The State of Tamil Nadu & Ors Vs. M. Natarajan & ANR [1997] INSC 554 (7 July 1997)

K. RAMASWAMY, D.P. WADHWA.

ACT:

HEADNOTE:

O R D E R Leave granted. We have heard learned counsel for both sides.

These appeals by special leave arise from the judgment and common order of the Tamil Nadu Administrative Tribunal, Chennai, made on 30.4.1996 in OA Nos. 3804/94.

The admitted facts are that on 10.2.1987, the respondent misbehaved with two ladies and outraged their modesty and took them Into the lock up in the earlier hours, i.e., at 0200 hours. When two person intervened,they were beaten by them ; As a consequence, an enquiry was held and a criminal case was also instituted against the respondents.

When they were asked to appear before the Enquiry Officer, they failed to appear in spite of several opportunities given to them. As a result, the Enquiry Officer was constrained to record the findings and recommend imposition of the punishment of stoppage of three increments with cumulative effect. After the receipt of the report, The disciplinary authority had issued notices to the respondents as to why major penalty should not be given to the respondents. The respondents asked for opportunity to cross- examine the witnesses and sought fresh enquiry on the ground that by that date the criminal case filed against the respondents was withdrawn. The competent authority declined to accede to the request and imposed the punishment of removal from service. Feeling aggrieved, They filed O.As. in the Tribunal. The Tribunal allowed the O.As. on the ground that the disciplinary authority did not consider the evidence to justify the finding of proof of charges and violated the principles of natural justice. We find that the Tribunal was not justified in reaching the conclusion for the reason that the Tribunal itself has categorically recorded findings at pages 8-10 as under :

"the applicants were asked to appear before the Enquiry Officer, but, They wrote to them saying that since the Criminal case was proceeding against them in a Criminal Court they would suggest that the departmental proceedings might be postponed till the disposal of the Criminal proceedings. The Enquiry Officer was right in holding the view that there was no bar for departmental proceedings to go while the criminal proceedings were being conducted at the appropriate forum.

The applicants had chosen not to participate in the departmental proceedings because of the reason that the criminal proceedings and the departmental proceedings should not go simultaneously. Though ignorance of law is not an excuse, the Enquiry Officer should have taken some steps to convince the applicants of the settled principle of law that both the criminal and departmental proceedings could go simultaneously and advised them to participate in the enquiry. But the applicants did not yield and only after the criminal was withdrawn against them, they chose to appear before the authorities concerned for the enquiry. The Enquiry Officer did not wait for the stage to materialise and he passed his ex-parte findings. The applicants refused to appear for the oral enquiry instead of several opportunities giver to them.

Therefore, it was decided to examine the prosecution witness in the absence of the applicants.

After the examination of P.Ws. the applicants were directed to appear to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses if they so desired. Even then they did not appear.

Therefore, the Enquiry was treated as closed after examining the prosecution witnesses and a finding was arrived at based on the materials available with the prosecution side. The applicants were even asked to submit their list of witnesses to be examined as Defence Witnesses, but they did not submit their written statement of defence if they desired, but they did not do that also. Finally, the applicants wrote saying that they submitted their representation to the Superintendent of Police and he replied and after recieving the reply from the Superintendent of police, a representation for the change of Enquiry Officer was turned down by the Superintendent of Police. Finally, enquiry was closed and ex-parte minute was prepared. Based on the findings of the Enquiry Officers" report in both the cases, the Superintendent of Police awarded the punishment of reduction in time scale of pay for three years with cumulative effect to the applicant in O.A. No.3804/91 and removed the applicant in O.A.

3805/91 from service." In view of these findings, we think that no procedural illegalities were committed in conducting the enquiry. The question is: what punishment should be awarded to the respondents? The Enquiry Officer himself has recommended to impose penalty of stoppage of three increments with cumulative effect. We find that the Enquiry Officer was justified. On the facts and circumstances of the case, we set aside the order of the removal from service. Instead, the disciplinary authority is directed to impose the punishment of stoppage of four increments with cumulative effect.

The appeals are accordingly allowed. No costs. The respondents are not entitled for any back wages.

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