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2023 Supreme(MP) 415

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
Gurpal Singh Ahluwalia, J.
R.K. Singhal v. State of M.P.
Writ Petition No. 8020 of 2023 (J);
Decided on 10.10.2023*

Advocates:
Sachin Jain for petitioner; G. P. Singh, Government Advocate for respondents/State.

Headnote:

(1) Departmental Enquiry -- promotion -- punishment of censure passed 3 years after initiation of departmental enquiry -- petitioner deprived of benefit of recommendations for promotion on account of prolonged enquiry -- recommendations kept in sealed cover -- not justified -- respondent directed to forthwith open sealed cover and implement recommendations within four months by treating punishment of censure as imposed within one year of initiation of departmental enquiry -- petitioner cannot be denied consequential benefits by applying principle of 'no work, no pay' if found fit for promotion. W. P (S) No. 3273 of 2005 confirmed. [Paras 16 & 17

(2) Promotion -- censure amounts to punishment -- promotion cannot be granted at relevant time. (2007) 5 SCC 425 followed. W. P. (S) No. 3273 of 2005 confirmed. [Para 15

¼1½ foÒkxh; tk¡p & ç¨Uufr & foÒkxh; tk¡p çkjaÒ djus d¢ rhu o"kZ i'pkr~ ifjfuank dk naM ikfjr & foyafcr tk¡p d¢ dkj.k ;kph ç¨Uufr dh flQkfj'k¨a d¢ Qk;ns ls oafpr & flQkfj'ksa eqgjcan fyQkQs esa j[kh xÃa & U;k;¨fpr ugÈ & foÒkxh; tk¡p çkjaÒ g¨us d¢ ,d o"kZ d¢ Òhrj ifjfuank dk naM vfèkj¨fir fd;k x;k eku dj eqgjcan fyQkQk vfoyac [k¨yus rFkk pkj ekl d¢ Òhrj flQkfj'ksa fØ;kfUor djus ds fy, çR;FkÊ funsf'kr & ç¨Uufr d¢ fy, mi;qä ik, tkus ij ;kph dks ^dke ugÈ r¨ osru ugÈ^ dk fl)kar ykxw dj ikfj.kkfed Qk;n¨a ls oafpr ugÈ fd;k tk ldrkA fjV ;kfpdk ¼,l½ Ø- 3273 lu~ 2005 iq"VA ¼iSjk 16 ,oa 17½

¼2½ ç¨Uufr & ifjfuank naM dh dksfV esa vkrh gS & lqlaxr le; ij ç¨Uufr çnku ugÈ dh tk ldrhA ¼2007½ 5 ,l lh lh 425 vuqlfjrA fjV ;kfpdk ¼,l½ Ø- 3273 lu~ 2005 iq"VA ¼iSjk 15½

ORDER

1. Initially this case was filed before Madhya Pradesh State Administrative Tribunal, Principal Bench Jabalpur and was registered as O.A. No.398/1993. After abolition of Tribunal, case was transferred to this Court and accordingly, it has been registered as W.P. No.8020/2003.

2. Initially petition was not filed against any specific order. It was the case of petitioner that by letter dated 24.9.1991, he came to know that he is facing a departmental enquiry in regard to Thanwar Project and one more enquiry has been proposed. He was informed that Department is trying to dispose of departmental enquiry as early as possible and only thereafter, case of petitioner shall be considered for promotion to the post of Superintendent Engineer. It was the case of petitioner that no action was taken to finalize the departmental enquiry and State Government promoted Executive Engineers, who were juniors to petitioner w.e.f. November, 1990 to August 1991. Another DPC was held in month of January, 1992, in which again petitioner was denied promotion. It was learnt by petitioner that on the basis of pendency of departmental enquiry, State Government has kept the recommendation in a sealed cover. DPC again met on 21.1.1993. As per assessment of petitioner, fate would be the same. Thus, it was the case of petitioner that respondent cannot keep recommendation in sealed cover, right from year 1990. They were bound to open sealed cover and act on the recommendations irrespective of enquiry mentioned in letter dated 24.9.1991. In view of subsequent event, petition was subsequently amended and it was pleaded that in respect of first charge sheet dated 15.12.1989, no enquiry in terms of rule 14 or 16 of M.P. Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) rules, 1966 was conducted. Only a show cause notice was given to petitioner on 4.12.1990 and State Government had proposed the punishment of withholding of one increment without cumulative effect for one year. The matter was sent to Public Service Commission (PSC). PSC advised State Government to exonerate petitioner and not to punish him. Although, respondent has not supplied the copies of opinion given by Public Service Commission but they should produce the same in the Court. Since persons, who were biased against petitioner, were interested to punish him, therefore, matter was again referred to PSC with a proposal that censure be imposed upon petitioner. PSC agreed that censure is not a punishment but would come in way of promotion of anybody and accordingly, by order dated 29.1.1993, punishment of censure was given to petitioner, which was received by him on 20.5.1993. Petitioner preferred an appeal against order of censure. In the meantime, State Government issued an order dated 1.6.1995 in which it was clearly mentioned that State Government has taken a decision to quash the penalty imposed against him provisionally and sanction thereon was formally required from the Cabinet. Accordingly, petitioner was promoted as Superintendent Engineer w.e.f. the date of promotion of his juniors on ad hoc basis. This decision was taken on previous recommendation made by Public Service Commission, which required the State Government to exonerate the petitioner. Thereafter, matter was referred to PSC at appellate stage. PSC did not agree to it. PSC wanted that punishment should remain and there was a tug of war between State Government and PSC, which ended in sufficient detriment to the career of petitioner. The Cabinet did not give the formal sanction for allowing the appeal and quashing the punishment of censure in view of the opinion of PSC and accordingly, appeal was dismissed. It is the case of petitioner that opinion of PSC was not binding on the State Government. What is required in law was consultation with PSC. It cannot be interpreted like effective consultation under Constitution. Once State Government had already taken a decision to promote petitioner as Superintendent Engineer, then it sho

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