The State Government is competent to deny salary for the suspension period on valid grounds even after superannuation after giving opportunity of hearing.

S. N. Jha, J.

1. This writ petition was filed for quashing the notice dated 7-3-95 asking the petitioner to show cause as to why an order denying salary during the suspension period in terms of Rule 97 3) end 5) of the Bihar service Code, be not passed against her. During the pendency of the case, order was passed on 30 9-95 directing that the petitioner will not be paid salary and other allowances except, subsistence allowance during the period of suspension from 25-8-93 to 30-4-94.

2. The petitioner was placed under suspension with respect to certain charges relating to her conduct as the Superintendent Incharge, Remand home. Patna, on 25-8-93, She challenged the order in this Court in C. W. J. C. No.10657 of 1593. A Bench of this Court by order dated 24-1-94 declined to interfere with the order but directed the respondents to concluds the dpartmental proceeding at an early date. It was directed that if the proceeding is not concluded within a period ef there months, the order of suspension shall stand revoked, It appears that the proceeding was not concluded within the stipulated time-frame and, accordingly, the suspension was revoked with effect from 1-5-94. The petitioner during the pendency of the proceeding superannuated from service on 30-11-94. However, punishment of consurs was awarded to her later on 3-1-95.

3. Although the validity of the order dated 3-1-95 has not been challenged, in fairness to the petitioner I must say that then dartmental proceeding which was pending on the date of her superannuation must be deemed to have become infructuous for the purpose of awarding any penalty. The point for consideration in this writ petition, "however, is whether after superannuation Of a Government servant any order denying salary for the suspension period can be passed.

4. Rule 97 of the Bihar Service Code lays down (he conditions is which a Government servant, who has been dismissed, removed or suspended is entitled to salary allowances for the suspension period at the time of his reinstatement. This is evident from clause (1) of the Rule, which runs as fellows:-

"when a Government servant, who has been dismissed, removed or suspended, reinstated, the authority who is competent to order reinstatement shall consider and make specific order xx xx xx there is no doubt that the provision is applicable only where the Government servant is to be reinstated in service. Where the Government servant has already superannuated there is no question of his reinstatement and therefore, the provision, in terms, is not applicable. However, that does not mean that on his superannuation from service, the Government servant under suspension on the date of superannuation, will tpso facto become entitled to full salary and allowances for the suspension period. If it were a question of reinstatement and the provisions of Rule 97 were to apply it would follow, having regard to the provisions of sub-rules (2) and (3) of the Rule, that were the competent authority is of the opinion that the Government servant has been fully exonerated of the charge or the suspension was wholly unjustified, he shall be entitled to full pay and allowances to which he would have been entitled to, had he not been dismissed, removed or suspended as the case may be, and in other case i. e where the Government servant concerned is not fully exonerated or the suspension is not found to be wholly unjustified, the competent authority will be required to take a decision as to the proportion of pay and allowance which the Government servant will receive. "

5. Where the delinquent superannuates from service in a state of suspension, the proceeding cannot be continued except for the purpose of with-holdmentt of pension (or gratuity) under Rule 43 (b) of the Bihar pension Rules. For other purposes it comes to an end. Therefore, there is no question of his being exonerated of the suspension being found to be unjustified for the purpose of entitlement to pay and allowa