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2015 Supreme(Raj) 477

(Rajasthan High Court)
Shamsher Khan Vs. State of Rajasthan & Ors. (Mehta, J.)
HON'BLE SANDEEP MEHTA, J.
Shamsher Khan
Versus
State of Rajasthan & Ors.
S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 5747 of 2015, decided on 16.07.2015

Advocates Appeared
Sandeep Shah & Rajesh Parihar, for Petitioner

Headnote:Rajasthan Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1958, Rule 19 read with Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Sec. 7, 13(1)(d) and 13(2) — Dismissal from service on the ground of conviction in criminal case involving offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 — What should be the extent of consideration of the employee's conduct as per Rule 19(1) of the Rules of 1958 which can be considered sufficient before passing an order of termination under the Rule? — Held — A Government servant convicted for an offence of corruption would by itself lead to an inference that his conduct is such which disentitles him from holding a civil post. (Paras 15 & 16)

       Petition dismissed.

        jktLFkku flfoy lsok ¼oxhZdj.k] fu;U=.k ,oa vihy½ fu;e] 1958] fu;e 19 lifBr Hkz"Vkpkj fuokj.k vf/kfu;e] 1988] /kkjk 7] 13¼1½¼?k½ vkSj 13¼2½ & Hkz"Vkpkj fuokj.k vf/kfu;e] 1988 ds rgr vijk/k ls xzflr QkStnkjh izdj.k esa nks"kflf) ds vk/kkj ij lsok ls c[kkZLrxh & 1958 ds fu;eksa ds fu;e 19¼1½ ds vuqlkj deZpkjh ds vkpj.k ds fopkj dh lhek D;k gksuh pkfg;s ftls mDr fu;e ds rgr c[kkZLrxh dk vkns'k ikfjr djus ls iwoZ i;kZIr ekuk tk lds\ & vfHkfu/kkZfjr &Hkz"Vkpkj ds vijk/k gsrq nks"kfl) ,d ljdkjh lsod vius vki ,d ,sls vuqeku dh vksj vxzlj djsxk fd mldk vkpj.k ,slk gS tks mls fdlh vlSfud in dks /kkj.k djus ls v;ksX; Bgjkrk gSA ¼in la[;k 15 o 16½

       ;kfpdk [kkfjt dhA

       

Hon'ble MEHTA, J.—Heard and perused the material available on record.

2. By way of the instant writ petition, the petitioner has approached this Court assailing the legality and validity of the order Annex.4 dated 31.3.2015 whereby, the petitioner was dismissed from service on the ground of his conviction in a criminal case involving offences under Sections 7, 13(1)(d) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

3. The petitioner was working on the post of Helper at Pump House in P.H.E.D. He was trapped red handed by the officials of Anti Corruption Bureau on 28.1.2008 while accepting a bribe of Rs.800/-. After investigation, a charge-sheet was filed against the petitioner for the offences under Sections 7, 13(1)(d) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Special Judge, ACD Court, Jodhpur tried the petitioner and vide judgment dated 7.1.2015, convicted and sentenced him for the aforesaid offences. The appeal preferred by the petitioner against the said judgment being S.B. Criminal Appeal No.105/2015 has been admitted by this Court and the sentences awarded to the petitioner were suspended by order dated 3.2.2015. The Chief Engineer of the respondent department passed the order Annex.4 dated 31.3.2015 whereby, the petitioner was dismissed from service considering the fact of the petitioner’s conviction to be a justifiable reason. The legality and validity of the above order is assailed in the instant writ petition.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner vehemently contended that the impugned order is absolutely illegal, arbitrary and unjust and thus, deserves to be set aside. He stressed upon the fact that as per the language of Rule 19 of the CCA Rules, the disciplinary authority was required to objectively and exhaustively consider the conduct leading to the employee’s conviction before his services could be terminated by resorting to the said provision which provides for an exceptional mode of termination without holding any inquiry. He urged that a mere mechanical reference to the fact of conviction would not satisfy the requirements of the Section. As per him, upon a bare perusal of the judgment whereby, the petitioner was convicted, it is apparent that the petitioner’s conviction was not such which required the harshest penalty of dismissal from service. He relied upon the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Union of India vs. Tulsiram Patel reported in AIR 1985 SC 1416 and this Court’s judgment in the case of Likhma Ram. vs. State of Rajasthan & Ors. reported in RLW 2011(4) Raj. 2812 in support of his arguments and urged that the impugned order is grossly illegal and perverse and thus, deserves to be quashed and set aside.

5. I have considered the arguments advanced by the learned counsel for the petitioner and have gone through the impugned order as well as the provisions of the Rules and the judgment cited at the Bar.

6. Rule 19(1) of the CCA Rules, resorting whereto, the impugned order was passed, reads as below:

“19. Special procedure in certain cases.– Notwithstanding anything contained in rules 16, 17 and 18,

(i) where a penalty is imposed on a Government Servant on the ground of conduct which has led to him conviction on a criminal charge; or

(ii) where the Disciplinary Authority is satisfied for reasons to be recorded in writing that it is not reasonably practicable to follow the procedure prescribed in the said rules; or

(iii) Where the Governor is satisfied that in the interest of the security of the State, it is not expedient to follow such procedure, the disciplinary Authority may consider the circumstances of the case and pass such orders as it deems fit.

Provided that the Commission shall be consulted before passing such orders in any case in which such consultation is necessary.”

7. As per the plain language of Rule 19, in case where a Government servant is convicted of an offence and the disciplinary authority is of the view that the conduct of the Government employee

































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