Union of India &
Ors. Vs. Bodupalli Gopalaswami
Bodupalli Gopalaswami
Vs. Union of India & Ors.
J U D G M E N T
R.V.RAVEENDRAN,J.
1.
As
the ranks of parties in the two appeals are different, for convenience, we will
refer to the parties by their ranks in Criminal Appeal No.876/2003.
2.
The
first respondent was the officiating Commandant and later the Commandant of 227
Company ASC (Supply) Type `G', Ambala Cantonment (hereinafter referred to as
the `Supply Depot') from 19.10.1988 to 26.6.1990. The supply depot had three sections
Dry Rations, Fresh Rations and Butchery. The appellant as the Commandant was in
overall charge of the supply depot. As per the standard operative procedure for
the Butchery, the following staff were detailed for operation:
i.
Supervisory
Officer Cap. P. S. Malhotra
ii.
Veterinary
Officer Lt. Col. G. S. Srivastava
iii.
J.C.O.
in-charge Sub. G. L. Kalra
iv.
NCO
in-charge Havaldar Clerk D. L. Prasad
3.
On
receiving complaints about irregularities in the butchery, a team of three officers
from the Central Bureau of Investigation and two Army Officers carried out a
raid/surprise inspection of the butchery on 14.2.1990, with the prior
permission of the second respondent. They intercepted eleven vehicles belonging
to different units returning from butchery after collecting meat and checked
the meat for quality and quantity. They also inspected the butchery. The Report
of the Inspection Team disclosed certain irregularities in the quality of the
dressed meat supplied by the contractor, (which were being issued to the indenting
units), maintenance of live stock and supervision. As a consequence, the officials
of the Butchery were all separately charge-sheeted.
4.
The
first respondent, who was the Commandant of the Supply Depot was also issued a charge-sheet
dated 30.12.1992 containing the following charges :
First charge SUCH AN
OFFENCE AS IS MENTIOEND IN CLAUSE (f) OF SECTION 52 Army Act OF THE ARMY ACT
WITH INTENT TO DEFRAUD, Section 52(f) In that he, at Ambala Cantonment, on 14 Feb.1990,
while Commanding 27 Company Supply (ASC), being contract operating officer for
meat dressed, with intent to defraud caused the acceptance of meat from the
contractor with heart as part of meat, well knowing that the same was not acceptable
part of carcasses as per para 86 of Special Condition of the Contract deed for
the period from 1st May 1989 to 31st March, 1990, concerning meat supply at
Ambala.
Second charge AN OMISSION
PREJUDICIAL TO GOOD ORDER AND MILITARY Army Act DISCIPLINE, Section 63 In that
he, at Ambala Cantonment, on 14 February 1990, while Commanding 27 Company Supply
(ASC), having visited butchery of the said company at the time of inspection of
carcasses by the Veterinary Officer and having found the carcasses dribbling
with water, failed to ensure that wet meat dribbling with water is not issued to
the Units, contrary to para 14(j) of Headquarters PH and HP area Shimla (ST
Branch) Technical Instruction dated 30th November, 1989.
Third charge AN OMISSION
PREJUDICIAL TO GOOD ORDER AND MILITARY Army Act DISCIPLINE, Section 63 In that
he, at Ambala Cantonment, during the period from 26th February 1990 to 8th March
1990 while Commanding 27 Company Supply (ASC) failed to ensure that stock of
reserve animals was maintained in the 4 butchery of the said company as per
para 51(a) of Special Condition of the Contract deed for the period from 1st May
1989 to 31st March 1990, consequently no animals were held in reserve in the said
butchery during that period.
Fourth charge AN OMISSION
PREJUDICIAL TO GOOD ORDER AND MILITARY Army Act DISCIPLINE, Section 63 In that
he, at Ambala Cantonment, during the period from 11th March 1990 to 22nd March 1990,
while Commanding 27 Company supply (ASC), failed to ensure that stock of
reserve animals was maintained in the butchery of the said company as per para 51(a)
of Special Conditions of the Contract deed for the period from 1st May, 1989 to
31st March, 1990, consequently no animals were held in reserve in the said
butchery during that period.
Fifth charge AN OMISSION
PREJUDICIAL TO GOOD ORDER AND MILITARY Army Act DISCIPLINE, Section 63 In that
he, at Ambala Cantonment, between 15th January 1990 and March 1990, while Officer
Commanding 27 Company Supply (ASC) and responsible for overall control of the operation
of unit butchery, improperly failed to implement the Standard Operating Procedure
for Butchery Group Supply Depot Ambala Cantt dated 9th May, 1988, as amended,
resulting in the following malpractices:
a. Duplicate Brands and Veterinary
Officer's stamp were found in possession of contractor's butcher.
b. All rejected meat and
other offals were not being destroyed as per laid down instructions.
c. Passed animals were
not segregated but were allowed to mix with the other animals of contractor.
d. Hanging room was not
sealed by the JCO Incharge butchery after taking the green weight of the
carcasses.
e. Animals passed and branded
were not segregated for a minimum mandatory period of 12 hours before
slaughtering.
f. Over issue/under issue
of meat was made to the units in connivance with the representatives of the
units.
Charges 1 and 2 related
to what was found during the inspection on 14.2.1990. Charges 3 and 4 related
to failure to maintain adequate animals in reserve subsequent to 14.2.1990. Charge
5 related to miscellaneous omissions and commissions generally based upon what
was observed during the inspection on 14.2.1990.
