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2021 Supreme(Jhk) 54

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
DEEPAK ROSHAN, J.
Shyama Kant Jha - Petitioner
Versus
The State of Jharkhand and Ors - Respondent
W.P.(S) No. 6070 of 2009
Decided On : 20-01-2021

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioner:Mr. J.P.Jha, Sr. Advocate
For the Respondents: Mr. Devesh Krishna, S.C.(Mines)III

Headnote:

Constitution Of India – 1950 - Punishment - Quash - Petitioner had earlier moved before this Court challenging order of punishment passed by respondent and said writ application was disposed of by observing that petitioner had not invoked statutory revisional remedy provided Act and respondents were directed to consider same and also to consider issue of disproportionate punishment- While referring to aforesaid judgment senior counsel submits that a fresh order has been passed by appellate authority but he has not considered grounds taken by petitioner and no reason has been assigned in impugned order–Held, Petitioner has not invoked statutory Revisional remedy provided act respondents are directed to consider same and also issue of disproportionate punishment within a period of three months from date of receipt of representation of petitioner From bare perusal of operative portion of impugned order it appears that authority has not applied his mind and just confirmed punishment inasmuch as there was a specific direction by this Court in earlier writ application to consider case of petitioner on issue of disproportionate punishment however there is no finding with regard to quantum of punishment in entire order-sheet view of matter this court is of view that respondent authority shall reconsider case of petitioner and pass a reasoned order taking into consideration issue of disproportionate punishment Consequently impugned order as contained in Memo quashed and set aside- matter is remitted back to respondent with a direction to reconsider appeal of petitioner only on quantum of punishment and pass a fresh order- It is made clear that since petitioner has attained age of superannuation as such entire exercise shall be completed by appellate authority – Order accordingly

JUDGMENT :

1. Heard through V.C.

2. The instant writ application has been preferred by the petitioner praying for quashing the order as contained in Memo No. 92 dated 06.06.2009 issued by the Respondent No.3.

3. Mr. J.P.Jha, learned senior counsel for the petitioner referred to an order passed in C.W.J.C. No. 5839 of 1999(R) and submits that the petitioner had earlier moved before this Court challenging the order of punishment dated 27.11.1998 passed by the respondent no. 3 and the said writ application was disposed of by observing that the petitioner had not invoked the statutory revisional remedy provided under the Act and the respondents were directed to consider the same and also to consider the issue of disproportionate punishment. While referring to the aforesaid judgment learned senior counsel submits that a fresh order has been passed by the appellate authority, but he has not considered the grounds taken by the petitioner and no reason has been assigned in the impugned order. He further contended that there was a specific direction by this Court to consider the issue of proportionality of punishment; however, not even a single line has been uttered by the appellate authority. He further submits that the charge against the petitioner is trivial in nature. In support of his contention, learned senior counsel relied upon the judgment delivered in the case of Indu Bhushan Dwivedi Vs. State of Jharkhand, as reported in 2007 (2) JLJR 328, wherein at para 18 of this Court has held as under:

    “18. When such a request has been made by the delinquent himself, it is the bounden duty of the disciplinary authority to have a look at the past records of the petitioner as desired by him mainly to consider if any lesser punishment than the dismissal like demotion or compulsory retirement could be inflicted upon the petitioner, on the basis of the past records.”

He further referred to a judgment delivered in the case of Jai Bhagwan Vs. Commr. of Police & Ors, as reported in [(2013) 3 JCR 347 (SC)] wherein the Hon’ble Apex Court at para 13 to 16 has held as under;

    “13. Coming to the case at hand we are of the view that the punishment of dismissal from service for the kind of misconduct proved against the appellant appears to us to be grossly disproportionate. There is no allegation that the appellant had manhandled the police Inspector who had gone to check the cabin. Delay of 10 minutes in opening the cabin door, which according to the appellant was open but had got stuck because of humidity leading to expansion of the wooden frame, was not a matter that ought to have led to the appellant’s dismissal after he had served the police force for over 10 years. Even assuming that the version given by the appellant was not acceptable the same did not constitute a misconduct of a kind that would justify the appellant’s dismissal from service leading to forfeiture of his past service. That the appellant was not in uniform may also be breach of discipline calling for administrative action against him but not so severe as to throw him out of the police force. The analogy drawn by the appellant in this case and that of Ram Kishan’s case (supra) is not, therefore, wholly misplaced. The delinquent in that case too was charged with misbehavior with his superior leading to his dismissal from service which was found by this Court to be disproportionate to the nature of misconduct calling for moderation.

14. Having said that we cannot ignore the fact that the appellant had falsely accused the Inspector of having used casteist abuses to humiliate him which allegation on an inquiry was found to be totally false. It is obvious that the appellant had tried to use the caste card only to escape punishment for the misconduct and indiscipline committed by him. There is no manner of doubt that an allegation like the one made by the appellant could have resulted in his prosecution and dismissal of the superior officer from service. The appellant’s case in that view is n

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