A police constable sought quashment of a departmental chargesheet issued while her criminal case for theft-related offences was pending, arguing identical facts would prejudice her defence. The court found the charges differed substantially and dismissed the petition.
No relief granted; chargesheet not quashed, stay order vacated.
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.
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR
S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 16516/2021
Leelavati W/o Shri Jagdish Chandra, aged about 45 Years, resident of Ward No. 2, Rajnagar near By Pass, Rajgarh, Churu. At present posted as Constable Reserve Police Line, Churu.
----Petitioner
----Respondents
| For Petitioner(s) | : Mr.Vikas Bijarnia,Adv. |
|---|---|
| For Respondent(s) | : Mr.Gaurav Ranka on behalf of |
| Ms.Vandana Bhansali,Adv. |
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MUNNURI LAXMAN
Order
Order Reserved on : 05.04.2024
Order Pronounced on : 20.04.2024
(2 of 9)
[CW-16516/2021]
proceedings and in the criminal case are based on the same set of facts. If the departmental enquiry is allowed to continue, the petitioner is greatly prejudiced in defending his criminal case and he has to disclose his defence in the disciplinary proceedings before the trial has been commenced in the criminal case, which would have great prejudice to him. Therefore, the petitioner seeks quashment of chargesheet pending the decision in the criminal case.
[CW-16516/2021]
(3 of 9)
and similar set of facts and if both the proceedings are simultaneously continued, the writ-petitioner would be greatly prejudiced in defending his criminal case and he was bound to make out his defence in the departmental proceedings, which would have the impact on his defence in the criminal trial. Therefore, the departmental proceedings cannot be allowed to continue till the criminal proceedings are concluded.
[CW-16516/2021]
(4 of 9)
“vkt fnukad 27-5-2021 ds oä 11-30 ih,e ij Jh lriky fo"uksbZ iq= Jh Hkojyky mez 36 lky tkfr fo’uksbZ fuoklh f=eqfrZ QkeZslh ds ikl fjdks jksM u06 jkuh cktkj iqfyl Fkkuk xaxk'kgj ftyk chdkusj gky Fkkukfèkdkjh efgyk Fkkuk pq: us e; tkCrk e; fxjQrkj eqyfte çdk'k ds o e; tCrk ‘kqnk otg lcwr eqrkfcd QnkZr ds mifLFkr Fkkuk gksdj ,d VkbZi ‘k+qnk fjiksVZ onhetewu lsokes] Jheku Fkkukfèkdkjh iqfyl Fkkuk dksrokyh pw: ftyk pw: fo"k;%& eqdnek ntZ djokus ckcr~A egksn;] mijksä fo"k; us fuosnu gS fd vkt fnukad 27-05-2021 dks iqfyl ykbZu pw: ls Jh Hkknj flag gSMdkfu dk Qksu Jherh /kkih gSMdkfu 43 ds eksckbZy ij vk;k dh iqfyl ykbZu pw: dksr ls bUlkl jkbZQy ys tkvks bl ij jkbQy ykus gsrw Jh f'k'kjke ikfu 1072 dks jokuk iqfyl ykbZu pw: fd;k x;k FkkA tks