2004 Supreme(MP) 821

2005(1) JLJ 420
(FULL BENCH)
R.V. Raveendran, C.J., K.K. Lahoti and Shantanu Kemkar, JJ.
Jagdish Prasad Tripathi v. State of M.P. and others
W.P. (S) No. 1368 of 2004; on reference by Division Bench;
Decided on 29.10.2004.

Headnote:(1) Age -- relaxation of age limit for service, etc. -- Court cannot direct relaxation of maximum age without limit and without any discemible logical basis.

       The petitioner claims that he worked as ad hoc Assistant Teacher between 8.3.1981 to 30.4.1981 and again from 31.8.1981 to 30.4.1982, that thereafter his services were dispensed with without assigning any reason and without affording any opportunity. He, therefore, filed an application (O.A. No. 967 of 1998) before the M.P. State Administrative Tribunal praying that he may be taken back into service. The said application was dismissed by the Tribunal by order dated 21.5.2002 for the reasons stated in its order passed on the same day in Raghunath Prasad Badgiya v. State of M.P. (O.A. No. 1310/1998). The petitioner has challenged the said order of the Tribunal in this writ petition filed on 11.3.2004 with a further prayer that he may be permitted to work in the post of Assistant Teacher with all back wages and all consequential benefits by regularising his service from the date of initial appointment.

       When the said writ petition came up before the Division Bench on 11.82004, the learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner will be satisfied if the relief granted by a Division Bench of this Court, by order dated 4.11.2003 in W.P. No.5238/2002 (S.K. Nema v. State of M.P.) and connected cases filed against similar orders of the Tribunal, is granted to him. The Division Bench found that the petitioner had approached the Tribunal 16 years after ceasing to be an ad hoc teacher. Therefore, the Division Bench was of the view that the Tribunal had rightly rejected the petition on the ground of limitation, delay and laches. However, the petitioner contended that in S.K. Nema, in similar circumstances, another Division Bench had granted certain relief and that decision was a binding precedent and he should also be granted similar relief, that is, (a) the respondents should consider his case for regularisation sympathetically by taking into account the fact that he was unemployed for several years; and (b) if he applies against any advertisement for selection of Assistant Teachers, the age limit for appointment may be relaxed in his case.

       The Division Bench was of the view that S.K. Nema was based more on sympathy than any principle of law and was not inclined to grant any relief in terms of S.K. Nema. But as the said decision was cited as a binding precedent, to avoid any grievance that different Division Benches of the Court dealt with similar matters differently, referred the matter to a Full Bench. [Paras 1 to 3

       The question is whether the decision in S.K. Nema which, without setting aside the order of the Tribunal and without giving any finding on any fact or question of law, was justified in making observations in the nature of directions, out of sympathy, requiring the State to consider the application of the petitioners by relaxing the age by 10 to 20 years, when that was not permissible under the Rules ? [Para 5

       Held: When the rules require an authority to act in a particular manner, the Courts obviously cannot acting out of sympathy, direct the authority to act contrary to the rules. The Courts have no doubt directed relaxation of age, but that is in rare cases and for valid reasons and for a period which can be supported legally and logically.... But the Court cannot, out of sympathy, direct relaxation of the maximum age, without limit and without any discernible logical basis. (1992) 2 SCC 1, (1997) 6 SCC 650, (1998) 5 SCC 377,1998(2) JLJ 159(SC), 1911-13 All ER 117, (2004) 2 SCC 130, (2003) 3 SCC 374 and (2004) 7 SCC 112 followed. [Para 6

       The decision in S.K. Nema has opened the floodgates f{)r persons who were employed for few days, decades ago, to approach the authorities and Courts requesting and asserting that they should be given employment by the State, irrespective of the fact that they are in the late 40s or 50s and irrespective of the fact that they are totally out of touch with teaching, and requiring the State to ignore the maximum age limit criterion, prescribed by the rules. But judicial process should not become an alternative mode of recruitment, de hors the rules. (1996) 7SCC 562 followed. [Para 9.

