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1999 Supreme(Gau) 170

GAUHATI HIGH COURT
Brijesh Kumar, D.N.Chowdhury, JJ.
Tabong Pasar -Appellant
Versus
State of Arunachal Pradesh -Respondent
Writ Appeal No. 537 of 1997
Decided On : 19-05-1999

Advocates Appeared:
C.Barua, N.K.Barua, D.S.Bhattacharyya

A probationer is entitled to an opportunity of hearing before an order of termination is passed, if the order is based on an alleged act of misconduct.

Headnote:

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - ARTICLE 311 - TERMINATION OF SERVICE - PROBATIONER - OPPORTUNITY OF HEARING - NECESSITY - CENTRAL CIVIL SERVICE (TEMPORARY SERVICE) RULES, 1965 - RULE 5 - ARUNACHAL PRADESH POLICE SERVICE RULES, 1986 - RULE 18 - RULE 20.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner-appellant was appointed as a Sub Inspector of Police on a temporary basis, subject to satisfactory verification of character and antecedents and successful completion of training. During the training period, his services were terminated under Rule 5 of the Central Civil Service (Temporary Service) Rules, 1965, on the ground that he had deliberately suppressed the fact that a criminal case was pending against him at the time of his appointment.

Finding of the Court:

The court held that the order of termination was not sustainable as it was based on an alleged act of misconduct, which required an opportunity of hearing before passing the order. The court also held that the petitioner-appellant's appointment was not a temporary appointment, but a substantive appointment against a vacant post in the cadre, and that on successful completion of the probationary period, he would have become a confirmed employee.

Issues: 1. Whether the petitioner-appellant was a temporary employee or a substantive employee? 2. Whether the order of termination was based on unsatisfactory performance during the probationary period or on an alleged act of misconduct? 3. Whether the petitioner-appellant was entitled to an opportunity of hearing before the order of termination was passed?

Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court held that the petitioner-appellant was not a temporary employee, but a substantive employee, as his appointment was made against a vacant post in the cadre and was subject to successful completion of the probationary period. 2. The court held that the order of termination was based on an alleged act of misconduct, as it was founded on the allegation that the petitioner-appellant had deliberately suppressed the fact that a criminal case was pending against him at the time of his appointment. 3. The court held that the petitioner-appellant was entitled to an opportunity of hearing before the order of termination was passed, as the order was punitive in nature.

Final Decision: The court allowed the appeal and set aside the order of the learned Single Judge dated 30.7.1997 as well as the order of termination of the services of the petitioner-appellant dated 21.7.1994.

Brijesh Kumar, C. J.-

This appeal has been preferred against the judgment of the learned Single Judge dated July 30,1997 passed in Civil Rule No. 3446 of 1994 by which the said civil rule was dismissed. The petitioner-appellant had impugned the order of termination of his services in the above noted civil rule. Feeling aggrieved by the aforesaid judgment the present appeal has been preferred by the petitioner-appellant.

2. The facts which are not in dispute are that the Govt of Arunachal Pradesh advertised for recruitment to the post of Sub Inspector of Police in response thereof the petitioner-appellant offered himself as a candidate. A list of selected candidates was published, the petitioner-appellant being at serial No. 1 in the said list. On the basis of the selection the petitioner-appellant was given an appointment by order dated January 20, 1994, a copy of which has been filed as Annexure A to the civil rule. The said letter of appointment says that the petitioner-appellant and others were being appointed in purely temporary capacity as Sub Inspector under the Arunachal Pradesh Police. The order further provides that the appointees would be on probation for a period of 2 years only. The appointments were made subject to satisfactory verification of character and antecedents and successful completion of training. On the basis of the said order the petitioner-appellant along with others was undergoing the training when the order terminating his services dated July 21,1994 was passed under sub-rule (1) of Rule 5 of the Central Civil Service (Temporary Service) Rules, 1965. The order has been issued from the office of the Inspector General of Police, Itanagar passed by Deputy Inspector General of Police, Arunachal Pradesh.

3. The petitioner-appellant challenged the order of termination of his services on several grounds which did not find favour with the learned Single Judge and the petition was dismissed. So far as the question as- to the competence of the Deputy Inspector General of Police passing the order of termination is concerned, the case of the respondents was that during the period the impugned order of termination was passed by Inspector General of Police was on leave and the Deputy Inspector General of Police was holding the current charge of the Inspector General of Police. The learned counsel for the respondents has drawn our attention to the averments made in the affidavit-in-opposition that during the relevant period the Deputy Inspector General of Police was officiating as the Inspector General of Police as authorised by the Govt of Arunachal Pradesh since the Inspector General of Police was on leave, hence he was quite competent to discharge the function of the Inspector General of Police in exercise whereof he passed the impugned order. He has also placed before us a copy of the order dated February 8, 1994 issued by the Govt of Arunachal Pradesh, Home Department by which the Inspector General of Police was granted leave by the Governor and if was further provided that the Deputy Inspector General of Police (West), Arunachal Pradesh would hold the current charge of the Inspector General of Police during the period from 2.7.94 to 22.7.94. The order of termination of the service of the petitioner-appellant was passed during the above period. That being the position, in our view, the Deputy Inspector General of Police by holding the charge of the office of the Inspector General of Police was competent to issue the order of termination of the services of the petitioner-appellant.

4. The main contention which has been vehemently urged by the learned counsel for the appellant before us is that the services of the petitioner-appellant could not be terminated by a 'bald' order of termination as the petitioner-appellant was undergoing the training under the relevant Rules as against the appointment on the substantive post of Sub Inspector of Police. Therefore, before passing an d order of termination of his services
















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