oä djhc 11 ,,e ij jkbZQy bUlkl cV uEcj 05 iqfyl ykbZu ls pw: ls çkIr dj yk;k o ,p,e Fkkuk Jherh /kkih gSMdkfu 43 dks lEHkykbZ FkhA Jh f'k'kjke dkfu us tc bUlkl jkbZQy ykdj ,p,e Fkkuk dks lEHkykbZ Fkh ml le; lUrjh igjk ij Jherh lfork edkfu 615 FkhA blds ckn Jh f'k”kjke dkfu Fkkuk gktk dh Mkd ysus o Mkd nsus ds fy, dksVZ pw: o Jheku ,lih lkgc dk;kZy; pw: pyk x;kA Jherh èkkih gSMdkfu dks eky[kkuk ds yksd dh pkch ugha feyus ij bUlkl jkbQy uEcj 05 dks ,p,e dk;kZy; esa cus LVksj esa j[k nhA vkt fnukad 27-05-2021 dks lqcg 10 ,e ls 02 ih,e rd Fkkuk gktk dk lUrjh igjk Jherh lfork edkfu 615 dk FkkA mlds ckn 02 ih,e ls 6 ih,e rd lUrjh igjk Jherh yhykorh edkfu 737 dk FkkA oä djhc 4 cts lh Jherh /kkih gSMdkfu 43 us ,p,e dk;kZy; esa jkbZQy lEHkkyh rks jkbZQy xk;c feyh mä ckrsa eq>s Jherh èkkih gSMdkfu us crkbZ] nl ij Jherh /kkih gSMdkfu 43 us lUrjh igjk Jherh yhykorh edkfu 737 ls iqNrkN dh rks mlus crk;k dh eq>s jkbZQy dk dksbZ è;ku ugha gSA Fkkuk ij yxs lhlhVhoh dSejks dks pSd fd;k x;k rks lhlhVhoh dSejs cUn feysA bl ij Fkkuk ifjlj es jkbZQy dh ryk’k dh xbZ o Fkkuk gktk ds mifLFkr eqyktekuks dks cqykdj iqNrkN dh rks Fkkuk gktk ds ckgj lM+d ij pk; FkMh lapkyd Jh lEir o lCth foØsrk Jh lqHkk"k us crk;k dh vkids Fkkus dh efgyk edkfu Jherh fyykorh oä djhc 2-30 ih,e ij jkbZQy ysdj esfMdy dkyst dh vksj xbZ Fkh] ftudks tkrs gq;s geus ns[kk FkkA tks djhc 10 feuV ckn okil vkbZ ijUrq okil vkrs le; mlds gkFk esa jkbZQy ugha Fkh bl ij Jherh fyykorh edkfu 737 ls eu Fkkukfèkdkjh o tkIrk us rlYyh nsdj jkbZQy ckcr iwNrkN dh xbZ rks jkbZQy ds ckjs esa dksbZ tkudkjh ugha gksuk crk;kA bl ij edkfu dks vius ?kj dh ryk’kh ysus gsrq dgk x;k rks Fkkuk gktk ls eu Fkkukfèkdkjh lriky fc"uksbZ iqfuŒ e; Jh egsUæ flag lmfu] Jherh èkkih gSMdkfu 43] Jherh laxhrk gSMdkfu] Jherh lq’khyk edkfu] Jh egs"k dkfu] Jh iou dkfu] Jh ftrsUæ dkfu ,oa ljdkjh xkMh e; Jh vkseflga pkyd dkfu dks ,oa Jherh fyykorh edkfu 737 dks ysdj mlds fuokl LFkku 'ks[kkor dkyksuh pw: ij igqapk rks fuokl LFkku ds eq[; xsV ij rkyk yxk gqvk FkkA rc Jherh fyykorh edkfu us crk;k dh esjk ifr Jh txnh’k vk;s gq, gS oks 'kjkch gS eSa muls ijs'kku gq mUgksaus rkyk yxk;k gS ftuds eksckbZy uEcj 8076677290 ij lEidZ djuk pkgk rks eksckbZy Lohp vkWQ vkus ls Jherh fyykorh edkfu us crk;k dh esjk ifr 'kjkc ihus ds fy;s 'kjkc ds Bsdksa o 'kfä iSysl dh vksj pyk tkrk gS ogk ryk'k djrs gS bl ij Jherh /kkih gSMdkfu] Jherh laxhrk gSMdkfu dks ?kj dh fuxjkuh o lqj{kk gsrq NksMk x;kA Jherh fyykorh edkfu dks gejkg ysdj gksVy 'kfä Iyse o Jh fxjèkkjh ,lhch deZpkjh ds ?kj o t;iqj iqfy;k ds vkl ikl ryk'k fd;k exj edkfu dk ifr Jh txnh”k ugha feyk bl ij iqu% Fkkuk
[CW-16516/2021]
(5 of 9)