5.
On
14.1.1993, a direction for trial of the first respondent by General Court
Martial (`GCM' or `Court Martial' for short) was issued. On the same day, an order
convening the GCM was issued by the third appellant. The trial commenced on
22.1.1993 and concluded on 30.7.1993. At the end of the trial, the GCM found
the first respondent not guilty of the second and third charges, but guilty of
the first charge, fourth charge and item (c) of the fifth charge. On that
basis, the GCM imposed the sentence of dismissal from service on first
respondent on 30.7.1993.
6.
In
pursuance of it, a show cause notice dated 30.6.1995 was issued to the first respondent
calling upon him to show cause why his pensionary benefits should not be
forfeited under Rule 16(a) of the Pension Regulations for the Army (Part I), 1961
(for short `the Pension Regulations'). After considering the first respondent's
representation, the President of India ordered the forfeiture of the entire pensionary
benefits of the first respondent, communicated by letter dated 22.12.1995 from the
Defence Ministry to the Chief of Army Staff.
7.
Feeling
aggrieved, the first respondent filed writ petition in the Punjab & Haryana
High Court (registered as Crl.WP No.1797/1997) challenging General Court Martial
proceedings, findings of the General Court Martial holding him guilty of the
charges, sentence of dismissal from service and the decision of the appellants
to forfeit his pensionary benefits. The High Court by judgment dated 25.8.2000 allowed
the writ petition in part. The High Court held that the GCM proceedings were in
order, there was no violation of any rules or procedure.
It also found no
ground to interfere with findings of guilt or the sentence. Consequently, the
punishment imposed by the GCM was upheld. But the High Court held that the
order forfeiting the pension and pensionary benefits of the first respondent
was invalid as no reasons were assigned in the order dated 22.12.1995, for forfeiture
thereof. The High Court therefore quashed the order dated 22.12.1995 forfeiting
the pension and directed the appellants to reconsider the matter with reference
to Regulation 16(a) of the Pension Regulations and the principles laid down by
the Full Bench of the Delhi High Court in Brig.A.K. Malhotra v. Union of India (1997)
(4) SLR 51. In short, the writ petition was allowed to the extent of quashing
forfeiture of the pension but dismissed in regard to the challenge to the
proceedings of GCM and the order of dismissal.
8.
Aggrieved
by the quashing of the pension forfeiture order dated 22.12.1995, the
appellants (Union of India and the Army Authorities) have filed Criminal Appeal
No.876/2003. Aggrieved by the rejection of the challenge to the GCM findings and
the imposition of the punishment, the first respondent has filed Criminal
Appeal No.877/2003. On the contentions urged, the following questions arise for
our consideration: In Crl.Appeal No.876/2003
i.
Whether
the High Court having upheld the order imposing the punishment of dismissal, is
justified in quashing the order dated 22.12.1995 made under Pension Regulation 16(a),
forfeiting the pension and directing reconsideration? In Crl.Appeal No.877/2003
ii.
Whether
the finding of the High Court that conduct of the proceedings of the GCM did not
violate any rules, calls for interference?
iii.
Whether
the findings of guilt in regard to charges 1, 4 and 5(c) require interference? (iv)
Whether the punishment of dismissal is excessively disproportionate to the
gravity of the charges proved?Re : Question (i)
9.
The
High Court having held that there was no irregularity in the court martial
proceedings or infirmity in the findings of guilt and the punishment imposed,
held that there was no justification for forfeiting the pension on the
following reasoning : ".... the general court martial did not think it
appropriate to order for the forfeiture of the pension and pensionary benefits
under section 71(h) and (k) of the Army Act and the obvious inference seems to
be that the court martial did not think it appropriate that despite the
dismissal of the service of the petitioner, he should be awarded the forfeiture
of pension and pensionary benefits as a punishment.
As held by the Full Bench
of the Delhi High Court in the case of Brig. A. K. Malhotra (supra), the
pension and pensionary benefits are to eb granted in the normal course unless
there are such circumstances existing under which the offence against the concerned
officer is found to be extra-ordinarily grave and in that case sufficient
reasons must be recorded for the forfeiture of the pension by the competent
authority taking action on the administrative side. In the instant case the
impugned order, Annexure P-12, shows that the forfeiture of the pension and pensionary
benefits was ordered by having regard to circumstances of the case leading to the
dismissal of the officer from service.
In other words, the President
considered the forfeiture of the pension and pensionary benefits only on the circumstances
which led to the trial, conviction and sentence of dismissal from service of the
petitioner by the General Court Martial. The impugned order, annexure P12, does
not show that it was considered to be a case of extra-ordinarily grave charge
where the pension and pensionary benefits should have been forfeited or there
were other valid and good reasons for the forfeiture of the pension and
pensionary benefits.
10.
For
this purpose, the High Court relied upon the decision of the Delhi High Court in
Brig. A. K. Malhotra. In the said decision, the Delhi High Court held that under
section 71 of the Army Act, 1950 (`Act' for short), forfeiture of pension was
provided as a measure of punishment for offences 9tried by the court martial and
if the court martial did not, in a given case, think it fit to forfeit the pension
while awarding the punishment, then the only inference that could be drawn is
that the Court Martial was of the view that the punishment of dismissal alone
was sufficient for the offences and there was no need to inflict the additional
punishment of forfeiture of pension.