       In fact, the question of acting sympathetically would arise only where the matter is not governed by any specific rule or regulation and where the authority concerned is vested with discretion, and where any action based on sympathy would not prejudice any other person, but lead to a just result. Be that as it may, it is evident that the decision in S.K. Nema is erroneous and unsustainable. W.P. No. 5238 of 2002 overruled. [Para 10

       (2) Courts -- should not only resist from legislating and policy making but also desist from directing authorities to act in manner which violates rules. [Para 7

       (3) Civil Servant -- recruitment -- Court cannot direct State to ignore the age limit de hors recruitment rules -- judicial process should not become an alternative mode of recruitment. (1996) 7 SCC 562 followed. [Para 9

       (4) Precedent -- what is binding as precedent is ratio decidendi -- judgment of High Court should not be read as statute -- relief given out of sympathy not based on any principle of law -- not a binding precedent.

       The next question for consideration is, even if the decision in S.K. Nema was not erroneous, whether such a decision would be a binding precedent in other cases. [Para 11

       Held: Any observation made or relief given by a Court out of sympathy, compassion, sentiments, and not based on any discernible principle of law or de hors the merits of the case cannot be a binding precedent. A judgment of a Court contains three parts: (i) finding of facts; (ii) statement of principle of law applicable to the legal problem raised on the facts, based on which the case is decided; and (iii) decision, which is based on the finding of fa.ct, applicable principles of law, and in some cases, discretion and the need to mould the relief in a particular manner. Out of the three parts, it is only the second part, that is ratio decidendi or statement of law applied and acted upon by the Court, that is, a binding precedent. Neither the findings on facts nor the ultimate decision, that is, the relief given or the manner adopted to dispose of the case, is a precedent.

       Tested on the touch-stone of the said principles, we have no doubt in our minds that the decision in S.K. Nema does not lay down any principle of law which can be considered to be the ratio decidendi. It does not record any finding of fact. It does not disturb the decision of the Tribunal. It does not evolve any principle of law, nor apply any principle to the facts or legal questions. We find that the observations apparently are only out of sympathy. It does not even contain any enforceable direction. Therefore, the decision S.K. Nema cannot be said to contain any principle which will be a binding precedent. Salmond on Jurisprudence, 12th Ed. pp. 176-77, relied on. (1979) 3 SCC 727 and AIR 1978 SC 1073 followed. W.P. No. 5238 of 2002 held not binding precedent. [Paras 11 to 13

       (5) Constitution of India -- Art. 227 -- State Administrative Tribunal approached after 16 years -- writ filed after 1-1/2 years -- both are liable to be rejected on ground of delay and laches. [Para 14

        ¼1½ vk;q && lsok vkfn ds fy, vk;q lhek dk f‘kfFkyhdj.k && U;k;ky; vf/kdre vk;q&lhek dk vlhfer] vkSj bzfnz;xkspj rkfdZd vk/kkjjfgr ‘kSfFkyhdj.k funsf‘kr ugha dj ldrkA

       ;kph dk nkok gS fd mlus 8-3-1981 ls 30-4-1981 ds e/;] fQj 31-8-1987 ls 30-4-1982 ds e/; rnFkZ lgk;d f‘k{kd dh Hkk¡fr dk;Z fd;k rFkk rRi‘pkr~ dksbZ Hkh dkj.k fn, fcuk vkS volj fn, fcuk mls lsok ls vfHk;qDr dj fn;k x;kA blfy, mlus e-iz- jkT; iz‘kklfud vf/kdj.k ds le{k ;g izkFkZuk djrs gq, fd mls esa okil ys fy;k tk, vkosnu ¼ewy vkosnu Ø- 967@1998½ Qkby fd;kA vf/kdj.k us mDr vkosnu vkns‘k fnukad 21-5-2002 }kjk mlh fnu j?kqukFkizlkn ckxfM+;k fo- e-iz- jkT; ¼ewy vkosnu Ø- 1310@1998½ esa ikfjr vkns‘k eas fn, x, dkj.kksa ls [kkfjt dj fn;kA ;kph us 11-3-2004 dks Qkby dh xbZ bl fjV ;kfpdk esa bl leLr fiNyh etnwjh vkSj ifj.kkfed Qk;nksa lfgr mls lgk;d f‘k{kd ds in ij dk;Z djus dh vuqefr nh tk,] vf/kdj.k ds mDr vkns‘k ij vk{ksi fd;k gSA

