2008 Supreme(Raj) 649
Rajasthan High Court, Jaipur Bench
Honble AJAY RASTOGI, J.
Brijesh Kumar Chandolia - Appellant
Versus
State & Anr. - Respondents
S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 831 of 2006
Decided On : May 19, 2008
Manish Sharma, for S.P. Sharma, for Petitioner; J.K. Agrawal, Addl. Govt. Advocate, for Respondent State
Headnote:Service Matter – APAR Instructions, 1976, Clause 14, 15 – Expunction of adverse remarks recorded in APAR – Recorded contrary to the norms and guidelines contained in clause 14 and 15 – Representation rejected by non-speaking order – Held – Remarks are required to be recorded as per norms and guidelines contained in clause 14 and 15 of the Instructions after making objective assessment of the mark – Remarks are vague and not supported by any material – The reportee received appreciation certificates during the period under assessment which shows his good performance – Adverse remarks expunged Entitled to all consequential benefits.(Paras 13 to 16) Writ petition allowed.
lsok ekeys & okf"kZd dk;Z ewY;kdau izfrosnu vuqnsk] 1976 [k.M 14] 15 & ,-ih-,-vkj- esa ntZ izfrdwy fVIi.kh dks gVkuk & [k.M 14 o 15 esa fn;s x;s ekun.Mksa ,oa fnkkfunsZkksa ds izfrdwy ntZ fd;s & vLi"V vknsk }kjk vH;kosnu fujLr fd;k & vfHkfu/kkZfjr & dk;Z dk mn~ns; ijd ewY;kadu djus ds ckn vuqnskksa ds [k.M 14 o 15 fn;s x;s ekun.Mksa ,oa fnkkfunsZkksa ds vuqlkj fVIi.kh ntZ djuh pkfg;s & fVIi.kh vLi"V ,oa fdlh lkexzh ls lefFkZd ugha gS & ewY;kadu vof/k ds nkSjku gh izfrosnd dks izkalk-i= feys gS tks mlds dqky dk;Z lEiknu kSyh dks nkkZrs gS & izfrdwy fVIi.kh fujLr dh & leLr ikfj.kkfed ifjykHkksa dk gdnkj gSA ¼in la[;k 13 ls 16½ ;kfpdk Lohdkj dhA
(2). Petitioner is a member of Rajasthan Administrative Service and after his regular selection joined service on 29.12.1997. During annual appraisal assessment year 2002-03, for almost seven months from September to March, 2003, petitioner had worked as Sub-Divisional Officer, Dausa, for which, remarks in his annual performance appraisal report ("APAR") were made by Reporting Officer and conveyed vide letter dt. 22.12.03 (Ann. 1) as alleged considering them as adverse ad infra:
Hkkx II 1- lkekU; eqY;kadu % ukxfjd vf/kdkj i= ds fØ;kUo;u esa usr`Ro dk vHkko jgkA
3- D;k vkidh tkudkjh esa ,slh dksbZ ckr vkbZ gS tks vf/kdkjh dh lR;fu"Vk vFkok mldss }kjk drZO; dk bZekunkjh ls ikyu djus dh ;ksX;rk ij izfrdwy izHkko Mkyrh gS\
;fn gka rks mlds ckjs esa fooj.k% lafnX/k
^^mi[k.M U;k;ky; ds dqN fu.khZr izdj.k fu;e fo:) ljdkj ds fo:) QSlys fd, x, ftl dkj.k vf/kdkjh ds fo:) dkfeZd jktLo foHkkx dks 16 lhlh, vUrxZr vkjksi i= ;gka ls izLrkfor fd;k x;k
Against aforesaid remarks, detailed representation was submitted by petitioner pointing out obligation casted upon reporting/reviewing officer as per Clauses (14) & (15) of Instructions issued by State Government regarding APAR of Government servants holdings in State/Subordinate/Ministerial & Class IV Services, vide Circular dt. 30.3.1976 ("for short, ``APAR instructions, 1976"), as per which there is responsibility of Reporting Officer (1) to carefully consider norms prescribed and/or duties demanded from the Reportee and (2) to make objective assessment of work & qualities but also to suggest to the Reportee either verbally or in writing, at all times necessary advice, guidance & assistance to correct faults and despite reportee being verbally/in writing informed, still persists failure to improvements in his performance of work, then only adverse remarks be recorded in his APAR and in this light, petitioner submitted that no such advice either verbally or in writing was even conveyed by his reporting officer and for the first time, came across adverse remarks in question duly conveyed vide letter dt. 22.12.03 (Ann. 1). Petitioner in his representation also submitted that during period in question, District Collector, Dausa, for his efficiency, revenue & administrative work discharged, commented upon with appreciation letters and certificates issued on Republic day (26.1.03) and so also in July, 2003 - copies whereof were placed on record. As regards adverse remarks about initiation of proposed disciplinary inquiry, petitioner pointed out that decision was taken by competent authority not to initiate any disciplinary inquiry against him as is evident from order dt. 16.10.04 (Ann. 7).
(3). Despite his detailed representation, the same was rejected by a non-speaking order dt. 5.11.05, petitioner has approached this Court by way of instant petition.
(4). Counsel for petitioner submits that there is a clear breach of APAR instructions, 1976 which casts obligation upon reporting/reviewing officer to act in accordance with norms, guidance and objective assessment as contained in Clause 14 & 15 of Circular dt. 30.3.76 but in case of petitioner while recording adverse remarks in question, he was never conveyed either verbally or in writing from reporting officer about defects if any in his working or qualities in performance whereof, or any other complaint, if failed to take note of while discharging his duties as Sub Divisional Officer Dausa- in absence whereof, adverse remarks in question are not legally sustainable.
(5). Counsel further submits that what has been observed and conveyed as adverse remarks qua him vide letter dt. 23.12.03 (Ann. 1) is completely vague and as regards remarks made of orders being passed by petitioner as SDO Dausa against State Govt., fo