HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR
Sandeep Mehta, Kuldeep Mathur, JJ.
State Of Rajasthan & Ors. – Appellants
Versus
Mahendra Singh Rathore – Respondent
D.B. Spl. Appl. Writ No. 1377/2019
Decided On : 15-09-2022
Concealment - Appointment of Constable - Rajasthan Police Subordinate Service Rules, 1989 - Rule 13 - AIR 1999 SC 2326, 2016 (3) WLC 345, (1999) 1 SCC 246, (2016) 8 SCC 471 - The court discussed the concealment of criminal cases by the respondent-writ petitioner, the relevant rules, and the judgments of the Hon'ble Supreme Court. It highlighted the importance of disclosing material information and the high moral standards expected from candidates seeking employment in a disciplined police force. The court concluded that the respondent-writ petitioner's deliberate misstatement and omission in furnishing vital information led to the rejection of his candidature, and the impugned judgment was not in conformity with the Supreme Court judgments.
Fact of the Case:
The respondent-writ petitioner applied for the post of 'Constable (General) Non-TSP' as an outstanding sports person. His name was reflected in the final selection list, but no appointment order was issued. The appellant-department denied his appointment due to the pendency of criminal cases against him. The writ petition filed by the respondent-writ petitioner was allowed by the learned Single Bench, directing the appellant-department to accord appointment to the petitioner on the post of Constable (General) Non TSP, ignoring the pendency of the criminal cases against him with a condition of termination of services in the event of conviction.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the respondent-writ petitioner willfully suppressed vital information regarding criminal cases, which reflected his lack of honesty and high moral standards expected from candidates seeking employment in a disciplined police force. The court concluded that the impugned judgment was not in conformity with the Supreme Court judgments and reversed and set it aside.
Issues: The issues revolved around the concealment of criminal cases by the respondent-writ petitioner, the interpretation of the Rajasthan Police Subordinate Service Rules, 1989, and the application of relevant judgments of the Hon'ble Supreme Court.
Ratio Decidendi: The deliberate misstatement and omission in furnishing vital information by the respondent-writ petitioner led to the rejection of his candidature, as it did not meet the high moral standards expected from candidates seeking employment in a disciplined police force.
Final Decision: The instant special appeal was allowed, and the impugned judgment was reversed and set aside. No order as to costs was given.
JUDGMENT
Kuldeep Mathur, J. - The instant intra court appeal has been preferred by the appellant being aggrieved of the order dated 11.02.2019 passed by learned Single Bench of this court whereby the writ petition was allowed directing the respondents (appellants herein) to accord appointment to the petitioner on the post of Constable (General) if he is otherwise eligible in the questioned selection process ignoring the pendency of the criminal cases against him however with a condition in the appointment order that the petitioner's services will be terminated in the event of conviction.
2. The respondent-writ petitioner applied for the post of 'Constable (General) Non-TSP' in the category of 'outstanding sports person' pursuant to Advertisement dated 25.05.2018. The respondent-writ petitioner appeared for the written test and Physical Standard Test/Physical Efficiency Test (PST/PET). His name was reflected in the district-wise final selection list, though, no appointment order was issued to the respondent-writ petitioner. The respondent-writ petitioner preferred a writ petition being S.B.C.W. No. 17640/2018 before learned Single Bench of this Court stating inter alia that the respondent-writ petitioner had not indicated pendency of criminal cases against him in the application but had submitted information regarding the same subsequently through representation dated 22.10.2018. The learned Single Bench vide order dated 28.11.2018, disposed of the writ petition directing the Commissioner of Police, Jodhpur to decide the fresh representation to be filed by the respondent-writ petitioner for the issues raised in the writ petition keeping in view the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Commissioner of Police, Delhi & Anr. v. Dhaval Singh: AIR 1999 SC 2326 and the judgment of this Court in Mukesh Kumar v. State of Rajasthan: 2016 (3) WLC 345 within a period of two weeks. The appellant-department in pursuance of order dated 28.11.2018, passed the order dated 06.12.2018 referring to circulars dated 15.07.2016 and 28.03.2017 of the department holding that the petitioner was not entitled to grant of appointment on account of pendency of criminal cases. The respondent-writ petitioner aggrieved by the above mentioned order, filed a writ petition being S.B.C.W. No. 19152/2018 before Single Bench of this Court. Learned Single Bench vide order dated 07.01.2019, directed the appellant-department to pass a fresh order since the order dated 06.12.2018 was not a speaking order. Thereupon, appellant-department passed the order dated 07.02.2019 reiterating its earlier position. The writ petition preferred against impugned orders denying the respondent-writ petitioner appointment on the post of 'Constable (General) Non-TSP' was allowed vide order dated 11.02.2019 with a direction upon the appellant-department to accord appointment to the petitioner on the post of Constable (General) Non TSP if he is otherwise eligible in the questioned selection process ignoring the pendency of the criminal cases against him however with a condition in the appointment order that the petitioner's services would be terminated in the event of conviction and an undertaking in this respect shall be submitted by him.
3. Learned counsel for the appellant-department, Shri Manish Vyas submitted that the order dated 07.02.2019 was passed after considering all the issues raised by respondent-writ petitioner in the representation submitted by him. It was further submitted that the information regarding pending criminal cases registered against respondent-writ petitioner was willfully withheld by him in the application form submitted on 29.05.2018. Counsel vehemently urged that the very act of concealing information that there were criminal cases pending against him raises serious questions regarding character of the candidate and therefore, order dated 11.02.2019 passed by the learned Single Bench deserves be quashed and set aside.
Avtar Singh v. Union of India reported in (2016) 8 SCC 471
Devendra Kumar v. State of Uttaranchal reported in (2013) 9 SCC 363
Candidates seeking employment in a disciplined police force are expected to carry high moral standards, and any deliberate misstatement or omission in furnishing vital information is viewed seriously....
Point of Law : Suppression of information about pending criminal case in verification form is a sufficient ground for canceling the candidature or withholding appointment.
The judgment establishes the principle that truthful disclosure of criminal cases and pending proceedings is paramount for enlistment in government jobs, particularly for police officers.
The concealment of a pending criminal case during the employment application process can justify termination of services, as integrity and character are critical for positions within the judicial sys....
Mere suppression of material/false information in a given case does not mean that the employer can arbitrarily discharge/terminate the employee from service.
Non-disclosure of a trivial criminal case does not automatically disqualify a candidate for government service; the appointing authority must consider the nature of the case and the candidate's overa....
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