       tc mDr ;kfpdk 11-8-2004 dks [kaM U;k;ihB ds le{k vkbZ] ;kph ds fo}ku dkmUlsy us fuosnu fd;k fd ;kph dk lek/kku gks tk,xk ;fn mls bl U;k;ky; dh [kaM U;k;ihB }kjk fjV ;kfpdk Ø- 5238@2002 ¼,l-ds- usek fo- e-iz- jkT;½ vkSj vf/kdj.k ds blh izdkj ds vkns‘kksa ds fo#) Qkby fd, x, lacaf/kr ekeyksa esa vkns‘k fnukad 4-11-2003 }kjk iznÙk vuqrks"k iznku fd;k tkrk gSA [kaM U;k;ihB dk fu"d"kZ Fkk fd ;kph rnFkZ f‘k{kd ugha jg tkus ds 16 o"kZ i‘pkr~ vf/kdj.k ds le{k x;k FkkA vr% [kaM U;k;ihB dh jk; Fkh fd vf/kdj.k us ifjlhek] foyac vkSj xQyr ds vk/kkj ij vthZ Bhd&gh ukeatwj dh FkhA rFkkfi] ;kph us ladFku fd;k fd ,l-ds-usek ds ekeys esa leku ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa ,d vU; [kaM U;k;ihB us dqN vuqrks"k iznku fd;k Fkk vkSj og fofu‘p; vkc)dj iwoZ fu.kZ; gS vkSj mls Hkh ogh vuqrks"k iznku fd;k tkuk pkfg, vFkkZr~ ¼d½ izR;FkhZx.k dks ;g rF; fglkc esa ysrs gq, fd og vusd o"kZ csjkstxkj Fkk] fu;fefrdj.k ds fy, mls ekeys ij lgkuqHkwfriwoZd fopkj djuk pkfg,] rFkk ¼[k½ ;fn og lgk;d f‘k{kd ds p;u ds fy, fdlh foKkiu ds mÙkj esa vkosnu djus rc mls ekeys esa vk;q&lhek f‘kfFky dh tk,A

       [kaM U;k;ihB dh jk; Fkh fd ,l-ds- usek dk ekeyk fof/k ds fl)kar ds LFkku ij lgkuqHkwfr ij vf/kd vk/kkfjr Fkk rFkk [kaM U;k;ihB ,l-ds- usek ds ekeys ds vuqlkj vuqrks"k iznku djus dks rS;kj ugha FkhA ijarq D;ksafd mDr fofu‘p; dk vkc)dj iwoZ fu.kZ; dh Hkk¡fr izks)j.k fd;k x;k Fkk] bl f‘kdk;r ls cpus ds fy, fd U;k;ky; dh fHké [kaM U;k;ihBksa us leku fo"k;ksa dk fHké foospu fd;k] ekeyk iw.kZ U;k;ihB dks fufnZ"V dj fn;kA ¿ iSjk 1 ls 3À

       iz‘u ;g gS fd D;k ,l-ds- usek ds ekeys esa fn, x, fofu‘p; esa tks vf/kdj.k dk vkns‘k vikLr fd, fcuk rFkk fdlh rF; dk fof/k ds iz‘u ij fu"d"kZ fn, fcuk ikfjr fd;k x;k gS] lgkuqHkwfr ds dkj.k funs‘k dh izd`fr dh leqfDr dh tkuk U;k;ksfpr Fkk fd jkT; }kjk ;kphx.k ds vkosnu ij 10 ls 20 o"kZ vk;q lhek dk f‘kfFkyhdj.k dj fopkj fd;k tk, tc fd ,slk fu;eksa ds v/khu vuqKs; ugha Fkk \ ¿ iSjk 5À

