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2009 Supreme(J&K) 137

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR AT JAMMU
Sunil Hali, J.
Harbans Lal - Appellant
Versus
State & Ors. - Respondent
SWP No.1233/2005
Decided On : 02 April, 2009

Advocates Appeared:
Advocate For Appellant: S.K. Anand
Advocate For Respondent: Vinod Bakshi

The central legal point established in the judgment is the requirement for fair administration of laws and the illegality of arbitrary employment termination.

Headnote:

Unfairness - Employment Termination - SRO 64 of 1994 - [SRO 64 of 1994] - The court discussed the petitioner's appointment as a helper under SRO 64 of 1994, the eligibility criteria for regularization, and the arbitrary termination of the petitioner's employment. The court highlighted the unfairness and prejudice in the administration of the law and quashed the termination order, directing the reinstatement of the petitioner as a helper.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner was appointed as a helper under SRO 64 of 1994 but his appointment was arbitrarily terminated without valid reasons. The petitioner claimed to have been appointed as a Daily Wager prior to 1994 and subsequently regularized as a helper. The respondents contested the petitioner's entitlement to regularization based on conflicting records of his appointment.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the petitioner was eligible for regularization under SRO 64 of 1994 and that his termination was arbitrary and unfair. The court directed the reinstatement of the petitioner as a helper from the date of regularization and awarded monetary benefits till a certain period.

Issues: The main issues revolved around the petitioner's eligibility for regularization, the validity of his termination, and the fairness of the administrative decision.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the petitioner was eligible for regularization under SRO 64 of 1994 and that his termination was arbitrary and unfair. The court emphasized the need for fair administration of laws and quashed the termination order, directing the reinstatement of the petitioner as a helper.

Final Decision: The petition was allowed, and the court directed the reinstatement of the petitioner as a helper from the date of regularization, along with monetary benefits till a certain period.

1. This is a case where unfairness is writ large in administering justice. After appointing petitioner as helper by invoking SRO 64 of 1994 on 1-5-1995. Said appointment order has been cancelled on 9-9-1995 by the same officer. Perusal of the order reveals that petitioner came to be appointed as helper after relaxing age bar by the Administrative Department by invoking SRO 64 of 1994. The order speaks that the petitioner had continuously worked for seven years as on 30-3-1994 and as a result of which, he became eligible for regularization, which was done in pursuant to the aforesaid order. The said order gets cancelled within three months without disclosing reasons for the same. It is this order, which is the subject matter of challenge in this writ petition.

2. The positive case set out by the petitioner is that he was appointed as Daily Wager prior to 1994 and came to be regularized on 1-5-1995 and appointed as helper. The said order of appointment was cancelled by respondent -1. The basis for cancellation of order dated 1-5-1995, is provided by communication dated 23-8-1985 issued by Regional Director, Social Forestry Project in which he states that petitioners name has been wrongly included in the list and instead name of one Ramesh Lal should have been shown in the list of regularized employees. According to the statement showing the names of Casual Labours / Daily Rated Workers issued by the Divisional Forest Officer, Kathua, the petitioner is stated to be appointed in the year 1985 and continued to serve the department till 1994. Vide another communication dated 29-7-1994, addressed by the Divisional Forest Officer, Kathua to the Regional Director, Social Forestry Project, Jammu, it has been stated that petitioners order of cancellation was not based on correct facts. It is further revealed that petitioner continued to work with the department till 29-7-2004. Aforesaid Communication manifestly states that for undisclosed reasons and by concocting a false report against the petitioner, his order of termination was managed by the respondents.

3. On the other hand, the respondents stated that petitioner on his own showing stated that he was engaged as Daily Wager in the year 1995-96, as such was not entitled to regularization on 5-5-1995. In view of the stand taken by the respondent, petitioner has no cause to agitate before the court.

4. I have heard the learned counsel for the parties.

5. Undoubtedly, the petitioner has in his petition stated that he stood appointed in the year 1995-96. However, looking to the contemporaneous record produced by the respondent, he has been appointed as Casual Labour in the year 1985-86, as is revealed from the statement filed by the respondents indicating the names of Casual Labours/ Daily Rated Workers in which the petitioner figures at serial no. 101 and his date of appointment is shown in the year 1985. While analyzing the fact and the stand of the respondents, it can safely be stated that the petitioner was appointed in the year 1985 and not in 1995 as stated by him in the writ petition. This, in my opinion, was a typographical error. Even if assuming but not admitting that it is not a typographical error, the order impugned should have reflected that the petitioner was not eligible for regularization as he was appointed only in the year 1985. The order does not say so. As a matter of fact, no reason has been disclosed as to why the appointment of the petitioner has been cancelled. The respondents are aware that the petitioner stood appointed in the year 1985 and not in 1995 as un-intentionally mentioned by the petitioner in his petition. This argument would not prevail. Coming to the second question, as to whether the petitioner was entitled to be regularized, SRO 64 of 1994 provided regularization of Daily Rated Workers, provided he has completed seven years of service. The only eligibility is that he should have continuous service. There is no other requirement to be fulfilled by the p




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