PATNA HIGH COURT
Ravi S.Dhavan and Navin Sinha JJ.
State Of Bihar
Versus
Birendra Kumar Singh
Letters Patent Appeal No. 1154 of 2003 ;
Letters Patent Appeal No. 235 of 2004 ;
Decided On : MAY 07, 2004
Fraudulent Appointments - Public Employment - Employment Scams, Bihar Administrative Services Tribunal - Patna High Court, Supreme Court - Naukri Scam - Employment Exchanges Act - Corruption - Illegal Appointments - Departmental Action - Criminal Proceedings - Collusion - Administrative Spite - Back-door Entries - Natural Justice - Rule of Law - Public Accountability
Fact of the Case:
The cases involved fraudulent appointments in public service in Bihar, leading to two appeals - one by the State of Bihar and the other by an employee. The State alleged fraudulent appointments and sought to terminate the employee's appointment, while the employee contested the termination, claiming lack of opportunity to justify the appointment's validity.
Finding of the Court:
The Court expressed concern about the prevalence of fraudulent appointments and employment scams in Bihar, emphasizing the need for fair inquiries and simultaneous action against both the appointee and the appointing authority. It criticized the State's failure to take decisive action and highlighted the importance of natural justice and public accountability in such matters.
Issues: The issues revolved around fraudulent appointments, termination of appointments, lack of fair inquiries, and the State's reluctance to take action against those involved in fraudulent appointments.
Ratio Decidendi: The Court emphasized the need for fair inquiries and simultaneous action against both the appointee and the appointing authority in cases of fraudulent appointments. It highlighted the principles of natural justice and public accountability in dealing with such matters.
Final Decision: The Letters Patent Appeal filed by the State of Bihar was dismissed, and equity was not in favor of the employee in the other appeal. The Court emphasized the need for fair inquiries and simultaneous action against both the appointee and the appointing authority in cases of fraudulent appointments.
Ravi S.Dhavan, J.
1. Two cases engage the attention of this Court. One is a Letters Patent Appeal filed by the State of Bihar. This is Letters Patent Appeal No. 1154 of 2003 : State of Bihar and Ors. V/s. Birendra Kumar Singh. The other is a Letters Patent Appeal filed by one Ajay Kumar No. 235 of 2004 : Ajay Kumar alias Ajay Sharma alias Ajay Kumar Sharma V/s. The State of Bihar and Ors.. The earlier appeal is by the employer. The subsequent one by the employee.
2. The aspects and circumstances of these two cases are no different than those which have engaged the attention of this Court in many earlier decisions. Coincidentally, even the Supreme Court cases are in the context of Bihar.
3. There is an endless stream of cases which come to the Patna High Court when an appointment in public service is terminated. On a return being filed by a counter affidavit invariably the defence of the State is that the appointment had been made fraudulently. The learned Judges deciding these cases in the jurisdiction where the subject matters lie have taken an objective view that if the appointment be fraudulent, then, the person who is party to the fraud, that is, the receiver of the. appointment and the giver of the appointment both must be held responsible. Thus, the Court has two appeals before it. One is an appeal by the State of Bihar as it does not like to take the responsibility to take action against its officers when they have indulged in arranging to grant illegal appointments. The other appeal is by an incumbent who would not like to lose his appointment on the ground that it is merely being alleged that it is fraudulent. This appellant contends that he never had any occasion to satisfy any authority that his appointment was, in fact, valid.
4. These are not the first cases this Court has engaged its attention to. There are other cases which have seen decision. There is a spate of petitions received by the High Court where promotions or time bound promotions are being recalled after long years on the ground that they had been irregularly granted or fraudulently given. The theme is the same. One aspect is common that such action is being taken by the State or is being faced invariably by Class IV employees. Then these are matter relating to allegations of irregular, illegal or fraudulently granted promotions to Class III posts. Then all the cases pending at the Patna High Court ought to be put together, whether decided or pending, so as to perceive the serious aberration in the functioning of the State administration particularly matters relating to employment, public employment of Class IV and Class III employees. Does the administration of the State of Bihar as a generality make fraudulent appointments?
5. In the past the Patna High Court has had an onslaught of cases the species of which has been termed by lawyers and Judges alike as Naukri Scam. These were cases which arose within the Leprosy department, Malaria department, Tuberculosis department, other Health services departments and Education department.
6. The High Court had to order an inquiry. The State administration would not inquire. The Vigilance department of the State failed to complete the inquiry. Then, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was called upon to investigate. The investigations did unravel and unearth a veritable scandal as if providing employment became a business with the Officers of the administration. These matters are on record. The off shoot considered by the Patna High Court, when the relief sought by delinquent officers in a writ petition was denied, went right up to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court in no uncertain terms declared that such officers be prosecuted.
7. For a long time, this Court had been sending a very polite message to the State Government through its State Counsel holding briefs for these departments that the matter be looked into in objectivity and while the Court accepts that every fraudulent appointment mus
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