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1979 Supreme(SC) 426

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
V.R. KRISHNA IYER AND R.S. PATHAK, JJ.
Swami Saran Saksena, Appellant
Versus
State of U.P., Respondent.
Civil Appeal No. 1296 of 1978
Decided on 11-10-1979.

Advocates:
G.N.DIKSHIT, M.V.GOSWAMY

Headnote:COMPULSORY RETIREMENT - the officer was allowed to cross second efficiency bar only few months before he was allowed to cross E.B. No material or evidence is there that after crossing efficiency bar the service of officer suddenly deteriorated requiring compulsory retirement of the office. Held, the order of compulsory retirement should therefore be quashed.

JUDGMENT

PATHAK, J.:—This appeal by special leave has been preferred by the appellant against the order of the Allahabad High Court dismissing his writ petition challenging an order of compulsory retirement.

2. The appellant was appointed by the Government of Uttar Pradesh in November, 1954 as a temporary judicial officer. The State Government terminated his service in December, 1962 but, on representation made by him, the termination order was withdrawn on January 16, 1963. The appellant re-joined service and resumed his duties. However, by an order dated May 18, 1966, his services were terminated again. On a writ petition filed by him in the Allahabad High Court, the termination order was quashed by the High Court on August 8, 1969. The appellant was reinstated with the benefit of continuity of service. His troubles did not end there. although he had served for about fifteen years, several representations made by him to the State Government for his confirmation met with no response, and he continued to remain a temporary Government servant. Meanwhile, in June, 1975 he was allowed to cross the second efficiency bar. But on August 2, 1974 the State Government made an order compulsorily retiring the appellant from service. The order purports to have been made in exercise of the powers mentioned in Note 1 to Article 465-A of the Civil Service Regulations, which provides for compulsory retirement of a temporary Government servant on attaining the age of 50 years. The appellant had reached the age of 54 years. It was recited in the order that the Governor on being satisfied that is was not in the public interest to retain the appellant, who was described as a temporary judicial officer, required him to retire from service with immediate effect, with three months pay in lieu of notice. The order was assailed by the appellant by a writ petition, and a learned single Judge of the High Court allowed the writ petition on September 17, 1975 and quashing the order he declared that the appellant continued to remain in service. The learned single Judge held that the appellant was not covered by the terms of Article 465-A and as regards Article 465, which was invoked in the alternative in support of the impugned order, he took the view that as the appellant was a temporary Government servant only and not entitled to pension. Article 465 also did not apply. The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed, and a Division Bench of the High Court has, by its order dated May 7, 1976 allowed the appeal and dismissed the writ petition. The Division Bench confirmed that as the appellant was a temporary judicial official, Note 1 to Article 465-A could not be pressed into service by the State Government for retiring him, but it maintained the order with reference to Note 1 to Article 465 holding that the provision entitled the State Government to retire any Government servant attaining the age of 50 years on three months notice or pay in lieu thereof. It observed that the power of the State Government to compulsorily retire a Government servant was not dependent on his eligibility for pension. It was of the view that the appellant, although a temporary Government servant, could be compulsorily retired under Note 1 to Article 465. The further contention of the appellant was also rejected that the impugned order was arbitrary. Inasmuch as he had been allowed to cross the second Efficiency Bar in June, 1973, which could only have been if his work showed distinct ability and his integrity was beyond doubt and, he urged, nothing had taken place since to justify the order of compulsory retirement passed shortly thereafter.

3. Several contentions have been raised in this appeal by the appellant, who appears in person. In our judgment, one of them suffices to dispose of the appeal. The contention which has found favour with us is that on a perusal of the material on the record and having regard to the entries in the personal file and character roll of the appellant, it is




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