Rita Rani Vs. Union of
India & Ors. [2008] INSC 1086 (10 July 2008)
Judgment
CIVIL APPELLATE
JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO.4307 OF 2008 (Arising out of SLP(C) No.18571/2006)
RITA RANI .... APPELLANT.
VERSUS ORDER Delay
condoned.
Leave granted.
Heard learned counsel
for the appellant and learned Additional Solicitor General appearing for the
Union of India.
The appellant is the
wife of Subeg Singh who joined service as a Khalasi (Helper) in the Northern
Railways in 1984. Subeg Singh was served with a charge sheet on 7.7.1995 and he
filed his explanation and after departmental enquiry on 17.11.1995 he was
removed from service. Subeg Singh challenged the order before the Central
Administrative Tribunal and the O.A. was dismissed. The present appellant
submitted that her husband Subeg Singh filed appeal on 10.9.1996 but the
respondent Railways does not admit that the appeal had been filed by Subeg
Singh. Subeg Singh died on 15.8.2000. The present appellant filed an
application before the Central Administrative Tribunal for pension but that was
rejected. She challenged that order before the High Court by way of writ
petition and that was also dismissed on the ground that Subeg Singh had not
challenged the order of removal from service by -2- way of an appeal. It
appears that Subeg Singh could not pursue the appeal as he had passed away
during that time. Anyway we are not very much concerned with the validity of
his removal.
It is pointed out by
the appellant's counsel that two other employees, who were prosecuted for
disciplinary proceeding along with Subeg Singh, were later reinstated in
service and on going through the charges framed against him, it appears that
the charge against Subeg Singh was that he had threatened the Superintendent.
That apart there was no other charge against him. He had served for more than
10 years, when he was removed from service.
In the facts and
circumstances, we direct the respondent- Railways to consider whether the
appellant herein would be entitled to get any pension on compassionate ground.
The matter may be considered and appropriate orders may be passed within a
period of three months by the appropriate authority.
The appeal is
disposed of accordingly. No costs.
.......................CJI
(K.G. BALAKRISHNAN)
.......................J
(P. SATHASIVAM)
.......................J
(J.M. PANCHAL)
NEW
DELHI;
JULY
10, 2008.
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