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2017 Supreme(MP) 233

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
Vivek Rusia, J.
Bherulal Khichi - Petitioner
Versus
School Education Department - Respondent
W.P. No. 3000 of 2016
Decided On : 20-06-2017

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioner: Shri S.L. Soni
For the Respondent: Shri Yogesh Mittal

Headnote:

Salary Denial - Education Department - The court directed the District Education Officer to conduct a fresh inquiry before denying the petitioner's salary for the period of unauthorized absence, emphasizing the need for specific findings and opportunity for the petitioner to be heard.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner, an Assistant Teacher, was denied salary for a period of unauthorized absence. The petitioner filed a writ petition seeking direction to receive arrears of full salary and suspension allowance.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the charge against the petitioner was vague, and the absence period was not specified. It emphasized the lack of specific findings and opportunity for the petitioner to be heard before denying the salary.

Issues: The issues revolved around the denial of salary for unauthorized absence, the vagueness of the charge, and the lack of specific findings and opportunity for the petitioner to be heard.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the need for specific findings and opportunity for the petitioner to be heard before denying the salary for unauthorized absence.

Final Decision: The writ petition was allowed, and the matter was remitted back to the District Education Officer with the direction to conduct a fresh inquiry if the salary for the period of unauthorized absence is to be denied.

ORDER :

Vivek Rusia, J.

Petitioner has filed the present petition being aggrieved by order dated 11.11.2013 (Annexure P/11) by which the respondent has denied the salary from the period 2.3.2012 to 28.9.2012.

2. The petitioner was appointed as Assistant Teacher in the School Education Department. During his posting in the Government Primary School Parsuliakala Shajapur, he was served with a show-cause notice dated 18.4.2012 in which it has been alleged that he is unauthorisedly absent without any information since 2.3.2012 and his conduct is contrary to the provisions of Panchayat Raj Adhiniyam and comes under the category of misconduct. By letter dated 24.9.2012 he has been directed to file reply failing which disciplinary action would be initiated. Since the petitioner did not file any reply vide order dated 29.9.2012, he was placed under suspension by the Additional Chief Executive Officer-Cum-District Education Officer.

3. Vide letter dated 30.10.2012 a charge sheet was issued to the petitioner in respect of the charge of unauthorised absence. Thereafter, vide order dated 6.12.2012, the order of suspension has been revoked by giving warning to remain cautious in future. His suspension has been revoked and he has been posted in Government Primary School Rawli. By letter dated 10.12.2012, the petitioner was directed to give joining and he was relieved to join Primary School Rawli. The petitioner gave joining on 10.12.2012.

4. The petitioner filed the Writ Petition No. 7820/2013 seeking direction to the respondent to pay the arrears of full salary from the period 2.3.2010 to 3.10.2012 and suspension allowance for the period from 4.10.2012 to 10.12.2012. By order dated 10.7.2013 the writ petition was disposed of with a direction to the petitioner to submit representation mentioning the correct period for which he is entitled for arrears of salary and subsistence allowance. By order dated 11.11.2013 the District Education Officer Shajapur, has rejected the representation of the petitioner on the ground that he is not entitled for salary for the period from 2.3.2010 to 28.9.2012 under the principle of 'no work no pay'. The suspension allowance has been paid vide Bill No. 180 dated 26.10.2013. Being aggrieved by order dated 11.11.2013 the petitioner has filed the present petition.

5. After notice, the respondent has filed the return stating that the departmental enquiry has been closed against the petitioner by giving warning for his past conduct with further direction not to repeat such attitude in future and consequently, the suspension has also been revoked. The respondent has rightly denied the salary to the petitioner under the principle of 'no work no pay' as the petitioner was unauthorisedly absent from duty.

6. I have heard the learned Counsel for the parties.

7. A show-cause notice was issued to the petitioner by the District Education Officer that he is continuously absent since 2.3.2012. Since the petitioner did not submit the reply to the show-cause notice, he was placed under suspension. Thereafter the charge sheet was issued to the petitioner in which charge was framed that he is absent from the Institution since long, without any information and due to which, the educational work has been affected. In this charge sheet period of absence has not been mentioned. The charge is very vague in nature. The petitioner has neither admitted nor denied the charge. After the aforesaid charge sheet order dated 6.12.2012 was passed by which the suspension was revoked with the warning to the petitioner. In this order it is mentioned that reply was filed and opportunity of hearing was given to the petitioner. The period of suspension was treated into the period of service for grant of all benefits. No order has been passed in respect of period of absence and payment of salary and other benefits and the petitioner was not paid the salary for the entire period of absence.

8. Being aggrieved by the action of the respondent, the petitioner fil




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