The Delhi High Court further
held that the normal rule is that pensionary and other benefits are to be granted
unless the competent authority comes to the conclusion that the service of the
officer taken as a whole was not satisfactory from the beginning or unless the
offences which are proved and for which he had been sentenced are so extra-ordinarily
grave that the entire previous satisfactory service has to be excluded from
consideration. The High Court reasoned that if the offence was so extra-ordinarily
grave, the court martial itself would have forfeited the pensionary benefits, and
where the court martial did not deem it necessary, if the competent authority
wanted to deny pension, he must record good and valid reasons as to why normal
rule of granting pensionary benefits is not to be followed.
11.
The
direction of the High Court to reconsider the matter in the light of the legal
principles laid down by the Full Bench of the Delhi High Court in Brig. A.K. Malhotra
is no longer valid in view of the fact that the 10decision in Brig. A.K. Malhotra
was reversed by this Court in Union of India v. P.D. Yadav 2002 (1) SCC 405.
This Court held that even if the GCM while imposing punishment, does not direct
forfeiture of service or forfeiture of pension under section 71 of the Act
having regard to Regulation 16(a) of the Pension Regulations, it is permissible
for the President of India to direct forfeiture of pension in regard to a
person dismissed or cashiered consequent to a trial by the GCM. This Court also
held that for passing an order for forfeiture of pension under Regulation
16(a), all that was necessary was that cashiering or dismissal of the officer
from service and there was no further need, either to assign reasons for
forfeiture or to consider whether the merit of his prior service warranted any relaxation
or relief against forfeiture.
12.
As
clarified by this Court in P.D.Yadav, the power to deny pension as a
consequence of an officer being cashiered or dismissed or removed from service,
vests only with the President of India under Pension Regulation 16(a).
The President of India
may direct either forfeiture of the entire pension or only a percentage of the
pension. Further section 71 of the Act does not provide for forfeiture of pension
as one of the punishments awardable by Court Martial. Imposition of punishments
of cashiering and 11dismissal from service are provided in clauses (d) and (e) of
section 71. Clauses (h) and (k) of section 71 relied upon to hold that the
Court Martial could also impose the punishment of forfeiture of pensionary
benefits, are extracted below : "
(h): The forfeiture
of service for the purpose of increased pay, pension or any other prescribed
purpose. (k): The forfeiture in the case of a person's sentence to cashiering or
dismissal from service of all arrears of pay and allowances and other public
money due to him at the time of such cashiering or dismissal."Neither
clause (h) nor clause (k) nor any of the other clauses in section 71 refers to
and provides for forfeiture of pension as a penalty. This Court held: "Under
Section 71(h), a punishment of forfeiture of service for the purpose of
increased pay, pension or any other prescribed purpose, can be imposed. If
forfeiture of service has the effect of reducing total qualifying service required
to earn pension, a person concerned is disentitled for pension itself.
In other cases, it may
have bearing in regard to claim for increased pay or any other purpose. If by
virtue of such punishment itself, a person is not entitled for any pension, the
question of passing an order forfeiting pension under Regulation 16(a) may not
arise. As per Section 71(k), in case of a person sentenced to cashiering or
dismissal from the service, a further punishment of forfeiture of all arrears of
pay and allowances and other public money due to him at the time of such cashiering
or dismissal may be imposed. Clause (k) of Section 71 does not speak of pension
unlike clause (h) of the same Section. x x x x x Merely because punishment is not
imposed under clause (h) or (k) of Section 71 and other punishments are
imposed, it does not mean that the President is deprived of his power and jurisdiction
to pass order under Regulation 16(a);...
" Therefore, the
question of court martial imposing the punishment of forfeiture of pension does
not arise at all. The court martial can impose any of the penalties enumerated
in section 71 of the Act. Dismissal or cashiering of an officer does not lead
to automatic forfeiture of pension. The power and discretion vested in the
President of India by virtue of Pension Regulation 16(a), to forfeit and deny
the pension in full or in part to an officer, who is dismissed or cashiered, is
independent of the punishment imposed under section 71 of the Act by the court
martial.
13.
Having
held that the proceedings of the GCM was proper and findings of guilt did not
suffer from any infirmity and the punishment of dismissal did not call for any
interference, the High Court could not have interfered with the power and
discretion exercised under Pension Regulation 16(a). If there is no violation of
rules in conducting the GCM and if there is no infirmity in the award of
punishment, having regard to the decision of this Court in P.D. Yadav, the forfeiture
of pension was not required to be supported by any other independent reasons
nor was it necessary to consider the previous service or gravity of the offence
or other circumstances. The High Court therefore committed an error in quashing
the order dated 22.12.1995 passed by the President of India, forfeiting the pension
of the 13appellant.
The appeal by the
appellants (Criminal Appeal No.876 of 2003) is bound to succeed. But this is,
however, subject to the decision in the appeal, preferred by the first respondent.
If the first respondent is able to demonstrate in his appeal that either the
proceedings of the GCM violated the provisions of the Act/Rules/the procedure
prescribed, or that the findings of guilt were perverse and unsustainable, or that
the punishment was shockingly disproportionate to the gravity of the proved offences
and warranted interference, and if this Court accepting his contentions allows
his appeal, and sets aside the order of dismissal or reduces the punishment,
then the very basis for issue of the order of forfeiture of pension under
Pension Regulation 16(a) will disappear and consequently, that order of forfeiture
also will not survive. Therefore, we may now examine the contentions of the
first respondent challenging the validity of the proceedings of the GCM and
imposition of punishment. Re : Question (ii)
14.
