Judgement

SARKAR, J. : The respondent is a Civil Engineer who held various positions under the appellant, the Government of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. On September 8, 1954, while the respondent was holding the post of Development Commissioner, he was placed under suspension by an order made by the appellant on that date. Later, the appellant passed another order on February 12, 1955, demoting the petitioner to the post of a Divisional Engineer.

2. On May 12, 1955, the respondent moved the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir under Art. 32 (2A) of the Constitution of India as applied to the State of Jammu and Kashmir, for a writ directing the appellant not to give effect to the order dated February 12, 1955, and to recognise him as the Chief Engineer, the substantive post held by him when he was suspended, with effect from the date of suspension and with all the emoluments of that office. The High Court issued the writ as prayed. The State appeals from the Judgment of the High Court.

3. In the view that, we think, must be taken of this case, it is unnecessary to go into the facts a great deal. At one stage of his career under the appellant, the respondent held a job of some responsibility in what was called the Sindh Valley Hydro Electric Scheme. This Scheme was for generating electric power by dams erected in the Sindh water course and for using the water for irrigation purposes. The work on this Scheme seems to have commenced some time ago. The respondent was connected with the Scheme from 1949 till he was transferred from the work in 1953. It appears that the appellant was dissatisfied with the progress of the work and the manner in which it had been carried out and decided to, establish a Commission of Inquiry (a) to investigate into the reasons for (i) progressive rise in the estimates, (ii) the defective planning and the delay in the execution of the work and (iii) the other irregularities and (b) to fix responsibility upon the persons concerned and make appropriate recommendations. Pending the investigation various officers associated with the planning and execution of the Scheme including the respondent, were placed under suspension on September 8, 1954. Thereafter on October 20, 1954, a commission was set up by the appellant consisting of various persons. The Commission made certain enquiries and eventually submitted its report to the appellant. The appellant then made the order demoting the respondent purporting to act on the basis of the report. It is not necessary to set out the facts any more.

4. The respondent, in his application for the writ, questioned the validity of the orders suspending and demoting him on these grounds. He alleged that the Commission did not conduct the enquiry according to the rules of natural justice. He said that he was not even informed of the charges against him nor given a proper hearing and that if he had been given proper opportunity, he would have proved that he had not been at fault at all. He also said that the appointment of the Commission could only have been made under S. 2 of the Public Servants (Inquiries) Act, 1977 (Kashmir era), and must, therefore be deemed to have been so made. He complained that the provisions of this Act were not observed by the Commissioner in making the enquiry. Lastly, he said that the respondent could be reduced in rank only in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Kashmir Civil Service Rules passed by the State Council Order No. 81-C of 1939 and this procedure had not been followed. In the High Court, the question as to whether these Rules had the status of law seems to have been debated at great length. The High Court took the view that they had. We will proceed on the basis that the High Court was right and the allegations made by the respondent in his petition had been sub-stantiated.

5. Now, the High Court was moved to exercise its powers under Art. 32(2A) of the Constitution. The order made by it cannot be upheld if it was not justified by