The main legal point established in the judgment is that the suspension order does not automatically end after three months if the charge-sheet is not served, but rather the authority must pass an order revoking the suspension order. Additionally, the need for expeditious conclusion of disciplinary proceedings was emphasized.

1. The appeal is from the order dated 23rd April, 2008, whereby the writ petition filed by the present appellant for quashing the suspension dated 7th June, 2007 has been dismissed.

2. That the order of suspension came to be issued on 7th June, 2007 is not in dispute. That on 27th September, 2007, the appellant (petitioner) was served with the memo of charges is also not in dispute. That the memo of charges was not served within three months from the date of issue of suspension order is an admitted position.

3. The question that falls for our determination is: whether on expiry of three months from the date of issue of suspension order, in the absence of the charge-sheet being served upon the appellant, the order of suspension dated 7th June, 2007 automatically came to an end ?

4. Rule 9(7) of the Bihar Government Servants (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 2005 reads thus:

(7) Charge-sheet must be framed within three months from the date of issue of suspension order failing which on expiry of three months, the suspension order shall be revoked unless the authority, which issued the suspension order, passes the order renewing the suspension alongwith reasons to be recorded in writing for the delay in framing of charge-sheet for a further period of four months; Provided that it after the expiry of extended period of four months the suspension order shall stand revoked if the charge-sheet is not framed.

(emphasis supplied)

5 A plain reading of the aforesaid rule would clearly show that there is no automatic revocation of the suspension order on expiry of three months from the date of issue of suspension order, even if the charge-sheet has not been served within that time. This becomes apparent if the provision is closely looked. What rule requires is that charge-sheet must be framed within three months from the date of issuance of suspension order. If it is not done then the authority shall revoke the suspension order unless he passes an order renewing suspension for the reasons to be recorded in writing. If within four months thereform the charge-sheet is still not framed, then, order of suspension stands revoked automatically. The expression used, "the suspension order shall be revoked" in contra distinction to the expression used in the proviso appended thereto, "the suspension order shall stand revoked" reflects the rule makers intention. By the use of expression, the suspension order shall be revoked, the rule makers have made a provision that in case the charge-sheet is not served within three months from the date of issue of suspension order and the suspension order is not renewed the authority shall pass an order revoking the suspension order. In other words, the provision contemplates issuance of an order by the authority revoking the order of suspension on expiry of three months where charge-sheet is not served within three months from the date of issue of suspension order. It is altogether different where within four months of the expiry of three months the charge-sheet is still not served. Then the effect is that the suspension order by operation of law stands revoked. In that situation, it is not necessary that the authority must pass an order revoking suspension order but by operation of law the order of suspension stands revoked. The use of two different expressions in the same provision is indicative of the intention of the rule makers.

6. In what we have discussed above, we find it difficult to concur with the view of the single judge in the case of Umesh Kumar Rai V/s. The State of Bihar and Ors. decided on 30th January, 2008.

7. In the present case, the order of suspension has not been revoked by the authority. It is an admitted fact that within twenty days of expiry of three months, charge-sheet has been served upon the petitioner. Obviously, in this view of the matter, the suspension order does not stand automatically revoked. Merely because there has not been any specific order of renewal o