2016 Supreme(Jhk) 738
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
D.N. PATEL, AMITAV K. GUPTA, JJ.
The State of Jharkhand & Anr. - Appellants
Versus
Shiv Bachan Kumar & Ors. - Respondents
L.P.A. No. 329 of 2014 with I.A. No. 343 of 2016 with I.A. No. 6252 of 2015
Decided on : 27-01-2016
For the Appellants :Mr. Ajit Kumar, AAG. and Mr. Kumar Sundaram, Advocate.
For the Respondents:M/s Devesh Krishna and Priyanka Boby, Advocates.
The central legal point established in the judgment is the significance of providing accurate information in the application process, the requirement for trained Home Guards for reservation, and the State's need for time to uncover fraud and verify documents.
Headnote:
Fraud - Appointment of Constable - Jharkhand Police Manual, Section 7, Section 12 - Rule 663 - Misrepresentation of facts by the respondent in the application form for the post of Constable, leading to wrongful appointment under the reserved seats for Home Guards. The respondent failed to provide the required certificate of Home Guard and instead annexed an identity card, misleading the State and availing the benefit of 50% reservation. The court quashed the judgment and order of the Single Judge, emphasizing the importance of the training of Home Guards for reservation and the applicability of Rule 663 over the advertisement.
Fact of the Case:
The respondent, seeking appointment as a Constable, misrepresented facts in the application form by providing an identity card instead of the required certificate of Home Guard, leading to a wrongful appointment under the reserved seats for Home Guards. The State initiated departmental proceedings after discovering the misrepresentation, ultimately resulting in the dismissal of the respondent.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the respondent's misrepresentation and fraud in the application process vitiated the selection process, emphasizing the importance of providing accurate information and the training of Home Guards for reservation. The court also rejected the respondent's argument regarding the delay in initiating proceedings, highlighting the State's need for time to verify documents and uncover fraud.
Issues: The key issues revolved around the misrepresentation of facts by the respondent in the application process, the applicability of Rule 663 of the Jharkhand Police Manual, and the delay in initiating departmental proceedings.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the significance of providing accurate information in the application process and the requirement for trained Home Guards to avail reservation under Rule 663. The court also rejected the argument regarding the delay, highlighting the State's need for time to uncover fraud and verify documents.
Final Decision: The court allowed the Letters Patent Appeal, quashing the judgment and order of the Single Judge, and disposed of all interlocutory applications.
D.N. Patel, J. - This Letters Patent Appeal been preferred against the judgment and order, delivered by the learned Single Judge in W.P.(S) No. 3433 of 2013 dated 13th November, 2013 whereby, the writ petition preferred by respondent no.1 was allowed and the order of dismissal dated 18.06.2011 and the appellate order dated 07.04.2013 were quashed and set aside and the present appellants were directed to reinstate respondent no.1 with full back wages.
2. Factual Matrix
- Public advertisement was issued on 13th January, 2004 and the applications were invited for the post of Constable by the State of Jharkhand.
- Those, who were Home Guards they can also apply for the post in question. Last date of submission of application was 15th February, 2004.
- Respondent no.1 (original petitioner) filled up the form and as per column 10 of the said application form there was need to annex certificate of Home Guard.
- The respondent enrolled as a Home Guard and was getting his training. His training was to be completed on 15th March, 2004.
- The training period was of 45 days and during the course of training of Home Guards the respondent (original petitioner) filled up the form and submitted the same and instead of certificate of Home Guard, identity card of Home Guard was annexed.
- The respondent cleared all types of tests and ultimately, was appointed on the post of Constable under the reserved seats for Home Guards.
- As per Rule 663 of the Jharkhand Police Manual enacted under Section 7 to be read with Section 12 of the Police Act, 1861 for appointment on the post of Constable, Trained Home Guard can be appointed and if a candidate is Trained Home Guard there will be 50% reservation.
- The training of the respondent (original petitioner) was going on as on last date of application i.e. on 15th February, 2004 and instead of certificate of Home Guard, identity card of Home Guard was annexed and got the benefit of 50% reservation quota.
- When the identity card was sent for verification, it was found that the respondent (original petitioner) had never completed the training at all of Home Guard as on 15th February, 2004, which was the last date for preferring an application, for the post of Constable, in pursuance of the public advertisement dated 13th January, 2004.
- Therefore, charge-sheet dated 4th April, 2011 was issued upon the respondent which is annexed at Annexure 4 to the memo of this L.P.A.
- Thereafter, enquiry was conducted and after giving adequate opportunity of being heard to the respondent ultimately, charges levelled against the respondent delinquent employee were held as proved.
- The disciplinary authority issued 2nd show cause notice dated 11th April, 2011 (Annexure 7 to the memo of this L.P.A.) and after again giving adequate opportunity of being heard the disciplinary authority i.e. the Superintendent of Police, Seraikella Kharsawan dismissed the respondent from the services of police vide order dated 18th June, 2011 (Annexure 8 to the memo of this L.P.A.).
- The respondent delinquent employee preferred departmental appeal before the Deputy Inspector General, Kolhan Range, Chaibasa, who dismissed the appeal of the respondent vide order dated 7th April, 2013, which is at Annexure 10 to the memo of this LPA.
- Hence, respondent no.1 (original petitioner) preferred writ petition being W.P.(S) No. 3433 of 2013 challenging the order of dismissal dated 18th June, 2011 (Annexure 8 to the memo of this L.P.A.) as well as the order, passed by the Appellate Authority dated 7th April, 2013 (Annexure 10 to the memo of this L.P.A.).
- The writ petition was allowed by the learned Single Judge vide order dated 13th November, 2013 and hence, the original respondent i.e. the State of Jharkhand preferred this Letters Patent Appeal.
3. Arguments canvassed by the counsel for the appellants:
- Learned Additional Advocate General of the State submitted that no error been committed by this appellant in holding the enquiry and adequate opportuni