IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
S.N.PATHAK, J.
Pranab Haldar – Appellant
Versus
The Union of India – Respondent
W.P.(S) No.7258 of 2017
Decided on : 12-04-2022
Indian Penal Code ,1860 - Section 323, 427 - Code of Criminal Procedure,1973 - Section 256 - CISF Rules, 2001 - Rule 25,26 - Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt - Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees - Non- appearance or death of complainant - Whether before or after entering into service must be true and there should be no suppression or false mentioning of required information – Held, petitioner had given wrong declaration at the time of filling up the application form, which was subsequently confirmed at the time of Attestation Form after appointment and as such, the petitioner suppressed the factual information for his personal gain - Constables are the Members of a Discipline Force, concealment amounts to indiscipline and violation of Rules and also Breach of Agreement, warrants ouster from service and as such, there is no illegality or infirmity in the impugned orders - There is no merit in the instant case and as such, no interference is warranted in the instant case - Petition dismissed
JUDGMENT :
The petitioner has approached this Court with a prayer for quashing the Appellate Order as contained in Memo No.6196 dated 17.06.2015 (Annexure-4), whereby and whereunder, the Appellate Authority affirmed the order dated 01.09.2010 (Annexure-2) by which the petitioner has been terminated from services, passed by the Commandant, CISF, Unit, BCCL, Dhanbad. Further, prayer has been made for quashing of order dated 01.09.2010 (Annexure-2), by which the petitioner has been terminated from services to the post of Constable, passed by the Commandant, CISF, Unit, BCCL, Dhanbad. Further, prayer has been made for a direction upon the respondents to reinstate the petitioner in services with consequential monetary benefits with panel rate of interest. Further, prayer has been made for a direction upon the respondents to prohibit the respondents from filling up the post which become vacant due to alleged termination of services of the petitioner and restraining the respondents authorities from filling up the post of Constable (Security) made vacant due to illegal termination of service of the petitioner.
2. The case of the petitioner lies in a narrow compass. The petitioner was temporarily appointed as Constable in CISF on 06.09.2008 vide RTC Arakkonam Service order Part-I No.49/2008 dated 30.10.2008 and by the same order, he was asked to report for duties along with duly filled-up attestation form and requisite certificates. As per the terms and conditions of service, he was placed under probation for a period of two years with clear direction that in the event of his being found unsuitable for retention in the force, at any time either during the period of his initial training or during the period of his probation, his services would be terminated by the Appointing Authority in accordance with the provision of Rule 25 & 26 of CISF Rules, 2001. Accordingly, petitioner undergone the Basic Training of Constable at RTC Arakkonam w.e.f. 08.09.2008 to 14.03.2009 and after completion of the same, he was posted as Security (Force) Member at Panchayat Dam of DVC Unit of CISF. The petitioner was working to utter satisfaction of the respondents, but surprisingly, vide impugned order dated 01.09.2010, the services of the petitioner was terminated by the Commandant, CISF, Unit, BCCL, Dhanbad on the allegation that he had not furnished the information regarding involvement in criminal case as well as acquittal in the same in Column No.12 of Attestation Form at the time of his appointment, without giving one month prior notice with salary and allowances of that month, with immediate effect. Aggrieved by the same, petitioner approached earlier before this Hon’ble Court by filing a writ petition being W.P.(S) No.2937 of 2011, which was dismissed as withdrawn vide order dated 27.11.2014. It is further the case of the petitioner that he preferred an Appeal under Section 26 of the CISF Rules, 2001 before the Competent Authority, which was also rejected vide impugned order dated 12.06.2015, which is under challenge.
3. Mrs. Ritu Kumar, learned counsel for the petitioner strenuously argues that impugned orders are illegal, arbitrary and non-speaking. She further submits that at the time of appointment, there was no criminal case pending against the petitioner and even when the application form was filled up, there was no criminal case pending against the petitioner as he was acquitted/discharged by the learned Trial Court vide order dated 06.09.2006 and as such, petitioner while filling up the verification roll/ application form had given answer ‘No’ in reply to questions relating to arrest, prosecution detention, correction, punishment of fine etc. She further submits that there is no concealment of fact.
4. Per contra, counter-affidavit has been filed.
5. Mr. Prashant Vidyarthi, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent- UOI vehemently opposes the contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner and submits that as per the requirement
The main legal point established in the judgment is that suppression of involvement in a criminal case where acquittal had already been recorded before filling of the application/verification form ma....
Suppression of material information in the attestation form justifies termination under the Central Industrial Security Force Rules, 2001, and amounts to moral turpitude.
Termination of services for suppression of information must consider acquittal status and requires a departmental inquiry for confirmed employees.
Probationary employees may be terminated for violating appointment terms, including misrepresenting criminal history, without requiring formal procedural safeguards.
Termination based on minor indiscretions requires careful review, especially when prior convictions are trivial and disclosed.
Importance of truthfully disclosing criminal involvement and the applicability of guidelines from the Avtar Singh case in cases of false information.
Provision of false information in employment applications is grounds for termination, especially in roles requiring integrity, with no mitigating circumstances justifying the suppression.
Willful suppression of material information concerning criminal antecedents during recruitment for public employment, particularly in a disciplined force, constitutes a valid ground for termination, ....
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