RAJESH BHARDWAJ
Sukhwinder Singh – Appellant
Versus
State of Punjab – Respondent
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. petitioner's request to quash enquiry reports. (Para 1) |
| 2. claims of petitioner regarding lack of due process. (Para 2) |
| 3. state's argument on valid initiation of enquiry. (Para 3) |
| 4. details of enquiry findings and legal context. (Para 4 , 5) |
| 5. applicability of section 216 of the act. (Para 6) |
| 6. confirming findings from two enquiries. (Para 7) |
| 7. distinguishing past case law based on unique facts. (Para 8) |
| 8. dismissing petition and affirming liability. (Para 9) |
JUDGMENT
Rajesh Bhardwaj, J.
Prayer in the present petition is for quashing the enquiry report dated 09.02.2018 (Annexure P-3) and report dated 06.07.2018 (Annexure P-5) submitted by the SDO, Panchayati Raj, Public Works, Samrala, District Ludhiana, whereby, it has been held that an amount of Rs.18,73,175/- is liable to be recovered from the petitioner and proposed action to be taken on the basis of the said report as the conducting of enquiry is totally against the provisions of Section 216 (4) of PUNJAB PANCHAYATI RAJ ACT (for short, 'the Act').
2. It has been submitted by learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner remained Sarpanch of the village Nagra, Block Samrala, District Ludhiana from the
Gurdial Singh v. State of Punjab
Ram Kanwar, Ex-Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat Rai v. State of Haryana
The limitation for initiating recovery proceedings under Section 216(4) does not apply if the complaint was filed during the term of the officeholder.
The court emphasized the necessity of adhering to statutory procedures and principles of natural justice in administrative inquiries, quashing the recovery order due to jurisdictional flaws.
As per Rules 256 and 257 of 1947 Rules, enquiry ought to have been conducted by Chief Audit Officer.
The main legal point established in the judgment is that the decision-making process adopted by the respondents must comply with the principles of natural justice and the statutory mandate of Section....
The court reaffirmed that principles of natural justice must be observed in inquiry processes, especially in cases of removal from office, while recognizing that proven guilt mitigates claims of proc....
The court affirmed that the District Magistrate has the authority to cease a Pradhan's powers pending inquiry, and that the preliminary inquiry process does not necessitate the Pradhan's involvement.
Removal of a Sarpanch requires adherence to natural justice principles and independent findings. Failure to present facts disqualifies claims for writ relief.
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