The
first respondent has contended that there is a serious procedural irregularity
in the constitution and conduct of the court martial, that in spite of his
challenge, it was not set right and therefore, the entire Court Martial
proceedings and consequently, the punishment, were vitiated. According to 14first
respondent, the Presiding Officer of the Court Martial Brig. S.K. Kaushal had earlier
summarily tried two prosecution witnesses Sub. Baryam Singh and Sub. Harjinder
Singh (who had drawn meat for their units on 14.2.1990) for drawing less
quantity of meat and awarded the reprimand for negligent performance of duties.
As the summary trials
were in regard to the same incident when the prosecutor disclosed the said fact
on 15.4.1990, the first respondent raised a challenge objecting to Brig.
S.K.Kaushal being the Presiding Officer, as he was disqualified from serving on
a GCM having regard to clause (c) of sub-rule (2) of Rule 39 of the Army Rules 1954
(`Rules' for short). He further alleged that the Presiding Officer would have
formulated an opinion in regard to the incident and consequently, be biased. In
spite of it, the Convening Authority wrongly directed the GCM to proceed,
overruling his objection under section 130 of the Act read with rule 44 of the Rules.
He submits that participation by the Presiding Officer vitiated the entire
proceedings, rendering the same invalid and void.
15.
Rule
39 of the Army Rules 1954 reads thus : "39. Ineligibility and disqualification
of officers for court-martial.--(1) An officer is not eligible for serving on a
court-martial if he is not subject to the Act. (2) An officer is disqualified
for serving on a general or district court-martial if he -(a) Is an officer who
convened the court; or (b) Is the prosecutor or a witness for the prosecution;
or 15 (c)
Investigated the
charges before trial, or took down the summary of evidence, or was a member of a
court of inquiry respecting the matters on which the charges against the accused
are founded, or was the squadron, battery, company, or other commander, who
made preliminary inquiry into the case, or was a member of a previous
court-martial which tried the accused in respect of the same offence; or (d) Is
the commanding officer of the accused, or of the corps to which the accused
belongs; or (e) Has a personal interest in the case.
(3) The
provost-marshal or assistant provost-marshal is disqualified from serving on a
general court-martial or district court-martial."It is clear from Rule 39
that an officer is disqualified for serving on a GCM if (i) he had investigated
the charges before trial, or (ii) he took down the summary of evidence, or (iii)
he was a member of a court of inquiry respecting the matters on which the charges
against the accused were founded, or (iv) he was a Squadron, Battery, Company
or other Commander who made preliminary inquiry into the case, or (v) he was a
member of a previous Court Martial which tried the accused in respect of the same
offence.
A careful reading of the
said Rule demonstrates that the act of summarily trying others for other
offences relating to the same incident is not a ground of disqualification. The
charges against the first respondent were completely different from the charges
against the persons who were summarily tried by Brig. Kaushal. The Presiding
Officer did not suffer from any of the disqualifications enumerated in Rule 39.
The Convening 16Authority was therefore justified in directing the GCM to
proceed with the trial. Therefore, the challenge to the constitution of the GCM
with Brig. Kaushal as the Presiding Officer is liable to be rejected.
16.
The
High Court did not find any merit in the contention that after the Court
Martial was constituted on 3.2.1993, the first respondent ought to have given
96 hours after giving the names of the members constituting the Court Martial. The
first respondent has also not established his allegations that Judge Advocate was
biased and Dy. JAG who ultimately reviewed the findings, was also biased as he was
actively guiding the prosecution. The first respondent has not been able to
demonstrate any error in the finding of the High Court that there was no
infirmity in the constitution of the Court Martial and the procedure followed
by it. Re : Question (iii)
17.
The
principles relating to judicial review in regard to court martial proceedings are
well settled. Unless the court martial has acted without jurisdiction, or exceeded
its jurisdiction or had acted perversely or arbitrarily, the proceedings and decision
of the court martial will not be 17interfered in exercise of power of judicial review.
In Union of India vs. Major A. Hussain 1998 (1) SCC 537, this Court held : "Though
court-martial proceedings are subject to judicial review by the High Court
under Article 226 of the Constitution, the court-martial is not subject to the
superintendence of the High Court under Article 227 of the Constitution.
If a court-martial
has been properly convened and there is no challenge to its composition and the
proceedings are in accordance with the procedure prescribed, the High Court or
for that matter any court must stay its hands. Proceedings of a court-martial
are not to be compared with the proceedings in a criminal court under the CrPC
where adjournments have become a matter of routine though that is also against
the provisions of law. It has been rightly said that court-martial remains to a
significant degree, a specialised part of overall mechanism by which the
military discipline is preserved.
It is for the special
need for the armed forces that a person subject to Army Act is tried by
court-martial for an act which is an offence under the Act. Court-martial
discharges judicial function and to a great extent is a court where provisions
of Evidence Act are applicable. A court-martial has also the same
responsibility as any court to protect the rights of the accused charged before
it and to follow the procedural safeguards. If one looks at the provisions of
law relating to court-martial in the Army Act, the Army Rules, Defence Service
Regulations and other Administrative Instructions of the Army, it is manifestly
clear that the procedure prescribed is perhaps equally fair if not more than a criminal
trial provides to the accused.
