IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
S.N. PATHAK, J.
Upendra Kumar - Petitioner
Versus
Union of India and Ors. - Respondents
W.P. (S) No.1883 of 2020
Decided On : 10-11-2023
Forgery - Employment Dispute - Central Reserve Police Force Rules, 1955 - Indian Penal Code, sections 363, 365, 366, 368, 120B - The judgment discusses the petitioner's employment dispute, involving charges of forgery and misconduct. The court considered the evidence, including the petitioner's family members' statements and police reports, and upheld the disciplinary action based on the findings of forgery and misconduct.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner, a constable in the CRPF, was removed from service due to charges of forgery and misconduct. The petitioner's employment history and the allegations against him were discussed.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the disciplinary proceeding was conducted as per the rules and procedures, and the principles of natural justice were adhered to. The court upheld the disciplinary action based on the findings of forgery and misconduct.
Issues: The issues involved the petitioner's employment dispute, including the validity of the disciplinary action and the allegations of forgery and misconduct.
Ratio Decidendi: The court upheld the disciplinary action based on the findings of forgery and misconduct, and emphasized that those who come to be appointed by arbitrary procedure can hardly complain if the termination of their appointment is equally arbitrary.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the writ petition, upholding the disciplinary action against the petitioner.
JUDGMENT :
The petitioner has approached this Court with prayer for quashing of the Office Order dated 19.11.2018 (Annexure-7) issued by Commandant-106 Battalion, whereby and whereunder, he has been removed from the service from the date of issuance of impugned order.
Further, prayer has been made for quashing of Office Order No.R13-1/2018-19/Stha.3 dated 20.02.2019 as well as Office Order No.R-13-2/2019-Ras-Administration-1 dated 09.01.2020, whereby and where under the order of dismissal has been affirmed by the Appellate Authority as well as Revisional Authority respectively.
Petitioner has also prayed that after quashment of the aforesaid orders, a direction be given to the respondents to reinstate the petitioner into services with all consequential benefits.
2. The case of the petitioner lies in a narrow compass. The petitioner was appointed to the post of Constable on 24.07.2004 in Group Centre, Muffarpur (Bihar). After basic training, he was posted in CRPF-44 Battalion, Lauk Tauk (Manipur). The Petitioner was transferred in the Year 2020 to CRPF-26 Battalion, Chas (Bokaro). In the service career, he was transferred to several places and lastly he was transferred to CRPF-106 Battalion (RAF), Sunder Nagar, Jamshedpur on 12.07.2016. It is specific case of the petitioner that one FIR being Andal P.S.Case No. 195 of 2016 dated 16.07.2016 was lodged by one Jai Prakash Singh against five persons including Upendra Kumar Singh i.e. the petitioner under sections 363,365,366,368 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code alleging therein that his daughter namely Manisha Kumari Singh has been kidnapped on 04.06.2016 by the accused persons. After investigation, the police has submitted the final form against the petitioner as ‘final report as mistake of fact’ vide Final Report No. 31/2016 dated 31.08.2016. In the meanwhile, said Jai Prakash Singh submitted a complaint before the Commandant 106, Battalion, RAF, Sunder Nagar, Jamshedpur alleging therein the actual name of the petitioner is Arun Kumar Singh who has served the respondent-CRPF by using the certificate of his elder brother Upendra Kumar. Pursuant to same, the respondents issued a show cause to the petitioner vide Letter dated 31.12.2016, which was duly replied by the petitioner. However, an enquiry was initiated against the petitioner in terms of Rule 27 of the Central Reserve Police Force Rules, 1955. Subsequently, the petitioner has submitted his detailed explanation on 25.09.2018 before the Inquiry Officer and has denied the charges leveled against him. In the Departmental inquiry, the petitioner and several witnesses have been examined and Inquiry Officer submitted his final report and held that charges levelled against the petitioner have been proved.
3. It is further the case of the petitioner that the Commandant, 106 Batallion RAF/CRPF, Jamshedpur sought a report from the Superintendent of Police, Bhojpur, Ara regarding genuineness of the petitioner. Pursuant to the same, an enquiry was conducted by the Police Inspector, Sadar, Circle, Ara and held that petitioner is innocent and genuine person and there is no any complaint registered in the police record and same was also forwarded to the Commandant, 106 Battalion, RAF/CRPF, Jamshedpur. However, the Commandant, 106 Bn. RAF/CRPF, Jamshedpur vide impugned order dated 19.11.2018 contained in Office Order No. P.Aath-01/2018-106 removed the petitioner from service without considering the report of Superintendent of Police, Bhojpur, Ara on the ground that name of the petitioner’s father as recorded in the service book of the petitioner is different from inquiry report submitted by the Superintendent of Police, Bhojpur, Ara as in the inquiry report, the name of the Petitioner’s father is mentioned as ‘Ram Daroga Singh’ where as in the service book, it is mentioned as ‘Daroga Singh’. Thereafter, the petitioner’s wife filed an RTI be
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The judgment establishes that appointments made on the basis of forgery or deceit are not valid in law, and disciplinary actions based on such findings are justified.
The main legal point established is the limited scope of judicial review in departmental proceedings, emphasizing the need for adherence to natural justice principles and the requirement for procedur....
Disciplinary proceedings must adhere to principles of natural justice, ensuring proper inquiry and the summoning of all relevant parties.
The absence of Presenting Officers in disciplinary proceedings violates natural justice, necessitating the setting aside of dismissal orders and reinstatement of affected personnel.
The punishment imposed must be proportionate to the gravity of the misconduct, and the principles of natural justice and statutory regulations prescribing the mode of enquiry must be followed.
The court's decision highlighted the discretionary nature of issuing a writ under Article 226 of the Constitution of India and emphasized the limited scope for interference in disciplinary matters, u....
Proportionality of punishment and adherence to prescribed procedures in disciplinary proceedings.
The main legal point established in the judgment is the importance of adhering to natural justice principles in disciplinary proceedings, including providing a fair opportunity for the accused to def....
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