High Court allowed writ petition holding petitioner entitled to earned leave, 2nd ACP, and 3rd MACP benefits upon exoneration, quashing order denying same and directing authorities to pay via circular interpreting.
Quashed order denying earned leave; directed Principal Secretary to ensure unutilized earned leave, 2nd ACP, 3rd MACP benefits within eight weeks.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.446 of 2023
======================================================
Sunil Kumar Son of Late Hari Nandan Prasad Singh, Resident of Behind Hanuman Mandir, Nirala Nagar, Ratanpur, Police Station Begusarai, DistrictBegusarai, PIN- 834001.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
... ... Respondent/s
====================================================== Appearance : For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Siya Ram Shahi, Adv. Ms. Shally Kumari, Adv. For the Respondent/s : Mr. Sumant Kumar Singh, AC to GA-2 ======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HARISH KUMAR ORAL JUDGMENT Date : 04-12-2023
Heard Mr. Siya Ram Shahi, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr. Sumant Kumar Singh, learned counsel for the State.
Patna High Court CWJC No.446 of 2023 dt.04-12-2023 2/9
posted in Ganga Canal Pump Division, Munger. While the petitioner was posted as Assistant Engineer in Flood Control Division-I, Khagaria, on account of certain irregularities in antierosion works, he was put under suspension and proceeded departmentally vide Memo No. 7 dated 07.01.2021. The aforesaid departmental proceeding, however, concluded with exoneration of the petitioner vide Notification No. 1214 dated 30.09.2021 and, accordingly, the suspension of the petitioner was revoked and consequent thereupon, he was allowed to join in the Headquarter on 30.09.2021 and from where he superannuated on 31.01.2022.
Patna High Court CWJC No.446 of 2023 dt.04-12-2023 3/9
claim has been negatived vide order contained in Memo No. 1061 dated 26.06.2023 issued under the signature of Additional Chief Secretary (WRD), Government of Bihar. The afore-noted order dated 26.06.2023 has been put to challenge by the writ petitioner in an Interlocutory Application No.1 of 2023. The said interlocutory application was allowed vide order dated 25.09.2023 and the State was directed to file a further response in the matter. Thereupon, a supplementary counter affidavit has been filed on behalf of respondents no. 4 to 6.
Patna High Court CWJC No.446 of 2023 dt.04-12-2023 4/9
Contractor’s EMD amount of Rs.5,50,00,000/- was lying with the official respondents.
Patna High Court CWJC No.446 of 2023 dt.04-12-2023 5/9
charges of any making excess payment to the Contractor, all the more sufficient EMD of the Contractor is lying with the respondent officials. Referring to the Government Circular, contained in Memo No. 4564 dated 06.07.1993, he submits across the Board that from the plain reading of the letter, it appears that the earned leave can be withheld only in a situation where the petitioner is facing any departmental or judicial proceeding on the date on which he superannuates and there is even a bleak chance of recovery of loss caused to the State exchequer on conclusion of enquiry, if recovery is ordered. He further submits that in the case in hand, there is no material suggesting any chance of recovery at the ends of the petitioner. He next submits that so far the benefit under the Assured Career Progression Scheme is concerned, admittedly, the same has been denied on the pretext of departmental proceeding, which has already come to an end on the exoneration of the petitioner way back in the year 2021 itself vide order dated 30.09.2021. He thus submits that in view of the matter, the petitioner is also entitled to the benefit of 2nd ACP as well as the 3rd MACP.
Patna High Court CWJC No.446 of 2023 dt.04-12-2023 6/9
government money vide Chitragupta Nagar P.S. Case No. 708/2019 and the same is still pending. Thus, in view thereof, the petitioner would not be entitled for the earned leave. He further submits that the petitioner has been allowed 90% of his admissible pension in terms of Rule 43(c) of the Bihar Pension Rule, 1950. So far the benefit of ACP/MACP is concerned, the same shall be sent to the Screening Committee and appropriate order shall be passed in accordance with law.
