2014 Supreme(Raj) 529
RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT
Jaipur Bench
Phool Singh Vs. State of Rajasthan & Ors. (Rafiq, J.)
HON'BLE MOHAMMAD RAFIQ, J.
Phool Singh
Versus
State of Rajasthan & Ors.
S.B. Civil Writ Petition No.1867 of 1998, decided on 29.01.2014
Sandeep Bhagwati, for Petitioner;
B.S. Rajawat, Deputy Government Counsel, for Respondents
Headnote:Service Matters — Rajasthan Civil Services (CCA) Rules, 1958, Rule 16 — Dismissal from service — Constable in police — Charges u/S. 307 and 392 IPC; u/S. 34 of Police Act and u/S. 3/25 of Arms Act — Acquitted by Court — Initiated disciplinary proceedings on the same charges and Disciplinary Authority passed the order of dismissal — Sustainability — Held — When the proceedings are based on the same set of facts, which were sought to be proved by the same witnesses and the court had already acquitted the accused by rejecting prosecution story, then the finding recorded against him proving the charges against him in departmental enquiry cannot be sustained — Acquittal by criminal court was `honorable' — Entitled to reinstatement in service with 50% of actual benefits with all consequential benefits. (Paras 19 to 23)
Writ petition disposed of.
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2. Facts of the case briefly stated are that petitioner was inducted in service of the respondent Department as Constable in October, 1987. He was posted with the Police Station Mania, District Dholpur at the relevant time. It is alleged that on 15.10.1987 petitioner intercepted one Mukesh Kumar, who was riding Rajdoot motorcycle and demanded his driving license and registration papers of the motorcycle. Mukesh Kumar told him that he was a mechanic and motorcycle was given to him for only repair whereas according to petitioner he had no workshop. As per petitioner, he asked Mukesh to take the motorcycle to police station which he resisted. He shouted for help and one Shivram came there with a gun. According to petitioner, Shivram tried to snatch the motorcycle from him. It is alleged that Shivram had no license for the gun therefore petitioner snatched his gun as well and came to the police station. It is alleged that a mob of people assembled there and proceeded towards police station Mania. Mob attacked residential quarter of the petitioner and caused injuries to his mother, wife and children. After intervention of the police, the mob disbursed. Petitioner made a complaint to the then Station House Officer, who, according to petitioner, did not register his complaint due to some enmity. However, one Mahesh Kumar lodged a complaint against petitioner and on that basis, the police registered FIR for offence under Section 307 and 392 IPC, Section 34 of the Police Act and Section 3/25 of the Arms Act. After investigation, challan was filed against the petitioner in the court of Munsiff and Judicial Magistrate, Dholpur, who vide his order dated 31.03.1994 convicted and sentenced the petitioner. Petitioner then preferred an appeal before the Court of Sessions Judge, Dholpur. His appeal was allowed by learned Sessions Judge vide judgment dated 26.11.1994 and he was acquitted of the charges. Simultaneously, the petitioner was also served with the charge-sheet by the Department under Rule 16 of the Rajasthan Civil Service (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1958 on the same charges vide Memorandum dated 07.04.1988. Petitioner submitted his reply/ explanation thereto on 27.04.1988 and denied the charges. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Dholpur, was appointed Enquiry Officer in the matter. Department examined 14 witnesses in support of its case, most of whom did not support the department. Some of them partially supported the department, to prove the charges against petitioner.
3. The enquiry officer submitted the enquiry report to the disciplinary authority, who after considering the same, passed the order of dismissal dated 18.12.1989. Subsequently, the appeal as well as review petition filed by petitioner, were dismissed respectively by orders dated 23.08.1990 and 03.06.1994. All these three orders are assailed in the present writ petition.
4. Shri Sandeep Bhagwati, learned counsel for petitioner, has argued that most of the prosecution witnesses such as Kamruddin (PW-1), Ramesh Chandra (PW-2), both residents of Mania, Omvrat (PW-3), Bhura (PW-4), Ramdayal (PW-5) and Vijay Kumar (PW-6), did not support the case of the Department. Even testimony of those, who partially supported the Department, did not prove allegation against petitioner that he forcibly snatched the motorcycle or the gun. It has been proved on record and admitted by complainant Mahesh Kumar that Phool Singh was having his service gun which was snatched by the mob and it as on his intervention that the gun was returned to the petitioner. In fact, Mahesh Kumar has supported the case of the petitioner that the mob gathered there had mishandled