IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH

AT INDORE

BEFORE

HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE JAI KUMAR PILLAI

th

ON THE 15 OF JANUARY, 2026

WRIT PETITION No. 20917 of 2019

RAMCHANDRA DAMOR

Versus

FOREST DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS

Appearance:

Mr. L. C. Patne, counsel for the petitioner has appeared through virtual

mode.

Ms. Swati Ukhale, counsel for the respondents/State.

O R D E R circulars dated 28.01.2013 (Annexure-P/3) and 30.09.2015 (Annexure-P/4)

The present petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of

India challenging the order of suspension dated 23.01.2015 (Annexure-P/2) issued by the respondent No.3 upon instructions from the respondent No.2 suspending the petitioner in exercise of powers conferred by Rule 9(1) of the Madhya Pradesh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1966 on account of filing of challan against the petitioner dated 08.08.2014 in connection with Crime No.12 of 2013 registered against the petitioner and other accused persons under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B of Indian Penal Code, 1860 read with Sections 65 and 66 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and Sections 3(d) 1, 2/4 of the Madhya Pradesh Manyata Prapt Pariksha Adhiniyam,

1937 (Popularly known as 'Vyapam Case').

2. The petitioner is further aggrieved by the inaction on the part of the respondent in not revoking the suspension of the petitioner keeping in view the

issued by the State Government.

3. Counsel for the petitioner submits that under the similar circumstances, the claim made by the similarly situated person has been allowed. In support of his submissions, he has placed reliance on the orders passed by this Court in the cases of Syed Irshad Ali Vs. State of MP and Others passed in W.P. No.2252 of 2017 dated 24.07.2018, Rajesh Patidar Vs. State of M.P. and Others passed in W.P. No.17829 of 2018 dated 06.10.2018 and Leeladhar Songara Vs. State of MP and Others passed in W.P. No.3521 of 2019 dated 06.05.2019.

4. That, the petitioner submits that while serving on the post of Assistant Conservator of Forest Range Officer in the Office of Deputy Forest Divisional Officer, Bhikangaon Forest Division, Khargone (MP), a criminal case at Crime No.12 of 2013 was registered against the petitioner for the offence punishable under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B of the Indian Penal Code read with Sections 65 and 66 of the I.T. Act 2000 and Sections 3(d) 1, 2/4 of the Madhya Pradesh Manyata Prapt Pariksha Adhiniyam, 1937 (Popularly known as “Vyapam” case) in the Police Station, STF, Bhopal. In anticipation of his arrest, the petitioner has moved an anticipatory Bail Application No.22112 of 2014 in the Court of learned District and Sessions Judge, Bhopal and vide order dated 20.05.2014 (Annexure-P/1) passed by the learned IX Additional Sessions Judge, Bhopal, the petitioner and his daughter Ms. Bhavna Damor have been extended the benefit of anticipatory bail by finding a strong prima facie case in favour of the petitioner and his daughter, the allegations against whom were that the petitioner by use of unfair means got his daughter Ms. Bhavna Damor selected in the PMT Examination, 2012 for admission to MBBS Degree course, conducted by the Madhva Pradesh Professional Examination Board.

5. That, the petitioner submits that a challan has been filed in the aforesaid criminal case before the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bhopal on 08.08.2014 against the petitioner and other co-accused persons and on account of filing of challan in the aforesaid criminal case, the petitioner has been placed under suspension by the impugned order dated 23.01.2015 (Annexure-P/2) issued by respondent no.3 in exercise of powers conferred by the Rule 9 (1) of the Madhya Pradesh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1966. It is stated that the petitioner’s headquarter under suspension has been fixed in the Forest Division at Bhopal by respondent No.2.

6. It is further submitted that he is not at all at fault in the conclusion of criminal case pen