“ 88- [Kkikad 4564@fo0 ¼2½] fnukad 6&7&1993 dh izfrfyfiA]
fo"k; % lsokfuofÙk dh frfFk dks vO;ogr mikftZr NqÍh ds cnys esa NqÍh ds osru ds lerqY; uxn jkf'k dk HkqxrkuA
mi;qZDr fo"k; ds izlax esa funs'kkuqlkj v/kksgLrk{kjh dks dguk gS fd dfri; foHkkxksa }kjk ;g ftKklk dh tk jgh gS fd ;fn fdlh ljdkjh lsod ds fo:) py jgh foHkkxh; dkjZokbZ] QkStnkjh eqdnek vFkok U;kf;d tk¡p mlds lsokfuofÙk gksus rd vfu.khZr gks vkSj lEcfU/kr deZpkjh fuyEcu esa jgrs gq, gh lsokfuoÙk gks tk,] rks oSlh fLFkfr esa vO;og`r mikftZr NqÍh ds cnys NqÍh&osru ds lerqY; uxn jkf'k ds
Patna High Court CWJC No.446 of 2023 dt.04-12-2023
7/9
Hkqxrku dks ekeys ds vfUre fu"iknu rd jksd j[kk tk ldrk gS ;k ughaA Lej.kh; gS fd foÙk foHkkxh; Kkikad 2150 fo0] fnukad 19&7&1984 ¼izfrfyfi layXu½ dh dafMdk 2 esa ;g lqfoosfpr izko/kku lekfo"V gS fd vO;ogr mikftZr NqÍh ds cnys esa NqÍh&osru ds lerqY; Hkqxrku dh tkus okyh uxn jkf'k fufoZokfnr osru dh dksfV dk gh ,d Hkqxrku gSA bl dkj.k bl uxn jkf'k ls lEcfU/kr ljdkjh lsod ds ftEes ljdkj ds cdk;s dh ,deq'r olwyh dh tk ldrh gSA bu izko/kkuksa ls ;g Li"Vr% foof{kr (implied) gksrk gS fd ftl lsokfuoÙk deZpkjh ds fo:) fdlh Hkh rjg dh tk¡p py jgh gS] mlds ekeys esa olwyh dh lgt laHkkouk gS vkSj ;fn ,sls ekeys esa tk¡p ds vfUre fu"iknu ds iwoZ gh vO;ogr mikftZr NqÍh ds fy, NqÍh&osru ds lerqY; uxn jkf'k dk Hkqxrku dj fn;k tk;sxk] rks tk¡p ds QykQy ds vk/kkj ij olwyh djuk O;ogkfjd nf"Vdks.k ls dfBu vo'; gksxkA blh mÌs'; ls ;g izko/kku Hkh fd;k x;k gS fd iwoZ ds vfu.khZr ekeyksa esa Hkh ;g olwyh dh tk ldrh gSA blds ckotwn ;g eglwl fd;k tkrk gS fd dsUnzh; flfoy lsok;sa ¼NqÍh½ fu;ekoyh ds fu;e 39 ¼3½ ds izko/kku ds leku jkT; ljdkj d sfu;e dh fLFkfr eq[kj ugha gSA
2- mi;qZDr lUnHkZ esa v/kksgLrk{kjh dks iqu % ;g Li"V djus dk funs'k gqvk gS fd NqÍh Lohdr djus ds fy, l{ke inkf/kdkjh Lofoosd ls lEiw.kZ uxn jkf'k vFkok mlds ,d fuf'pr va'k ds Hkqxrku dks oSls ekeys esa jksd ldrs gSa] ftlesa lsokfuoÙk deZpkjh ds fo:) lsokfuo`fÙk dh frfFk rd fdlh Hkh rjg dh foHkkxh; dkjZokbZ QkStnkjh eqdek vFkok U;kf;d tk¡p dk vfUre fu"iknu ugha gks ik;k gks vkSj ftlesa tk¡p ds QykQy ds :i esa olwyh dh {kh.k laHkkouk Hkh fo|eku gksA tk¡p ds vfUre fu"iknu gksus ij jksds x;s Hkqxrku dks foeqDr dj fn;k tk,xk] ijUrq tk¡p ds ifj.kkeLo:i ;fn dksbZ olwyh djus dk fu.kZ; gks] rks oSls olwyh djus ds ckn gh 'ks"k jkf'k foeqDr dh tk,xhA
3- vuqjks/k gS fd bl Li"Vhdj.k ls vius v/khuLFky dk;kZy;ksa dks Hkh voxr djk fn;k tk,A”
Patna High Court CWJC No.446 of 2023 dt.04-12-2023 8/9
noted hereinabove, this Court prima facie finds that the very objective purport of the circular is only to extend a security to the employer or the Government to make the loss good in case, there is any chance of recovery from the delinquent employee, who is facing departmental or judicial proceeding on the date of his superannuation or the order of recovery is to be passed, either in departmental enquiry or judicial proceeding. 11. This issue has also been highlighted by the learned co-ordinate Bench of this Court in the case of Akhilesh Prasad vs. The State of Bihar and Ors. [C.W.J.C. No. 9957 of 2023].
Patna High Court CWJC No.446 of 2023 dt.04-12-2023 9/9
is otherwise found eligible.
(Harish Kumar, J)
rohit/-
| AFR/NAFR | NAFR |
|---|---|
| CAV DATE | NA |
| Uploading Date | 11-12-2023 |
| Transmission Date |
2 issues framed by the court
Whether the petitioner is entitled to unutilized earned leave encashment and ACP/MACP benefits after exoneration from departmental charges despite pending criminal proceedings.
Whether the Government Circular dated 06.07.1993 permits withholding earned leave encashment when recovery from the involved contractor is secured via EMD.
Colour shows how this judgement treated each authority
Akhilesh Prasad vs. The State of Bihar and Ors.Relied on¶45
Akhilesh Prasad vs. The State of Bihar and Ors. [C.W.J.C. No. 9957 of 2023]
Sunil Kumar
The State of Bihar
The Principal Secretary, Water Resource Department, Govt. of Bihar
The Joint Secretary, Vigilance, Water Resource Department, Govt. of Bihar
The Deputy Secretary, Management, Water Resource Department, Govt. of Bihar
The Under Secretary, Management (J.E. Cadre)
HARISH KUMAR
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
HARISH KUMAR
Parties & counsel