       vfHkfu/kkZfjr % tc fu;eksa esa izkf/kdkjh }kjk ,d fof‘k‘V jhfr ls dk;Z fd;k tkuk visf{kr gS rc lqLi"Vr% U;k;ky; lgkuqHkwfr ls izsfjr gks dj] ml izkf/kdkjh dks fu;eksa ds izfrdwy dk;Z djus dk funs‘k ugha ns ldrsA U;k;ky;ksa us fu%lUnsg vk;q&lhek ds f‘kfFkyhdj.k dk funs‘k fn;k gS iajrq ,slk fojys ekeyksa esa vkSj fof/kekU; dkj.kksa ls vkSj ,slh vof/k ds fy, fd;k x;k gS ftls fof/kd vkSj rkfdZd :i ls leFkZu fn;k tk ldsA----- ijarq U;k;ky; lgkuqHkwfr ds dkj.k] vf/kdre vk;q&lhek dk vlhfer vkSj bafnz;kxkspj rkfdZd vk/kkjjfgr f‘kfFkyhdj.k funsf‘kr ugha dj ldrkA ¼1992½2 ,l lh lh 1] ¼1997½ 6 ,l lh lh 650] ¼1998½ 5 ,l lh lh 377] 1998¼2½ ts ,y ts 159 ¼mPpre U;k-½ 1911&13 vky bZ vkj 117] ¼2004½2 ,l lh lh 130] ¼2003½3 ,l lh lh 374 rFkk ¼2004½ 7 ,l lh lh 112 vuqlfjrA ¿ iSjk 6À

       ,l-ds- usek ds ekeys esa fn, x, fofu‘p; ls mu O;fDr;ksa ds fy, ck<+&}kjk [kksy fn, gS tks n

       ‘kZdksa iwoZ dqN fnuksa ds fy, fu;ksftr Fks fd og ;g vuqjks/k vkSj izk[;ku djrs gq, izkf/kdkfj;ksa vkSj U;k;ky;ksa ds le{k vk,¡ fd mUgsa bl rF; ds gksrs gq, Hkh fd og 40 vkSj 50 ds mÙkjk/kZ esa gS] vkSj bl rF; ds gksrs gq, Hkh fd mudk f‘k{k.k ls fcYdqy Hkh ljksdkj ugha jgk gS] jkT; }kjk fu;kstu fn;k tkuk pkfg, rFkk jkT; ls fu;eksa }kjk fofgr vf/kdre vk;q&lhek ekunaM vuns[kk djus dh vis{kk dh tkuk pkfg,A ijarq U;kf;d izfØ;k] fu;eksa ls vlac)] HkrhZ dk vkuqdfYid <ax ugha cuuk pkfg,A ¼1996½ 7 ,l lh lh 562 vuqlfjrA ¿ iSjk 9À

       okLro esa] lgkuqHkwfriwoZd dk;Z djus dk iz‘u dsoy ogha mn~Hkwr gksxk tgk¡ ekeyk fdlh fofufnZ"V fu;e ;k fofu;e }kjk fofu;fer ugha gks rFkk tgk¡ lac) izkf/kdkjh esa foosdkf/kdkj fufgr gks rFkk tgk¡ lgkuqHkwfr ij vk/kkfjr dkjZokbZ ls dksbZ vU; O;fDr izfrdwyr% izHkkfor ugha gks] vfirq _tq ifj.kke fudyrk gksA tSlk Hkh gks] lqLi"V gS fd ,l-ds- usek ds ekeys esa fn;k x;k fofu‘p; xyr vkSj vleFkZuh; gSA fjV ;kfpdk Ø- 5238 lu~ 2002 myVh xbZA ¿ iSjk 10À

       ¼2½ U;k;ky; && fof/k vkSj uhfr cukus ls fojr gh ugha jgkuk pkfg, vfirq izkf/kdkfj;ksa dks ,slh jhfr esa dk;Z djus dk funs‘k nsus ls Hkh nwj jguk pkfg, ftlls fu;eksa dk vfrØe.kj gksA ¿ iSjk 7À

       ¼3½ flfoy lsod && HkrhZ && U;k;ky; jkT; dks HkrhZ fu;eksa ls vlac)] vk;q&lhek vuns[kh djus dk funs‘k ugha ns ldrk && U;kf;d izfØ;k HkrhZ dk vkuqdYfid <ax ugha cuuk pkfg,A ¼1996½7 ,l lh 562 vuqlfjrA ¿ iSjk 9À

