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2020 Supreme(MP) 1143

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
S.A. Dharmadhikari, J.
Yogesh Pathak v. State of M.P.
Writ Petition No. 1621 of 2016 (G); Decided on 10.12.2020*

Advocates:
Prashant Kaurav for petitioner; Ajay Raghuvanshi, Panel Lawyer for respondents/State.

Headnote:

Police Regulations (M.P.) -- Reg. 59 -- Constitution of India -- Arts. 14,21 and 311 -- petitioner selected on post of Constable and sent for training -- alleged that his work during period of probation indicated that he was not fit -- services terminated without conducting enquiry -- appeal also dismissed -- writ petition -- main cause of termination was absence from duty without information -- no show cause notice served -- termination order is stigmatic in nature -- quashed -- petitioner entitled to all consequential benefits -- respondents would be at libery to proceed against petitioner in accordance with law. (1993)3 SCC 259 and (2002) 1 SCC 520 followed. [Paras 14 & 15

iqfyl fofu;e ¼e-iz-½ && fofu-59 && Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq-14] 21 rFkk 311 && ;kph dkaLVscy ds in ij p;fur rFkk izf'k{k.k ds fy, Hkstk x;k && vfHkdfFkr fd ifjoh{kk dh vof/k ds nkSjku mlds dk;Z ls nf'kZr fd og mi;qDr ugha && tk¡p fd, fcuk lsok lekIr && vihy Hkh [kkfjt && fjV ;kfpdk && lwpuk fn, fcuk drZO; ls vuqifLFkfr lsoklekfIr dk eq[; dkj.k Fkk && fdlh dkj.k crkvks lwpuk dh rkehy ugha && lsoklekfIr vkns'k dyadkjh izÑfr dk gS && vfHk[kafMr && ;kph leLr ikfj.kkfed Qk;nksa dk gdnkj && ;kph ds fo#) fofèk ds vuqlkj dk;Zokgh djus ds fy, izR;FkhZx.k Lora= gksaxsA ¼1993½3 ,l lh lh 259 rFkk ¼2002½1 ,l lh lh 520 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 14 ,oa 15

ORDER

1. In pursuance of the directions issued by the apex Court and guidelines issued by the High Court of Madhya Pradesh in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak, the matter was taken up through video conferencing while adhering to the norms of social distancing prescribed by the Government.

2. Heard finally with the consent of both the parties.

3. Invoking extraordinary jurisdiction of this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner has prayed for issuance of writ in the nature of certiorari for quashment of order dated 3.8.2015 (Annexure P/2) whereby, the services of the petitioner have been terminated and also order dated 24.11.2015 (Annexure P/1) whereby the appeal filed by the petitioner has been dismissed confirming the order dated 3.8/2015 (Annexure P/2).

4. The brief facts leading to filing of this petition are that the petitioner was selected on the post of Constable in the year 2013 and after selection, the petitioner was sent for training. Character verification of the petitioner was conducted. However, to the utter surprise of the petitioner, order dated 3.8.2015 was issued stating therein that the work of petitioner during the period of probation indicates that he is not fit in the force, therefore, invoking provisions of Regulation 59 of M.P. Police Regulations, the services of the petitioner have been terminated. Appeal was also dismissed vide order dated 24.11.2015 without assigning any reason and passed non- speaking order which is not sustainable in the eyes of law.

5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that respondents did not consider the fact before passing the impugned order that the petitioner has given his joining at the training centre and after giving his joining, he received the message from his home that his mother has suffered a stroke and thereafter, he informed to In-charge of training centre and come back to Mathura and at Mathura, he suffered an accident wherein some damage was caused to his backbone due to which he remained on bed from 12.6.2015 to 12.8.2015 which has resulted in absent of the petitioner. Thereafter, on 12.8.2015, the petitioner has given his joining at the training centre but he was not permitted to join the training.

6. Learned counsel for the petitioner further submitted that vide impugned order dated 3.8.2015 (Annexure P/2), no reason has been assigned for terminating his services but reason assigned was that during probationary period, the petitioner was negligent in discharging his duties and it is not possible for him to become a good police officer which amounts to stigma. Before terminating the services, a show -cause notice ought to have been issued and a proper inquiry ought to have been conducted. The said action on part of the respondents clearly violates the right as envisaged under Article 311 of Constitution of India, thus, the impugned order deserves to be set-aside.

7. In support of his contention, learned counsel for the petitioner has placed reliance on the judgment of Apex Court in the case of D.K. Yadav v. J.M.A. Industries Ltd. [(1993)3 SCC 259] in which it has been held that termination of service results in deprivation of right to livelihood, therefore, termination without holding any domestic inquiry violates the provisions of Articles 14 and 21 of Constitution of India.

8. Learned counsel for the petitioner has further placed reliance on the judgment of apex Court in the case of Pavanendra Narayan Verma v. Sanjay Gandhi P.G.I. Of Medical Sciences & Anr. [(2002)1 SCC 520] in which Hon'ble apex Court held that one of the judicially evolved tests to determine whether in substance an order of termination is punitive is to see whether prior to the termination there was (a) a full scale formal enquiry (b) into allegations involving moral turpitude or misconduct which (c) culminated in a finding of guilt. If all three factors are present the termination has been held to be punitive irrespective of the form of the termination order.

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