Vs the Deputy Commissioner

Mysore Medical College and Vs the State of Karnataka

Union of India Vs Sri. N. Manjunath

Union of India Vs Sri. Nagesh

Sri Mallikarjuna P Vs State of Karnataka