When there is
sufficient evidence to sustain conviction, it is unnecessary to examine if
pre-trial investigation was adequate or not. Requirement of proper and adequate
investigation is not jurisdictional and any violation thereof does not
invalidate the court-martial unless it is shown that the accused has been
prejudiced or a mandatory provision has been violated. One may usefully refer
to Rule 149 quoted above. The High Court should not allow the challenge to the
validity of conviction and sentence of the accused when evidence is sufficient,
court-martial has jurisdiction over the subject-matter and has followed the prescribed
procedure and is within its powers to award punishment."
18.
The
High Court after exhaustive consideration found that the trial was conducted in
accordance with the rules and there was no violation of the procedure or
principles of natural justice. On behalf of the prosecution, as 18many as 13 witnesses
were examined. A large number of documents (marked A to Z, AA to ZZ and AAA to
ZZZ and AAAA to GGGG), apart from three material objects (ME1 to ME 3) were exhibited.
The first respondent was supplied with complete set of proceedings including all
exhibits.
He was permitted to
have the assistance of a legal practitioner. He was given due opportunity to
cross examine the witnesses and lead his own evidence. After completion of evidence,
the General Court Martial put questions to the accused with reference to the evidence
and gave him an opportunity to explain his position. Detailed submissions on behalf
of the prosecution and the defence were heard. It was thereafter that the Court
Martial gave its findings and imposed the punishment.
This is not a case of
no-evidence. Inadequacy and unreliability of evidence are not grounds for
interference. The Court Martial had jurisdiction. Violation of prescribed
procedure has not been made out. In exercise of power of judicial review, it is
not possible to re-assess the evidence or sit in judgment over the finding of
guilt recorded by the Military Tribunal. The scope of interference with the
findings of the GCM is very narrow and should be exercised in rare cases. This is
not one of them. We, therefore, find no reason to interfere with findings of
guilt regarding changes 1, 4 and 5(c). 19Re : Question (iii)
19.
This
takes us to the last question as to whether the punishment of dismissal is
shockingly disproportionate to the gravity of the charges. The principles
relating to judicial review of punishment imposed, as a part of the decision making
process by Court Martial, have been explained, in Ranjit Thakur vs. Union of
India 1987 (4) SCC 611, where this Court interfered with the punishment imposed
by a court martial on the ground that it was strikingly disproportionate to the
gravity of offence on the following reasoning :
"Judicial review
generally speaking, is not directed against a decision, but is directed against
the "decision making process". The question of the choice and quantum
of punishment is within the jurisdiction and discretion of the Court-Martial. But
the sentence has to suit the offence and the offender. It should not be
vindictive or unduly harsh. It should not be so disproportionate to the offence
as to shock the conscience and amount in itself to conclusive evidence of bias.
The doctrine of proportionality,
as part of the concept of judicial review, would ensure that even on an aspect which
is, otherwise, within the exclusive province of the Court-Martial, if the
decision of the Court even as to sentence is an outrageous defiance of logic, then
the sentence would not be immune from correction. Irrationality and perversity
are recognised grounds of judicial review."In Union of India vs. R.K.
Sharma 2001 (9) SCC 492, this Court explained the observations in Ranjit Thakur.
It clarified that in Ranjit
Thakur, the charge was ridiculous, the punishment was harsh and
disproportionate and it was on such gross facts that this Court had held that
the punishment was so 20strikingly disproportionate that it called for interference;
and the said observations in Ranjit Thakur are not to be taken to mean that a
court can, while exercising the power of judicial review, interfere with the
punishment merely because it considers the punishment to be disproportionate. It
was held that only in extreme cases, which on their face, show perversity or
irrationality, there could be judicial review and merely on compassionate
grounds, courts should not interfere. In this background, we may examine the
third question.
20.
The
charges that are held to be proved against the first respondent, are:
i.
Being
the Contract Operating Officer for dressed meat, the first respondent with
intent to defraud, caused the acceptance of meat from the contractor with
`heart' as part of the meat knowing that the same was not acceptable part of carcasses
as per para 86 of special conditions of the contract (vide first charge);
ii.
The
first respondent, as the Commandant incharge of the Supply Depot failed to ensure
that required stocks were maintained as reserve, in the Butchery as required by
para 51(a) of the special conditions of contract (vide fourth charge);
iii.
The
first respondent as the Commandant responsible for the overall control of the operation
of the Butchery improperly failed to implement the standard operating 21procedure
for Butchery resulting in `passed' animals not being segregated and being
allowed to mix with the other animals of the contractor.
21.
According
to the charge-sheet, the first charge was an offence falling under section
52(f) of the Act which provides that subject to the provisions of the Act, any
person who does anything with intent to defraud, or to cause wrongful gain to one
person or wrongful loss to another person, shall, on conviction by court martial,
be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years or
such less punishment as is mentioned in the Act.
The other two charges
which are held to be proved relate to acts or omissions which are said to be "prejudicial
to good order and military discipline" punishable under section 63 of the
Act on conviction by Court Martial, with imprisonment for a term which may
extend to seven years or such less punishment as is mentioned in the Act. We
may now consider the nature and content of the charges proved. Section 52(f)
and section 63 are very broadly and generally worded and deal with residuary offences,
(one dealing with property and another dealing with discipline) to provide for
and cover offences which are not specifically provided in sections 34 to 64 of
the Act.
