1966 Supreme(J&K) 41
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR AT Jammu
S. Murtaza Fazl Ali,Janki Nath Bhat,Janki Nath Wazir, JJ.
M.S. Farooqi - Appellant
Versus
Chairman - Respondent
Writ Petition No. 130/1966
Decided On : 30 October, 1966
Act Referred
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA : Art.14
Advocate For Appellant: D.N. Mahajan
Advocate For Respondent: Jaswant Singh
(1) This is a writ petition filed by Mr. M. S. Farooqi of the Indian Police Service at present Superintendent of Police, Commandant 2nd Battalion JKAP against respondents 1 to 3 praying that the said respondents be restrained from proceeding against the petitioner under the Jammu and Kashmir Government Servants Prevention of Corruption (Commission) Act 1962 and respondent No. 4 be restrained from passing any orders of suspension of the petitioner or imposing any other penalty on the recommendation of respondents 1 to 3 The petitioner alleges that he is an employee of the Police Department and belongs to the All India Service known as the Indian Police Service and is subject to the provisions of the All India Services Act 1951 and the rules made thereunder. He admits that the rules made under All India Services Act 1951 apply to the State and are applicable in their entirety to the petitioner. Under these rules a complete and comprehensive procedure is laid down for proceeding against Indian Police Service and Indian Administrative Service Officers and if any enquiry is to be conducted against their conduct a Board of Inquiry is to be appointed by the Government which must consist of at least one member from the Service to which the officer belongs. It is pleaded that the constitution of the Commission under the Prevention of Corruption (Commission) Act 1962, neither fulfils the requisite condition mentioned above nor is it appointed by the Government to enquire against the conduct of the petitioner. The Commission therefore has no jurisdiction to en-quire into the allegations against the petitioner. It is averred that the Commission without jurisdiction has started enquiry against the petitioner on an anonymous application. The petitioner has further stated that according to the Constitution of India, Parliament has not the exclusive powers to make laws with respect to all the matters governing All India Services. The petitioner being an IPS Officer is governed by the All India Services Act of 1951 and the rules made thereunder whether his present appointment is in the State "of Jammu and Kashmir or elsewhere in the country. Lastly, it is stated that the inquiry commenced by the Commission against the petitioner is invalid being discriminatory inasmuch as an officer of the petitioners status serving in other parts of India is entitled to the benefit of the rules made under the All India Act whereas the petitioner serving in the State is denied those benefits. The action taken by the Commission is, therefore, hit by Article 14 of the Constitution. It is prayed that a writ of certiorari, mandamus or any other appropriate writ or direction be issued quashing the proceedings which are being taken by respondents 1 to 3 against the petitioner and that respondent No. 4 be restrained from passing any order of suspension of petitioner from his service on the recommendation of respondents Nos. 1 to 3.
(2) This petition is resisted by the respondents on Various "grounds, and the Advocate General appears on their behalf, Preliminary objections are taken that the Commission constituted under section 5 the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act, 1962 exercises the power of the High Court for the purpose of inquiry including consideration and disposal of questions relating to its jurisdiction that as the said Commission is invested with power of the High Court for performance of its duti s the writ petition is not maintainable and that the writ petition is misconceived and does not lie.
(3) In reply to the averments in the petition the respondents have star