Disciplinary proceedings cannot continue after retirement, and no penalties can be imposed on a retired employee.

Jyoti Saran, J.

1. Heard Mr. Dhruba Mukherjee, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mr. Prabhu Narayan Sharma, learned A.C. to A.G. The petitioner has questioned the order imposing penalty passed by the District Magistrate, Muzaffarpur bearing Memo No. 784 dated 8.9.2014 impugned at Annexure-1.

2. A rather short submission has been made by Mr. Mukherjee, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner to question the impugned order. He submits that while the petitioner superannuated on 31.8.2014, the punishment order has been passed on 8.9.2014, i.e., after the retirement of the petitioner and which is not sustainable on grounds that:--(a) the proceedings were never converted under Rule 43(b) of the Bihar Pension Rules; (b) the punishment of stoppage of annual increment with cumulative effect cannot be passed against the superannuated employee; and (c) no proceedings under the provisions of the Bihar Government Servants (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 2005 (hereinafter referred to as "the 2005 Rules") as amended in 2007 can continue after retirement of a Government servant excepted. It is converted in a proceeding in accordance with Rule 43(b) of the Bihar Pension Rules.

3. Mr. Mukherjee submits that the illegality is further perpetuated in the implementation of the order. It is submitted that since the petitioner has already superannuated, the respondents have chosen to withdraw the increment with retrospective effect for the year 2011-14.

4. Mr. Mukherjee, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner has with reference to the relief prayed at paragrapb-1(iv) of the writ petition submitted that the petitioner superannuated as a suspended employee on 31.8.2014 but his salary for the suspension period i.e. 15.1.2011 to 31.8.2014 has been with held by the respondents even in absence of any order restricting the pay and allowances for the period, to the subsistence allowance received by him. He submits that the punishment order imposes no such punishment.

5. Although a counter affidavit is filed and learned counsel appearing for the State has referred thereto but what I find is that though the respondents have taken note of such issue raised by the petitioner in paragraph-3 of the counter affidavit and have also attempted to respond thereto in paragraph-11 of the counter affidavit but the response is evasive and does not answer the issue raised. In fact, the arguments advanced by Mr. Mukherjee is unassailable and cannot be contested because neither a proceeding initiated against the petitioner under 'the 2005 Rules' can continue after his retirement except if converted in a proceedings under Rule 43(b) of the Bihar Pension Rules nor the punishment of stoppage of increment can be imposed on a superannuated employee and considering the circumstances, I am also not persuaded for remand of the matter. The illegality is even more surprising for it happens under the signature of the District Magistrate, Muzaffarpur,

6. It is rather unfortunate that even when the law as to continuation of disciplinary proceedings post retirement as well as on the retrospectivity of a punishment order, stands settled under the various judgments of this Court and the Supreme Court yet the Disciplinary Authority has shown such utter ignorance or has turned a blind eye to the settled legal position. Law is well settled and no punishment order can be imposed with retrospective effect nor any punishment as envisaged under the 2005 Rules', can be imposed on a retired employee. Reference in this regard is made to the Full Bench judgment of this Court in Shambhu Saran vs. The State of Bihar and Others reported in 2000 (1) PLJR 665. The Full Bench has held that even though a proceeding initiated in service period can be continued post retirement but the nature of punishment is different and no penalties as envisaged under the Classification Control and Appeal Rules, can be imposed.

7. In view of the settled legal posit