The court clarified that for minor charges under Rule 3(a), the procedure does not mandate communication of the enquiry report to the charged official, emphasizing the summary nature of the proceedings.

JUDGMENT

(Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for the issuance of a Writ of Certiorari, calling for the records relating to the impugned order of punishment passed by the second respondent herein in his proceedings Na.Ka.No.K2/Tha.Pa.14/2010 under Rule 3(a) dated 23.04.2010, imposing the punishment of postponement of increment for one year without cumulative effect and quash the same.)

1. The order of minor punishment issued in proceedings dated 23.04.2010, is under challenge in the present writ petition.

2. The learned counsel for the petitioner made a submission that the order of punishment was issued under Rule 3(a) of the Tamil Nadu Police Subordinate Service (Discipline and Appeal Rules) 1955, imposing minor penalty based on the enquiry report and the said enquiry report was not communicated to the writ petitioner.

3. It is contended that 3(a) charges are framed for imposing minor penalty. The Disciplinary Authority conducted an enquiry with reference to the allegations set out in the charge memo. Relying on the said enquiry, the punishment of stoppage of increment for one year without cumulative effect was imposed. However, the enquiry report has not been served to the writ petitioner. Thus the punishment is to be set aside.

4. The learned Special Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the respondents opposed the said contentions raised on behalf of the petitioner by stating that the allegation against the writ petitioner was that on 10.12.2009 the writ petitioner was instructed to report for duty at Kottur Police Station on 11.12.2009 at 08.00 hours for a sensitive bandhobast duty, but he failed to attend the same in time and he acted in an indisciplined manner with the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Thiruthuraipoondi. Thus, the Deputy Superintendent of Police had initiated departmental disciplinary proceedings against the writ petitioner in P.R.No.14 of 2010 under Rule 3(a) of the Tamil Nadu Police Subordinate Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1955 for the delinquencies committed by the writ petitioner.

5. The respondents have stated that furnishing of the copy of the enquiry report before passing the final orders is not required in case of minor charges framed under Rule 3(a) of the Discipline and Appeal Rules. The procedures to be followed for inflicting minor punishment under Rule 3(a) is summary proceedings and therefore, the enquiry if at all conducted for the purpose of culling out the truth need not be communicated to the delinquent as the said procedure has not been contemplated under the Discipline and Appeal Rules itself.

6. The learned counsel for the petitioner made a submission that the principles of natural justice require communication of the enquiry report to the charged official.

7. This Court is of the considered opinion that the distinct procedures to be followed by the Disciplinary Authority in respect of 3(a) charges and 3(b) charges are to be considered in such circumstances. When 3(a) charges are framed for imposing minor penalty and the procedure contemplated is to issue the charge memo under Rule 3(a) and after obtaining explanation from the charged official, final order may be passed by the Disciplinary Authority. Therefore, any procedure of enquiry conducted in between by the Disciplinary Authority is only for the purpose of ascertaining the truth regarding the allegation raised against the delinquent official and not for the purpose of communicate the same and to receive further explanation from the charged official. If such a procedure which is not contemplated under Rules is permitted to be adopted, then every 3(a) charges would be converted as 3(b) charges, wherein such elaborate procedures are to be followed. Thus, the verification of documents, ascertaining the facts for the purpose of considering the merits by the Disciplinary Authority should not be construed as a procedure contemplated under the Rules or such enquiry or ascertainin