igqapk rks Jherh fyykorh edkfu us crk;k dh eSa rkyk rksMdj esjs ?kj dh ryklh fnyk nsrh gw¡A bl ij eu Fkkukfèkdkjh e; tkIrk ds lkFk Jherh fyykorh edkfu dks gejkg ysdj edku dh ryklh gsrq jokuk gqvkA ldafyr lwpukvksa ls Fkkuk gktk ls xk;o gfFk;kj ds fyykorh edkfu ds dCts esa mlds ?kj esa ekStwn gksus dh iw.kZ lEHkkouk gSA [kkuk ryk'kh dk okjUV çkIr djus esa le; yx ldrk gS ftlls ljdkjh gfFk;kj [kqnZ cqnZ gksus ds iw.kZ lEHkkouk gSA ftlds fy, rqjar edku dh ryklh yh tkuk vfr vko';d gSA bl ij Jherh fyykorh us vius ifjfpr iMkSlh dks lkFk ysdj vius ?kj dk rkyk rksM+dj dgk dh eS Vks;ysV dj ysrh gw vki ckgj jgks o vUnj ls dqUnh yxk yhA fyykorh edkfu dks le>kbZ’k dj njoktk [kqyokus ds ç;kl fd;s x;sA okn le>kbZ’k djhc 10 feuV ckn fyykorh edkfu- us vUnj ls dqUnh [kksydj ?kj dh ryklh tfj;s Fkkuk ryk"kh yh xbZ rks ?kj esa jkbZQy ugha feyh rks Jherh fyykorh ds ?kj ds iMkSlh ls rkyk ysdj cnLrqj rkyk yxk;k x;kA mlds ckn ?kj ls ckgj fudys rc xksiuh; irkjlh ls lwpuk çkIr gqbZ dh Fkkuk ls xk;c gqvk gfFk;kj çdk'k ds ?kj ij gSA çkIr lwpuk ds vfo”oluh; gksus dk dksbZ vkèkkj mifLFkr ugha gS o çkIr lwpuk ls gfFk;kj dh çdk'k ds edku ij gksus dh iw.kZ lEHkkouk gSA ,lh fLFkfr esa edku Jh izdk’k dh ryk’kh yh tkuh vko’;d gSA ryk’kh gsrq okjUV izkIr djus esa le; yx ldrk gS ftlls ljdkjh gfFk;kj [kqnZ cqnZ gksus ds iw.kZ lEHkkouk gSA ftl ij Jh izdk’k ls iqNrkN dh rks mlus crk;k dh eq>s jkbZQy ds lEcU/k esa dksbZ tkudkjh ugha gSA bl ij mlds ?kj dh ryk’kh tfj;s [kkuk ryk’kh ds yh rks ?kj esa mÙkj iwohZ dksus esa cus if”pe eq[kh dejs ds njokts ij ykWd yxk gqvk FkkA dejs dk ykWd Jh izdk’k ls [kqyok;k tkdj dejk dh ryk’kh yh rks ml dejk esa j[ks gq;s cSM ds xnns ds fups jkbZQy bUlkl cV uEcj 05 feyhA gfFk;kj dk voyksdu fd;k x;kA rks gfFk;kj nq:Lr gkyr esa feyk ftldks tfj;s QnZ tIr fd;k tkdj dCtk esa fy;k x;kA vkjksih izdk”k ds fo:) tqeZ /kkjk 7@25¼1½¼d&d½ vkElZ ,DV ds tn esa vkus ij vkjksih izdk’k dks tfj;s QnZ fxjQrkj fd;k x;kA mlds ckn tIr’kqnk jkbZQy o Jh izdk’k o Jherh fyykorh edkfu o vU; leLr tkIrk dks gejkg ysdj Fkkuk igqpkA o Jh izdk’k ls iqNrkN djus ij mlus crk;k dh Jherh fyykorh edkfu us esjs ?kj dh rjQ jkbZQy Mkydj bZlkjs ls crk;k Fkk fd fdlh dks dqN er crkukA eSus bl ckjs esa fdlh yksdlsod o vU; O;fDr dks tkudkjh ugha nh o gfFk;kj dks vius ?kj esa cus dejs esa Nqik fn;kA Jherh fyykorh edkfu 737 us Fkkuk gktk ls fcuk fdlh Lohd`fr o tkudkjh ds jkbZQy bUlkl cV uEcj 05 dks cnfu;rh ls ,p,e dk;kZy; ls mBkdj viuh mifLFkfr fNikrs gq, pksjh dh gS ftlus mDr jkbZQy dks vius ?kj ls iMkSlh izdk’k ds ?kj esa Qsad lk{; dk tkucq> dj foyksi fd;k gSA rFkk izdk’k us mDr ljdkjh gfFk;kj tkurs gq, pwjkbZ xbZ lEifr dks izkIr fd;k gS o voS/k :i ls gfFk;kj dks vius dCts esa j[kk gSA vr% mDr nksuks ds f[kykQ vfHk;ksx ntZ fd;k tkosA lyaXu %& QnZ [kkuk ryklh] QnZ tIrh gfFk;kj