The offences under these
residuary provisions may fall under a wide spectrum, ranging from the mildest technical
violations to the severest 22offences relating to fraud or gross indiscipline.
It is therefore necessary to find the degree of gravity of the offence when a
person is found guilty of offences under section 52(f) or section 63. Only
then, the court can consider whether the punishment is so disproportionate to
the gravity of the proved offences that it shocks the conscience of the court or
is so perverse or irrational that it cannot be allowed to stand. As held by this
Court repeatedly, there could be no judicial review merely because the court
feels that the punishment should have been lesser or on the ground of sympathy
or compassion.
22.
It
is necessary to know who was responsible for what in the butchery. As per the
standard operating procedure of Butchery, the responsibility has been divided
among the Supervisory Officer, JCOs and NCOs. The duties of the supervisory
officer included the following : "Duties of Supervisory Officer The
Supervising Officer, Butchery will be responsible for the proper and efficient
functioning of the butchery. He will :
a. Be responsible for
passing goat and sheep and maintaining the reserve stock of animals at all
times.
b. Ensure that proper
branding of animals is carried out without any cruelty to the animals and the
branding so done lasts till the carcass is passed fit by the veterinary
officer.
c. Be personally responsible
for the books and records showing reserve stock and animals passed. The records
must be complete and up to date at all times and signed by him duly completed
in all respects.
d. Visit butchery during
slaughter hours at least once a week.
e. Ensure that the
butchery surroundings are kept scrupulously clean.
f. Ensure that branding
irons are kept in sealed box in quarter guard and take the same whenever
required for branding the animals.
g. Ensure that branding
irons are not left over with any body in the butchery. He will also ensure that
weights and measures are calibrated periodically by the workshop.
h. He will ensure that
the quality of meat always conforms to ASC specifications and no deviation from
these specifications will be allowed. In doing so he will ensure that the
contractor does not use unfair means such as use of water except for cleaning
of carcasses.
i. He will be present in
the butchery throughout the issue time and will ensure that units get their
entitlements.
He will also ensure
that every unit rep signs for the quantity and quality of the items being collected.
He will be responsible to check the following documents maint in the butchery
for its correctness and will be responsible to put up the same to Commandant
once a month : xxxxxxThe duties of JCOs:
a.
"He
is responsible for the smooth functioning of the butchery under the order of
Supervising Officer.
b.
He
will ensure that highest standard of cleanliness is maintained in the butchery.
c.
He
will ensure that reserve stock of animals is maintained by the contractor at
all times.
d.
He
will ensure that strict security is observed as regards to segregation pen, hanging
room, disposal of rejected meat by the VO and disposal of dead and rejected
animals.
e.
He
will supervise the slaughter of all animals as per procedure laid down in order
from time to time. He will be personally responsible 24 to ensure that only jhatka
meat is being issued unless otherwise demanded by a unit.
f.
He
will be responsible to observe the slaughtering animals. He will ensure that only
branded and segregated animals are slaughtered and will be present throughout the
slaughtering times. He will ensure that no water is injected in the carcasses
by contractor. He will ensure that the grown weight is taken and minimum 5 hrs setting
time is allowed.
g.
He
will ensure that books and records maintained in the butchery are kept up to
date at all times.
h.
He
will be responsible to supervise the issue of meat to troops and ensure that correct
quantity as per their demand is issued and receipt of the same is obtained.
i.
He
will ensure that proper duties are allotted to other NCO's and Sepoy detailed
to assist him.
j.
He
will ensure that from the time of slaughtering to the time of issue, the
butchery will be open and NCO/Sepoy will sleep at night properly guarded in the
butchery.
k.
He
will be responsible for proper setting of meat in that he will see that the
butchers do not use water for any other purpose except for the cleaning of
carcasses.
l.
He
will ensure that the meat is properly set before the postmortem is carried out by
Veterinary Officer and will be responsible for retail issue to units.
The duties of the
Veterinary Officer : "He will be responsible for ante-mortem and post
mortem inspection. His advice as a rule will be accepted unless there are other
reasons. He will ensure that only good and hygienic meat is issued to troops.
In doing so he will ensure :
a. That offals which
are not edible are removed.
b. That the meat or the
carcasses which is unfit for human consumption is removed.
c. He will ensure that
the rejected meat potion/carcasses are destroyed either by burning or by deep
burying in his presence.
d. He will ensure
that meat inspected by him is properly set and no water is dripping from the carcasses.
He will bring to the 25 notice of SO butchery and Commandant if any water is
found in the carcasses so that remedial measures can be taken.
e. He will ensure that
veterinary officer stamp has been put on each and every carcasses including the
portion of carcasses after he had carried out the post mortem examination. The
Commandant was to be in overall charge of the supply depot and his duties were
as under :
"(a) A CO will supervise
and control all duties performed by those under his command, and will be held
accountable for, and be responsible for the security and condition of, all public
buildings, armaments, equipment and stores, of whatever description, appertaining
to or on charge of his unit, corps or establishment.
