ORDER :

Altamas Kabir, Cyriac Jospeph, JJ.

Having regard to the explanation offered by the petitioners regarding the reason for the delay in filing the special leave petition , we are satisfied that sufficient grounds have been made out for condoning such delay and such delay is, therefore, condoned.

2. This special leave petition is directed against the judgment and order dated 21st October, 2003 passed by the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court dismissing the writ petition No.6244 of 1982 filed by the State of U.P. in which the judgment and order dated 7th September, 1992, passed by the U.P. Public Service Tribunal setting aside the order of termination of the services of the respondent No.1 issued by the State Government on 18th August, 1981, was challenged.

3. The respondent No.1 was appointed as Assistant Engineer in the Irrigation department of the State Government on 14th May, 1973 on an ad hoc basis and his services were regularised on 20th March, 1980 from the date of his initial joining. Subsequently, on 25th May, 1981, the respondent No.1 was trapped allegedly taking a bribe, as a consequence whereof, a case under Section 161 I.P.C. and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 was registered against him and he was taken into custody. Subsequently, on 26th May, 1981, he was granted bail. On 18th August, 1981, the State Government terminated the services of the respondent No. 1 on the ground that his services were no more required.

4. The said order of termination of his services was challenged by the respondent No. 1 before the U.P. Public Service Tribunal, primarily on the ground that the same had been passed by way of punishment and was arbitrary and unreasonable. It was also submitted that such order had been passed without waiting for the outcome of the criminal proceedings, which was still pending. One of the other grounds taken by the respondent No. 1 was that a large number of employees, who were junior to the respondent No. 1 had been retained in service, while his services had been terminated.

5. By its judgment and order dated 7th September, 1982, the Tribunal set aside the order of termination on the ground that from the circumstances and the submissions advanced on behalf of the parties, it clearly emerged that there was nothing adverse against the respondent, on the basis of which his services could have been terminated because of his involvement in a criminal case, which was made the sole basis for judging his suitability. The learned Tribunal also held that in such a situation, the order of punishment was bad since the procedures indicated under Article 311(2) of the Constitution had not been adopted.

6. As mentioned hereinabove, the order of the Tribunal was challenged before the High Court. The High Court while considering the matter also took note of the submissions made on behalf of the petitioners herein that the main reason for termination of the services of the respondent No. 1 was on account of his involvement in the criminal case. The High Court recorded in its judgment that once it was admitted by the writ petitioners that the respondent No. 1 was declared unsuitable on the basis of his arrest, then the order of termination could not be termed as termination simpliciter. Thereafter applying the well-established principle that while discharging an employee with a stigma, an opportunity of hearing was required to be given to him, which was not given in the instant case, the High Court upheld and confirmed the order of the Tribunal.

7. The Special Leave Petition has been filed against the said order of the High Court and appearing on behalf of the petitioners, S.R. Singh urged that whatever may have been submitted before the Tribunal or the High Court could not have an overriding effect over the language used in the order of termination itself. According to him, the order of termination clearly indicates that the termination of the services of the respondent No. 1 was without any sti