o QnZ fxjQrkjh vkjksih izdk”kA izkFkhZ ,lMh lriky fc”uksbZ iqfuŒ Fkkukf/kdkjh efgyk Fkkuk pw: is”k fd etequ fjiksVZ ls ekeyk tweZ /kkjk 454] 380] 414] 411] 201 Hkknl 7@25¼1½d&d vkElZ ,DV dk odq esa vkuk ik;s tkus ij eq-u- 125@2021 ctqeZ mijksDr esa ntZ dj rQrh’k eu Fkkukf/kdkjh }kjk “kq: dh xbZA mDr tCr “kqnk otg lcwr dks tek eky[kkuk fd;k tk jgk gS o fxjQrkj “kqnk eqyfte izdk”k dks cUn gokykr dj lqiqnZ lUrjh igjk fd;k x;kA izfr;k ,QvkbZvkj fu;ekuqlkj tkjh dh xbZA”
[CW-16516/2021]
(6 of 9)
“vkjksi la[;k 1%& iqfyl Fkkuk efgyk pw: ds jkstukepk vke esa jiV la[;k 10 fnukad 27-05-2021 oDr 06%00 ,,e ds }kjk vkidh larjh igjk M~;wVh 02 ih,e ls 06 ih,e rd efgyk iqfyl Fkkuk pw: ij yxkbZ xbZ FkhA vki }kjk larjh igjk tSlh egRoiw.kZ M~;wVh dks NksM+dj fcuk l{ke vfèkdkjh dh vuqefr ds vius fuokl LFkku 'ks[kkor d‚yksuh pw: pyh xbZ o dqN le; ogka ij jgdj okil vkbZA tks vkidh LoSPNkpkfjrk o larjh igjk M~;wVh ds çfr ykijokgh dk |ksrd gSA tSlk fd vfHkdFkuksa ds fooj.k la[;k 1 esa vafdr gSA
vkjksi la[;k 2%& fnukad 27-05-2021 dks iqfyl Fkkuk efgyk pw: ls vkids larjh igjk ds nkSjku bZUlkUl jkbZQy ds xk;c gksus ds lacaèk esa vkidh lgefr ds vuqlkj Fkkukfèkdkjh iqfyl Fkkuk efgyk pw: ds }kjk vkids ?kj dh ryk'kh ysus gsrq vkidks gejkg ysdj e; eqykteku ds vkids fuokl ij igqaps rks vki edku dk rkyk rksM+dj Fkkukfèkdkjh o eqyktekuksa ls is'kkc djus dk cgkuk cukdj vki :dks dgdj vius ?kj esa ços'k fd;k o vUnj ls dqUMh can dj yhA Fkkukfèkdkjh Jh lriky fo'uksbZ o mifLFkr tkIrk ds }kjk vkidks le>kbZ'k dh xbZ rks yxHkx 10 feuV ckn vki }kjk ?kj dh dqUMh [kksyhA vki }kjk vius ?kj dh ryk'kh ugha fnyokdj mPpkfèkdkfj;ksa dks xqejkg djus dk ç;kl fd;k x;kA vkidks pkfg, Fkk fd ?kj igqapdj rkyk [kksydj@rksM+dj vius ? kj dh ryk'kh fy;s tkus esa lg;ksx djrs exj vki }kjk ,slk ugha fd;k x;kA vkidk mijksDr —R; iqfyl vkpj.k ds fo:) dk;Z djus dk ifjpk;d gSA tSlk fd vfHkdFkuksa ds fooj.k la[;k 2 esa vafdr gSA
vkjksi la[;k 3%& vkidh larjh igjk M~;wVh ds nkSjku Fkkuk ls gfFk;kj xk;c gksus vkSj mlds ckn vkids tslh gksus dk lekpkj lekpkj i=ks esa çdkf'kr gksus ls turk esa iqfyl dh Noh èkqfey gqbZA tSlk fd vfHkdFkuksa ds fooj.k la[;k 2 esa vafdr gSA
vkjksi la[;k 4%& iqfyl tSls vuq'kkflr cy ds lnL; gksus ds ckotwn vki }kjk vius drZO; ds çfr ykijokgh cjrh ,oa xSj ftEesnkjkuk vkpj.k djuk fdlh Hkh Lrj ij mfpr ugha dgk tk ldrk gSA bl çdkj ds vkpj.k ls iqfyl dh dk;Z'khyrk rks çHkkfor gksrh gS] vfirq vU; iqfyldeÊ Hkh nq"çsfjr gksrs gSA vkidk mä —R; drZO; ds çfr ykijokgh o xSj ftEesnkjkuk vkpj.k viuk dj foHkkxh; fu;eksa dh vogsyuk djus dk |ksrd gSA tSlk fd vfHkdFkuksa ds fooj.k la[;k 4 esa vafdr gSA”
[CW-16516/2021]
(7 of 9)