(b) A CO is
responsible for the correct receipt, issue, accounting and stock taking of all
supplies, stores and equipment received or issued by the unit. He will ensure that
daily issues are inspected and weighed in the presence of an officer or a
Junior Commissioner Officer. (c) A CO is responsible for the maintenance of
discipline, efficiency and proper administration in the unit under his command.
He is also responsible for its training and readiness for war."
23.
We
may now consider the first charge. The charge that has been held to have been
proved is an offence under section 52(f) of the Act that is while commanding the
supply depot, the first respondent being the Contract Operating Officer for dressed
meat, with intent to defraud, caused the acceptance of meat from the contractor
with heart as part of meat between 1.5.1989 and 31.3.1990, knowing that the
same was not acceptable part of the carcass as per para 86 of the Special
Conditions of Contract.
What was 26established
was that when the butchery was raided and the meat issued to units were
inspected on 14.2.1990, it was found that out of the dressed meat weighing
1411.2 kgs. that was issued to various units, the weight of hearts found as part
of the meat was 14.5 kgs. The Supervisory Officer and Veterinary Officer have
been charged and punished in this behalf. The case against the first respondent
was not that he had instructed heart to be accepted as part of dressed meat nor
is it the case that heart was being regularly accepted as part of dressed meat from
the contractor.
The case against
first respondent was that when the butchery was being inspected on 14.2.1990, the
first respondent as Commandant visited the butchery and during discussions with
the inspecting officers made an observation that to the best of his knowledge,
heart was an edible offal and could be issued on demand of units and also
reiterated the said observation in his confidential report dated 15.2.1990.
Making of the said remark has been interpreted as the first respondent
accepting meat from the contractor with heart as part of the dressed meat,
knowing well that heart was not acceptable part of carcass; to defraud the
government. This charge depends upon the interpretation of para 86 of the special
conditions of the contract and an inference that his understanding of para 86
amounted to causing acceptance of heart as part of the dressed meat.
24.
Para
86 of the `special conditions meat dressed/meat on hoof' reads as under : "86.
I/We agree that I/We will supply meat dressed (Jhatka/Halal) as per ASC
Specification No.115, including liver, kidney and testicles passed fit by the
Veterinary Officer/Contract Operating Officer of the total arising of carcasses
and as a part of meat dressed at the rate of meat dressed (Jhatka/Halal) by weight
as given in the schedule. Any other offals, cuttings and arising of meat carcasses
will not be taken over by the Contract Operating Officer. The same will be
removed by me/us and will be disposed off by me/us in any manner I/We like at
my/our cost." (emphasis supplied)The word `offal' has two meanings.
Firstly, it refers to
the edible internal parts of an animal such as heart, livers, kidneys, testicles
and tongue. Secondly the term `offal' refers to the refuse or waste that is cuttings
and other non-edible parts of the animal which are either fallen or cut-off.
One way of interpreting clause 86 of the special conditions of contract is that
the dressed meat supplied may include liver, kidney, testicles (which are
specifically mentioned) but not other edible internal parts like heart and
tongue. The other interpretation in view of the use of the words
"including liver, kidney, testicles" would be that the dressed meat
can include all edible internal parts which include liver, kidney, and testicles
as also heart, and what should be excluded from the supply are other waste like
cuttings, fallen portions and inedible portions.
Be that as it may.
Even if we proceed on the 28basis that clause 86 should be interpreted as
specifying that the dressed meat to be supplied could include only liver,
kidney and testicles, but not heart, that by itself does not mean that the
appellant committed any offence. On the day of raid and inspection, it was
found that the supplies included heart (out of a take quantity of 1411.2 kg. of
meat supplied to various indenting units, 14.5 kgs. were heart). The first
respondent who visited the Butchery at the time of the inspection observed that
the heart is also an edible offal and could be issued on demand by the units.
He did not say that
heart was a part of dressed meat under clause 86 or that heart was required to
be regularly supplied as part of dressed meat. No evidence was given that he had
instructed the butchery staff to accept `heart' as part of dressed meat and
issue it to the units. It is of some interest to note that the first respondent
had stated that the earlier supply contract was in the monopoly of one
Om Prakash and when
that was broken and the contract was given to M/s Rajan Malik & Co., Om
Prakash became inimical to M/s Rajan Malik & Co., that some of the persons
employed by M/s Rajan Malik & Co. in the Butchery where ex-employees of Om
Prakash owing allegiance to Om Prakash, that some mischief had been done at the
instance of Om Prakash to prevent Rajan Malik & Co. from continuing as
contractor, that the raid was at the instance of Om Prakash and that he and his
henchmen were present all 29through the inspection. The first respondent
submitted that he was a victim in a fight between the contractors. Be that as
it may. Therefore, all that is established is at best a wrong interpretation of
clause 86 of the Special Conditions of Contract.
25.
The
charge 4 is that between 11.3.1990 and 22.3.1990, the first respondent failed
to ensure that the reserve stock of animals were maintained in the butchery as
per para 51(a) of the Special Conditions of Contract. Here again the charge should
be properly understood. The first respondent was not the supplier of the
animals. The government had entered into a contract with that supplier and
clause 51(a) of Special Conditions is an undertaking by the Contractor which reads
thus :
"I/We shall maintain
complete at all time from/upto .......... as reserve of not less than three
days supply animals (sheep/goat) based on the average number of animals to be
slaughtered as meat on hoof daily". Contract also provided (vide clause 52)
that if the contractor failed to do so, the supply officer shall be at liberty
to effect risk purchase be effected at the cost of the contractor and also take
other steps. Therefore, failure to maintain reserve stocks of animals was not
an omission on the part of any person in charge or overall charge of the
butchery, but a breach by the contractor.