       ¼4½ iwoZ fu.kZ; && iwoZ fu.kZ; dh Hkk¡fr vkc)dj fu.kZ;k/kkj gksrk gS & mPp U;k;ky; ds fu.kZ; dk dkuwu ds :i esa ikB ugha fd;k tkuk pkfg, && lgkuqHkwfr ds dkj.k fn;k x;k vuqrks"k fof/k ds fl)kar ij vk/kkfjr ugha && vkc)dj iwoZ fu.kZ; ughaA

        fopkjkFkZ vxyk iz‘u gS] ,l-ds- usek es ekeys esa fofu‘p; xyr ugha gks rc Hkh D;k ,slk fofu‘p; vU; ekeyksa esa vkc)dj iwoZ fu.kZ; gksxk \ ¿ iSjk 11À

       vfHkfu/kkZfjr % U;k;ky; }kjk lgkuqHkwfr] vuqdaik] Hkkouk ds dkj.k ;k fof/k ds bafnz;kxkspj fl)kar ij vuk/kkfjr ;k ekeys ds xq.kkxq.k ls vlac) dh xbZ leqfDr;k¡ ;k fn, x, vuqrks"k vkc)dj iwoZ fu.kZ; ugha gks ldrsA U;k;ky; ds fu.kZ; esa rhu Hkkx gksrs gS % (i)rF;kRed fu"d"kZ( (ii) rF;ksa ls mn~Hkwr fof/kd leL;k dk ykx fof/k ds fl)kar dk dFku] ftlds vk/kkj ij ekeysa dk fofu‘p;u fd;k tkrk gS( rFkk (iii) fofu‘p;] tks rF;kRed fu"d"kZ] ykxw gksus okys fof/kd fl)karksa vkSj dqN ekeyksa esa foosd vkSj vuqrks"k dsk fof‘k‘V jhfr ls x<+us dh vko‘;drk ij vk/kkfjr gksrk gS bu Hkkxksa es ls dsoy f}rh; Hkkx vFkkZr~ fu.kZ;k/kkj ;k U;k;ky; }kjk ykxw vkSj dk;kZafor dh xbZ fof/k dk dFku] vkc)dj iwoZ fu.kZ; gksrk gSA u rF;kRed fu"d"kZ] u vafre fofu‘p; vFkkZr~ fn;k x;k vuqrks"k ;k ekeys ds fuiVkjs ds fy, viukbZ xbZ jhfr gh iwoZ fu.kZ; gSA

       mDr fl)karksa dh dlkSVh ij dlus ij gekjs eu esa dksbZ Hkh lansg ugha jg tkrk fd ,l-ds- usek ds ekeyksa ds fn, x, fofu‘p; esa fof/k dk ,slk dksbZ Hkh fl)kar vf/kdfFkr ugha gS ftls fu.kZ;k/kkj ekuk tk ldsA mlesa rF;kRed fu"d"kZ vfHkfyf[kr ugha fd;k x;k gSA mlesa vf/kdj.k dk fofu‘p; fo{kqC/k ugha fd;k x;k gSA mlesa fof/k dk dksbZ fl)kar fodflr ugha fd;k x;k gS] u rF;ksa ;k fof/kd iz‘uksa ij dksbZ fl)kar gh ykxw fd;k x;k gSA gekjk fu"d"kZ gS fd izdVr% leqfDr;k¡ lgkuqHkwfr&izsfjr gSA mlesa dksbZ izorZuh; funs‘k Hkh varfoZ"V ugha gSA vr%] ,slk ugha dgk tk ldrk fd ,l-ds- usek ds ekeys ds fofu‘p; esa ,slk dksbZ fl)kar gS tks vkc)dj iwoZ fu.kZ; gksA lkeaM d`r T;wfjLizwMsUl] }kn‘ke laLdj.k] i`"B 176&77 voyafcrA ¼1979½3 ,l lh lh 727 rFkk , vkb vkj 1978 ,l lh 1073 vuqlfjrA fjV ;kfpdk Ø- 5238 lu~ 2002 vkc)dj iwoZ fu.kZ; ugha] vfHkfu/kkZfjrA ¿ iSjk 11 ls 13À

       ¼5½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq- 227 && jkT; iz‘kklfud vf/kdj.k esa 16 o"kZ i‘pkr~ vkosnu && fjV 1&1@2 o"kZ i‘pkr~ Qkby dh xbZ && nksuksa foyac vkSj xQyr ds vk/kkj ij ukeatwj fd, tkus ;ksX;A

       ¿ iSjk 14À