State
of Punjab & Ors Vs. Constable Sarwan
Singh [1996] INSC 142 (25
January 1996)
Jeevan
Reddy, B.P. (J) Jeevan Reddy, B.P. (J) Sen, S.C. (J) B.P.Jeevan Reddy.J.
CITATION:
JT 1996 (1) 584 1996 SCALE (1)565
ACT:
HEAD NOTE:
Leave
granted.
Heard
counsel for both the parties.
This
appeal arises from the order of a learned Single Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissing
the Second Appeal preferred by the State of Punjab in limine.
The
respondent was a police constable. a disciplinary inquiry was held against him
for unauthorised absence from duty. At the conclusion of the disciplinary
inquiry, the Superintendent of Police, Ropar, gave a notice to the respondent
calling upon him to show-cause why he should not be dismissed from service.
Respondent submitted his reply.
At
that stage, it appears, he was transferred from Ropar to District Sangrur. From
District Sangrur he was transferred to District Patiala. The relevant file
relating to disciplinary proceedings was also transferred to Patiala. On April 25, 1984 an order was passed dismissing the respondent from service.
The order is signed by "Superintendent of Police, Patiala". At the foot of the said
order, the names of persons to whom copies of the said order was sent are
mentioned. Thereafter, there is the signature of "Sri J.P.Virdi, I.P.S.,
Superintendent of Police, Patiala".
The
respondent filed a suit challenging the order of his dismissal. The Trial Court
decreed the suit on the only ground that the order of dismissal has not been
passed by the Superintendent of Police in-charge of the District but by Sri J.P.Virdi
who was only a Superintendent of Police (Headquarters). The Trial Court was of
the opinion that only the Superintendent of Police, in-charge of the District
is competent to dismiss a police constable under the relevant rules. This
finding of the Trial Court has been affirmed by the learned District Judge on
appeal. The learned District Judge observed that Sri J.P.Virdi was not
in-charge of the District at the relevant time and, therefore, not competent to
pass the order of dismissal. The Second Appeal preferred by the State of Punjab has been dismissed by the High
Court in limine, as stated above.
In
this appeal, it is contended by the learned counsel for the State of Punjab that according to the Punjab Police
Rules [Chapter XVI]. constables can be dismissed by one of the officers
mentioned under Column (6) of the table appended to Rule 16.1. The Officers
mentioned under the said Column are: "Superintendents of Police, Deputy
Superintendent (Administrative), Government Railway Police;
Deputy
Superintendents- in-charge of Railway Police Sub- Divisions; Senior Assistant
Superintendent of Police, Lahore;
Officer-in-charge of Recruits Training Centres". The contention is Column
6 mentions "Superintendents of Police" [Plural] and, not merely
"Superintendent of Police" [Singular] and, therefore, a
Superintendent of Police under whom the constable [delinquent officer] is
working is competent to dismiss him. It is not necessary, it is contended, that
the Superintendent of Police in-charge of the district alone should pass such
orders. It is submitted that the respondent has not alleged or established that
the officer who signed the dismissal order - whether Sri J.P.Virdi or another -
was not having control over him. The burden of establishing that the
"Superintendent of Police, Patiala" who signed the dismissal order has no authority to do so lay upon
him and that he has failed to discharge that burden. On the other hand, the
learned counsel for the respondent relies upon certain decisions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court holding that
only the Superintendent of Police/Senior Superintendent of Police in-charge of
the district is competent to pass the order of dismissal.
It may
be noticed that the order of dismissal is signed by "Superintendent of
Police, Patiala". The officer who passed the
order did not describe himself as "Superintendent of Police
(Headquarters)". Whether that description is not correct is a question
which the High Court ought to have dealt with. It should also have dealt with
the question whether the order is incompetent, if it has been passed by the
"Superintendent of Police (Headquarters)". It may also be necessary
to find out whether the respondent was posted in the Headquarters at the time
of his dismissal and was he subordinate to "Superintendent of Police
[Headquarters]". It may also be necessary to deal with the contention of
the State based upon the language employed under Column (6) of Rule 16.1 of the
Punjab Police Rules, set out hereinabove.
Since
the question arising herein is of general application, we think it appropriate
that the matter is examined in depth by the High Court. The appeal is
accordingly allowed, the order under appeal is set aside and the matter remitted
to the High Court for fresh disposal of the appeal in accordance with the law
and in the light of the observations contained in this judgment. The High Court
is requested to admit the Second Appeal, give notice to the respondent and
dispose of the appeal on merits. If necessary, the High Court shall be free to
call for such further evidence as it may think necessary for a just and proper
disposal of the appeal. The High Court may also consider expeditious disposal
of the matter.
The
appeal is disposed of accordingly. No costs.
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