IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
SANGEETA CHANDRA, J.
Shakil Ahmad - Petitioner
Versus
Union of India and Others - Respondents
Writ - A No. 68627 of 2015
Decided On : 22-11-2022
Constitution of India, 1950 – Article 14 – Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 – Section 482 – Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 – Section 11 A – CISF Rules 2001 – Rule 36 – Original Application – Criminal case – Disciplinary proceedings – First Information Report – whether penalty of removal from service offended principle of proportionality that is, whether penalty is disproportionate to gravity of misconduct to extent that it shocks conscience of court and is to be treated so arbitrary, as to term it as violative of Article 14 of Constitution – Held, Petitioner admittedly was assigned duty at Watchtower No.3. He was to remain on duty till 01:00 PM and would have had to take permission from a Superior Officer or atleast inform a Superior Officer before leaving his Sentry Post unattended – He did no such thing – He went to Gate No.2 and stated an altercation with his colleagues posted there which resulted in fisticuffs – Petitioner did not inform any Competent Officer of incident either immediately or soon after debriefing – Lodging of criminal complaint and of FIR at intervention of the CJM Kanpur Nagar only substantiate the stand of the Respondents that petitioner is a wilful and indisciplined employee – Writ Petition dismissed.
JUDGMENT :
1. This writ petition challenges the order dated 4.9.2014 passed by the Respondent No.5 the Commandant Central Industrial Security Force Unit, Thermal Power Station Panki, Kanpur Nagar, and also the Order dated 04.02.2015 passed by the Deputy Inspector General, CISF North Sector Headquarters, Allahabad, and the order dated 07.09.2015 passed by the Respondent No.3, Inspector General, North Sector, CISF Campus, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi. The petition further prays that the respondents be directed to reinstate the petitioner as Constable and to pay him his regular monthly salary and consequential benefits.
2. It is the case of the petitioner as argued by Sri Siddhartha Khare, that he was appointed as constable in CISF on 25.09.1990, and he remained in service up to 08.02.2006 when he was removed for alleged misconduct of leaving his place of duty at the Watchtower No.3 on 07.08.2005, at around 10:40AM and going to Gate No.2, and misbehaving with his colleagues and making allegations against the senior officers and that he approached the local Police Station straightaway for lodging First Information Report against his three colleagues that they had threatened him with dire consequences instead of informing his superior officers first with regard to the incident which took place at Gate No.02. It has been submitted that on 25.08.2005 the Assistant Commandant CISF Unit GAIL, Patna, was appointed as enquiry officer who proceeded to conduct an ex-parte enquiry against the petitioner in between 15.12.2005 to 19.12.2005, wherein statements of several witnesses were recorded without giving any opportunity to the petitioner to cross-examine them. The petitioner was under medical treatment and in no position to participate in the enquiry. An enquiry report was submitted on 10.01.2006 indicating the petitioner with regard to all three charges levelled against him. A copy of the enquiry report was sent to the petitioner on 15.01.2006 granting him time to submit his reply to the show cause notice. The petitioner submitted his reply on 20.01.2006 before the Senior Commandant that the petitioner had in fact been assaulted by three members of the Unit and had received serious injuries for which he was undergoing treatment. The petitioner however was removed from service on 08.02.2006 by the Respondent No.5 with a further direction that he would not be entitled to any additional emoluments for the period of suspension with effect from 07.08.2005 to 08.02.2006. The petitioner filed an Appeal which was rejected by the respondent no. 04. His Revision was also rejected by the Respondent No.3. Aggrieved, the petitioner preferred a Writ Petition No. 53433 of 2008 which was partly allowed by means of an Order dated 27.09.2012, on the ground that principles of natural justice had not been followed in the disciplinary proceedings held against the petitioner. The Court by its order dated 27.09.2012 directed that enquiry shall proceed from the stage it stood vitiated i.e. with effect from 15.12.2005. The reinstatement and consequential benefits to the petitioner shall be subject to orders passed in the fresh enquiry.
3. However, after a lapse of nearly two years the respondents by the order dated 19.05.2014 nominated one Inspector and one Assistant Commander as enquiry officers. Dates were fixed for hearing and the petitioner appeared and participated in the enquiry which continued up to 11.07.2014. Thereafter an enquiry report dated 02.08.2014, was filed by enquiry officer and the petitioner was issued a show cause notice to which he replied on 11.08.2014. The Respondent No.5 passed a punishment order on 04.09.2014 compulsorily retiring the petitioner. Aggrieved against such order of punishment the petitioner filed an Appeal which has been rejected by the Respondent NO.4 by its order dated 04.02.2015. The petitioner filed a Revision thereafter which has also been rejected by the Respondent No.3.
4. It has been argued by the petitioner's counsel that
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The High Court does not act as an appellate authority in disciplinary matters and will not interfere with the quantum of punishment unless it is shocking to the conscience.
The court emphasized the importance of maintaining discipline in an armed force and upheld the disciplinary authority's decision based on the evidence presented during the proceedings.
The main legal point established in the judgment is that the court's role in disciplinary proceedings is limited to ensuring fair treatment and compliance with natural justice. The judgment also emph....
Disciplinary penalties must be proportionate to the misconduct, considering the individual's service history and circumstances surrounding the case.
The standard of proof in disciplinary proceedings is based on preponderance of probabilities, and courts will not interfere unless the punishment is shockingly disproportionate to the misconduct.
The dismissal from service must be proportionate to the alleged misconduct and should not violate constitutional provisions such as double jeopardy. The imposition of punishment should adhere to the ....
The principle of proportionality mandates that disciplinary punishment must be commensurate with the gravity of the misconduct, and dismissal for minor infractions may be deemed excessive.
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