Quashed

Birendra Kumar Verma v. the State of Bihar and Ors.

Patna HC7 Feb 2017CWJC/14841/2008

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Petitioner challenged an order inflicting censure and stopping increment following a flawed departmental enquiry. The High Court held the enquiry violated legal procedures as no date was fixed or notice given. The court quashed the punishment and remitted the matter for fresh proceedings.

What did the court decide?

Punishment order dated 07.05.2002, Order No. 99, was quashed; matter remitted to enquiry conducting officer to proceed as per law.

Birendra Kumar Verma Vs the State of Bihar and… — Pension and Retirement Benefits | Patna HC (2017)

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

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Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.14841 of 2008

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Birendra Kumar Verma, S/O Late Barmeshwar Prasad Sinha, R/O Village – Pargati Nagar, Bhagwan Bazar, Chapra, P.S. – Bhagwan Bazar, District – Saran at present Junior Engineer, Mechanical, Field Machinery Division, Bhagalpur.

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.... .... Petitioner

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Versus

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The State of Bihar. 2. Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Water Resources Department, Bihar, Patna. 3. Deputy Secretary to Government, Water Resources Department, Bihar, Patna. 4. Additional Secretary to Government, Water Resources Department, Bihar, Patna.

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Superintending Engineer-cum-Inquiry Officer, Irrigation, Mechanical Division, Muzaffarpur.

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.... .... Respondents

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=========================================================== Appearance : For the Petitioner : Mr. Tara Nath Jha, Advocate. For the Respondents : Mr. Hari Shankar Rai, AC to PAAG 1. =========================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PRABHAT KUMAR JHA ORAL JUDGMENT Date: 07-02-2017

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Heard Shri Tara Nath Jha, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner and Shri Hari Shankar Rai A.C. to PAAG 1 for the respondents.

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2 . The petitioner filed this writ petition for quashing the Order No. 99 dated 07.05.2002 issued under the signature of Deputy Secretary, Water Resources Department, Government of Bihar by which the petitioner was inflicted censure for the year 1999 and 2000 and one increment with cumulative effect was stopped.

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3 . The facts which are relevant for the disposal of this writ petition are that the petitioner was posted as Junior Engineer Mechanical, Electric Sub-Division, Palamu and a departmental

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Patna High Court CWJC No.14841 of 2008 dt.07-02-2017

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proceeding was initiated for the charge that while he was posted as Junior Engineer in Bidyut Sub-Division falling under the Mechanical Division, Palamu in the year 1997 and 1998, the petitioner did some dereliction of duty and he did not cooperate the Executive Engineer in the enquiry. The petitioner was asked to show cause on the preliminary enquiry report held for initiation of the departmental proceeding. The petitioner filed his show cause on 10.05.2000 stating therein in sum and substance that the petitioner has not committed any dereliction of duty and he is not at all responsible to report about theft, said to have taken place, in the store. The departmental enquiry was held and the enquiry conducting officer submitted his report. The disciplinary authority on 10.01.2001 after having receipt the enquiry report issued show cause notice. The petitioner filed his second show cause on 06.10.2001. The petitioner stated that no document was served on him nor the conducting officer fixed any date for departmental enquiry. Although, the enquiry conducting officer did not find any fault on the part of the petitioner, but at the same time the enquiry conducting officer found the petitioner responsible for not having full control over the Chowkidar and on this ground he was found guilty. The disciplinary authority vide order dated 07.05.2002 (Annexure-6) inflicted the aforesaid punishment.

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4 . The respondents filed the counter affidavit but did not

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Patna High Court CWJC No.14841 of 2008 dt.07-02-2017

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deny the specific averment of the petitioner that no date of departmental enquiry was fixed, nor the petitioner was informed before the departmental enquiry. Shri Hari Shankar Rai, learned counsel for the respondents drew my attention to the Annexure-C of the supplementary counter affidavit and submitted that the petitioner was informed that he might inspect the office and find out the relevant records for his defence, but the petitioner never appeared before the enquiry conducting officer and, therefore, it is not the fault of the enquiry conducting officer rather, it was the fault of the petitioner who intentionally and knowingly did not appear before the enquiry conducting officer.

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5 . From perusal of the records, it appears that the enquiry conducting officer did not fixed any date for departmental enquiry, nor issue any information to the delinquent/the petitioner to appear at the departmental enquiry. The enquiry conducting officer, himself, perused the records and submitted his report. On the face, it appears that the departmental enquiry was not held in accordance with law, nor the petitioner was duly informed, therefore, on such report any punishment of withholding the increment of the petitioner with cumulative effect in my view is not sustainable in the eye of law.

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6 . Accordingly, the order no. 99, dated 07.05.2002 is quashed. The matter is again remitted to the enquiry conducting

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Patna High Court CWJC No.14841 of 2008 dt.07-02-2017

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officer to proceed in accordance with law, if at all, the department

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desires so.

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(Prabhat Kumar Jha, J.)

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KKSINHA/-

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Birendra Kumar Verma v. the State of Bihar and Ors.

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Birendra Kumar Verma v. the State of Bihar and Ors.

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