SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
D.A.Desai : R.B.Misra
Municipal Board, Pratabgarh
Versus
Mahendra Singh Chawla
Case No. : 3229 of 1982
Date of Decision : 10/11/82
Advocates Appeared: Bhandari Dalveer : Sanghi G.L. : Sharma B.D.
Indian Penal Code,1860 – Section 161 - Convicted for an offence – Termination from Service - Respondent was suspended from service - It is not clear as to whether service of respondent was terminated consequent upon his conviction for an offence involving moral turpitude - By Resolution of the appellant Board - Respondent was given fresh appointment from that day as an Overseer on a pay of as basic pay plus D.A at rate of and cycle allowance - Respondent for salary and wages for suspension period was rejected and it was made abundantly clear that a fresh appointment was given to appellant with effect - This fresh appointment came to the notice of local self government Department government – Held, Directive of Local Self government Department State And since respondent has been chasing mirage of getting back into service - Seventeen years have rolled by - He has advanced in age - High court has held that ho continues to be in service - Municipal Board has shown its willingness to accept him back in service condoning lapse - Maybe Local Self government Department State may adopt an attitude that such deviation from path of rectitude cannot be tolerated because respondent was shown to have attempted to accept a paltry bribe - This attitude may be commendable if uniformly enforced - Court are not condoning lapse on the part of the respondent but it is not possible to overlook his present position and situation - And he is a capable hand. His services were needed - Municipal Board was actually in search of his services – Appeal allowed
(1) RESPONDENT Mahendra Singh Chawla was appointed as an Overseer by the appellant Municipal Board, Pratabgarh (Board for short) as per its Resolution dated 15/10/1956. Respondent was prosecuted and convicted for an offence under S. 161 of the Indian Penal Code on the charge that he attempted to accept illegal gratification. During the pendency of trial respondent was suspended from service. It is not clear as to whether service of the respondent was terminated consequent upon his conviction for an offence involving moral turpitude. By Resolution of the appellant Board, Ex. 6 dated 28/08/1963, respondent was given fresh appointment from that day as an Overseer on a pay of Rs. 145.00 p.m. as basic pay plus D.A. at the rate of Rs. 40.00 p.m. and cycle allowance of Rs. 10.00 p.m. This Resolution appears to have been passed pursuant to an application made by the respondent and the last paragraph of the Resolution makes it clear that a fresh appointment was given. By another Resolution Ex. 7 of the same date the request of the respondent for salary and wages for the suspension period was rejected and it was made abundantly clear that a fresh appointment was given to the appellant with effect from 28/08/1963. This fresh appointment came to the notice of the Local 5elf government Department of Rajasthan government. The Department concerned made an Order No. 18(a)(131)DLB/65/23473 dated 21/07/1965, by which the Municipal Board was directed to terminate the service of the respondent being in violation of the Rajasthan Civil Service (Classification. Control and Appeal) Rules, 1958. Accordingly the service of the respondent was terminated with effect from 31/08/1965.
(2) THE respondent file filed a suit in the court of Civil Judge, Pratabgarh, for a declaration that the order terminating his service was void ab initio and that no fresh appointment was given but after setting aside the suspension order he was reinstated. It was contended on his behalf that he being a permanent employee his service could not be terminated in the manner in which it was done. The trial court held that the appointment given to the respondent on 28/08/1963, as per Resolution Ex. 6 dated 28/08/1963. was a fresh appointment and that under the Rajasthan Municipal (Subordinate and Ministerial Services) Rules, 1963, fresh appointment given to the respondent would clothe him with the status of a temporary servant and the termination of his service is legal and valid. Respondent appealed to the District Judge without success. Respondent then carried the matter in second appeal to the High court of Rajasthan.
(3) A learned Single Judge of the Rajasthan High court held that the appointment given as per order and Resolution Ex. 6 dated 28/08/1963. was in substance reinstatement of the respondent after revoking the order of suspension and that as the respondent was a permanent servant, this reinstatement would not alter the Character of his status in service irrespective of the fact that the Resolution Exs. 6 and 7 indubitably show that the appointment given to the respondent was a fresh appointment and he was not paid his salary and wages for the period of suspension. Nor is there anything to show that the order of suspension was revoked. The learned Judge accordingly allowed the appeal and decreed the suit of the plaintiff declaring that the order dated 21/07/1965 made by the Local Self government Department was illegal and void and that the respondent is entitled to arrears of salary with all consequent benefits till his reinstatement. Hence this appeal t¯v special leave by the Municipal Board.
(4) RESPONDENT joined service in 1956. He was prosecuted and convicted for attempting to accept illegal gratification under S. 161 of the Indian Penal Code and was sentenced to pay a fine of Rs. 200.00. During the pendency of the trial he was under suspension. The record does not make it clear whether consequent upon his conviction for accepting ill
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