property, assisting in concealment of stolen property and causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender as well as offences related to Arms Act. The charges under the disciplinary proceedings are relating to dereliction of duties and negligence while she was performing the duties of Sentry guard on 27.05.2021 from 2 pm to 6 pm.
“22. The conclusions which are deducible from various decisions of this Court referred to above are :
(8 of 9)
[CW-16516/2021]
(i) Departmental proceedings and proceedings in a criminal case can proceed simultaneously as there is no bar in their being conducted simultaneously, though separately.
(ii) If the departmental proceedings and the criminal case are based on identical and similar set of facts and the charge in the criminal case against the delinquent employee is of a grave nature which involves complicated questions of law and fact, it would be desirable to stay the departmental proceedings till the conclusion of the criminal case.
(iii) Whether the nature of a charge in a criminal case is grave and whether complicated questions of fact and law are involved in that case, will depend upon the nature of offence, the nature of the case launched against the employee on the basis of evidence and material collected against him during investigation or as reflected in the charge sheet.
(iv) The factors mentioned at (ii) and (iii) above cannot be considered in isolation to stay the Departmental proceedings but due regard has to be given to the fact that the departmental proceedings cannot be unduly delayed.
(v) If the criminal case does not proceed or its disposal is being unduly delayed, the departmental proceedings, even if they were stayed on account of the pendency of the criminal case, can be resumed and proceeded with so as to conclude them at an early date, so that if the employee is found not guilty his honour may be vindicated and in case he is found guilty, administration may get rid of him at the earliest.”
[CW-16516/2021]
(9 of 9)
such a criminal charge must be grave in nature, which must involve complicated questions of law and facts.
(MUNNURI LAXMAN), J.
NK/-
1 issue framed by the court
Whether departmental charges against a police constable and pending criminal charges on overlapping facts justify suspending the departmental enquiry until the criminal case concludes.
Colour shows how this judgement treated each authority
M. Paul Anthony Vs. Bharat Gold Mines Ltd. & AnrRelied on¶12
(1999) 3 Supreme Court Cases 679
7 provisions across 2 enactments
Leelavati
State of Rajasthan
Director General of Police, Police Headquarters, Jaipur
Inspector General of Police, Bikaner Range, Bikaner
Superintendent of Police, Churu
Munnuri Laxman
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