The omission that
could be attributed to the officer 30in-charge of the butchery or the first
respondent is that when the contractor failed to maintain reserves failure to bring
it to the contractor's notice or failure to take action to make risk purchase
and other steps in terms of the contract. But the charge is not that risk
purchase was not effected or that the first respondent failed to take necessary
remedial steps. The evidence showed that arrangements were made to procure the animals
required for slaughter on day to day basis to ensure no breaks in supply of
meat.
It has also come in evidence
that ever since 1989, the first respondent had been informing and complaining
to his higher ups that the Ambala area where the supply depot was situated, had
a shortage of stock of animals, that the contractor was not in a position to maintain
the required reserves and therefore, suggesting that tenders should be invited
from contractors in Delhi where there was an abundance of stocks.
Therefore, an omission
of the contractor cannot be considered to be an omission on part of the
Contract Operating Officer, particularly when he had pointed out deficiencies, and
taken remedial steps. Therefore, the effect of the finding in regard to charge
(4) is that the contractor did not keep any animals as reserve between
11.3.1990 and 22.3.1990 as undertaken by it under clause 51(a) of the Special
Conditions. The failure attributed to the supervisory staff of butchery and the
first respondent who was in overall charge was that they failed to 31ensure that
the contractor performed his obligations. What is established against first
respondent under charge (4) is therefore, only a technical lapse.
26.
Charge
5(c) is that the appellant failed to implement the standard operating procedure
for butchery which required passed animals to be segregated and not allowed to
mix with the other animals of the contractor. Animals that were branded and accepted
for supply were the `passed animals'. The evidence was not that passed animals
and other animals were being kept together.
The evidence was that
on a particular day when the surprise inspection took place, the passed animals
had not been segregated from the other animals of the contractor which were yet
to be branded and passed. It was also not disputed that there was no specific
directive relating to segregation. Even if there was any lapse, it was a lapse
of the JCO as per the standard procedure for the butchery and not the Commandant
of the supply depot. The omission that could be attributed is at best would be a
technical lapse as far as the first respondent is concerned.
27.
The
omissions attributed to first respondent in regard to charges 4 and 5(c) were actually
omissions by his sub-ordinates and those sub-ordinates were charge-sheeted. In regard
to the subject of charges (1) and 32(4), the supervisory officer Capt.
Paramjeet Singh Malhotra was cashiered and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment
for 30 months and the Veterinary Officer Lt. Capt. G. S. Srivastava was
punished with forfeiture of eight years past service for the purpose of pension
and severely reprimanded.
In regard to the subject
of charges (4) and 5(c), the Supervisory Officer Capt. Paramjeet Singh Malhotra
was punished. The role of the appellant being that of an overall controlling officer
of the supply depot was limited and the charges in so far as the first respondent
were technical in nature. But for the limitation of interference with regard to
findings of fact in judicial review, this might even be a case for interference
with the findings of guilt recorded. Be that as it may.
28.
In
the circumstances, the punishment of dismissal from service is shockingly
disproportionate to the gravity of the offences held to be proved. While we may
not interfere with the findings of guilt, in a case of this nature, having regard
to the nature of offences, we may consider the proportionality of punishment to
find out whether it is perverse and irrational. Even accepting the said
findings of guilt regarding charges (1), (4) and 5(c), it is clearly a case of
shockingly disproportionate punishment being meted out to the Commandant for offering
an alternative interpretation to clause (86), for the lapses of his supervisory
officer and for the breach committed by the contractor.
In the normal course,
we would have set aside the punishment and referred the matter back for consideration
and imposition of a lesser punishment. But having regard to the fact that the
matter is more than 20 years old and the first respondent reached the age of
superannuation long ago, no purpose would be served, by referring it back to
the appellants. We are of the view on the facts and circumstances, interests of
justice would be served if the punishment of dismissal is substituted by the following
punishment : (a) forfeiture of eight years of service for the purpose of
pension; and (b) Severe reprimand. As a consequence, the order forfeiting pension
requires to be set aside as pension can be denied under Pension Regulation
16(a) only to the officers who are cashiered, dismissed or removed from
service.
29.
We
accordingly dispose of the appeals as under :
i.
We
allow Criminal Appeal No.876 of 2003 and set aside the order of the High Court
quashing the order dated 22.12.1995.
ii.
We
allow Criminal Appeal No.877 of 2003 filed by the first respondent and set
aside the order of punishment dated 30.7.1993 imposing the punishment of
dismissal from service and substitute the same with the 34punishment of forfeiture
of eight years of service for purposes of pension and severe reprimand.
iii.
As
a consequence of the punishment of dismissal being set aside and substituted by
a lesser punishment necessarily, the order dated 22.12.1995 forfeiting the
pension, passed under Pension Regulation 16(a), is set aside. The respondents
are directed to process and settle his pension claim within six months.
iv.
The
first respondent will not be entitled to any back-wages from the date of his
dismissal to the date of his superannuation, as a consequence of his dismissal
being set aside.
.............................J
[R. V. Raveendran]
.............................J
[P. Sathasivam]
New
Delhi;
September
12, 2011.
Back
Pages: 1 2