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2021 Supreme(Jhk) 852

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
S.N.Pathak, J.
Bishwanath Shukla - Petitioner
Versus
Jharkhand State Housing Board, through its Managing Director and ors. – Respondents
W.P.(S). No. 7713 of 2017
Decided On : 20-09-2021

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioner:Mr. Amit Kumar Das, Advocate
For the Respondent:Mr. Sachin Kumar, Advocate

Headnote:

Bihar State Housing Board Act, 1982 - Section 83 and 59 - Bihar Government Servants’ Conduct Rule, 1976 - Rules 3(1) (i) (ii) (iii), 3(2) and 3(3) - Constitution of India, 1950 - Article 226 and 227 - Departmental Proceeding - Punishment Of Compulsory Retirement - Petitioner has approached this Court for quashing Office Order (Annexure-14) issued by Managing Director, Jharkhand State Housing Board, Ranchi, whereby and where under punishment of compulsory retirement has been inflicted against petitioner – Held, Having gone through rival submissions of parties and on perusal of records, it transpires that a regular departmental proceeding was started against petitioner on basis of a charge memo (Annexure-9) and petitioner was given full opportunity to present his side and defend his case on several dates - From perusal of enquiry report (Annexure-11) it appears that all head of charges were found proved against petitioner and after considering explanation to second show cause as submitted by petitioner, respondent authorities have awarded punishment - Therefore, there is no infirmity or lacunae in impugned order and same has been passed as per procedure established by law and in this circumstances question of violation of natural justice also does not arise - As a cumulative effect of aforesaid observations, rules, guidelines, legal propositions and judicial pronouncements present petition sans merit and hence required no interference – Petition dismissed.

JUDGMENT :

Petitioner has approached this Court for quashing the Office Order No.01/Estb.-233/03/1945 dated 30.11.2017 (Annexure-14) issued by Managing Director, Jharkhand State Housing Board, Ranchi, whereby and whereunder punishment of compulsory retirement has been inflicted against the petitioner.

2. The fact of the case in short as has been delineated in the writ petition is that the Petitioner was employed as an Assistant Electrician in the Jharkhand State Housing Board, Jamshedpur. While in service, the wife of the petitioner had applied for allotment of residential plot through lottery in the year 1997 and after being declared successful, a plot was allotted in favour of the wife of the petitioner. As petitioner was not having any residential house, the Executive Engineer, Jharkhand State Housing Board, Jamshedpur vide Memo No.3658 dated 06.12.1996 allotted House No.22/2-1 in favour of the petitioner on temporary basis on rent. On 08.06.2001 he made an application for making permanent allotment of the said house in his favour and for entering into Hire Purchase Agreement and consequently recommendation in this regard was made in favour of the petitioner. After considering the entire facts, the Superintending Engineer vide Memo No.60 dated 14.06.2001 directed the Executive Engineer to execute an agreement in favour of the petitioner. It is stated that in spite of such direction the Executive Engineer was not making allotment of Flat, the petitioner moved this Hon’ble Court in W.P.(C) No.1875 of 2008 seeking a direction upon the Jharkhand State Housing Board to execute a Hire Purchase Agreement in favour of petitioner with respect to Flat No.22/2-1 situated at Bagbera Housing Colony. The Hon’ble Court vide an order dated 27.01.2016 dismissed the aforesaid writ application. Thereafter, the petitioner preferred a Letters Patent Appeal being L.P.A. No.224 of 2016. However, after some argument the petitioner sought permission to withdraw the said appeal and the appeal was accordingly dismissed as withdrawn by order dated 14.06.2016. In the meantime after dismissal of the writ application, the Sub- Divisional Officer, Dhalbhum, Jamshedpur vide letter No.2008 dated 19.05.2016 directed the Executive Engineer for getting the aforesaid flat vacated by exercising his power under Section 83 and 59 of the Bihar State Housing Board Act, 1982, but later on the Executive Engineer vide letter No.791 dated 20.05.2016 ordered for removing the seal and hand over the possession of flat back to the petitioner as they had not obtained permission from competent court in the matter. However, in view of the dismissal of the Letters Patent Appeal, the petitioner voluntarily vacated the premises on 14.06.2016 itself and handed over the vacant possession of the quarter to the respondents-authorities and informed the said fact to the concerned Executive Engineer, Jamshedpur vide letter dated 15.06.2016.

However in spite of the fact that the petitioner voluntarily vacated the flat, the respondent-Managing Director, Jharkhand State Housing Board put the petitioner under suspension vide Memo No.779 dated 28.07.2016. Thereafter petitioner was served a memo of charge vide letter No.612 dated 13.06.2016. The show cause submitted by the petitioner was not accepted and the Housing Board proceeded to conduct an enquiry. The Enquiry Officer submitted his report holding the charges to be proved. After receipt of the enquiry report, the petitioner was issued a second show cause notice by the Managing Director, Jharkhand State Housing Board vide Memo No.1788 dated 02.11.2017 and after that the respondent-Managing Director, Jharkhand State Housing Board vide Office Order No.01/Estb.-233/03/1945 dated 30.11.2017 had imposed punishment of compulsory retirement of the petitioner. Hence this writ is filed.

3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that in view of the fact that the petitioner after having lost the case before this Hon’ble Court and after wit

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