C.V. Pillai vs State of Gujarat

Jayant Patel, J.—Rule. Mr.Dabhi, learned AGP appearing on behalf of respondents No.1 and 2 waives service of notice of rule. With the

consent of the parties, the matter is taken up for final hearing today.

The short facts of the case are that the petitioner is serving in the Forest Department. He was placed under suspension on 1-10-1983.

Thereafter on 15-10-1983 he was served with charge-sheet. On 30-1-1985, the Inquiry Officer submitted his report and found that certain

charges are proved against the petitioner. On 24-9-1985 the petitioner was given a show-cause notice by the Disciplinary Officer which came to

be replied by the petitioner and ultimately on 15-3-1986 the petitioner was dismissed from the service. On 7-2-1987 the appeal came to be filed

by the petitioner against the order of dismissal before the Gujarat Civil Services Tribunal and the Tribunal directed to hold inquiry de novo and the

appeal of the petitioner came to be allowed to that extent. The inquiry was held again and on 30-11-1990 the Inquiry Officer at the conclusion of

the inquiry exonerated the petitioner from the charges on the ground that the charges are not proved. However, the Disciplinary Authority recorded

the reasons for disagreement and issued notice for punishment to the petitioner as per the notice dated 6-9-1992, calling upon the petitioner to

show as to why the petitioner should not be compulsorily retired. The petitioner filed reply and the Disciplinary Authority instead of retiring the

petitioner compulsorily, took the decision of withholding five increments with future effect by way of punishment ultimately as per the decision

dated 13-3-2000. The petitioner preferred appeal before the Chief Conservator of Forest against the decision of imposing punishment of

withholding five increments with future effect. In the said appeal the Appellate Authority treated the period of suspension on duty for the purpose of

pension. However, simultaneously, the Appellate Authority also took decision to recover the amount of Rs.50,233/= from the petitioner by

enhancing the penalty. It is under these circumstances, the petitioner has approached before this Court.

The contention raised on behalf of the petitioner is that no opportunity of hearing has been given, nor was the petitioner put to the notice

regarding the enhancement or modification in the order of penalty by enhancing the penalty.

Mr.Dabhi, learned AGP, is not in a position to show as to whether any show-cause notice was given for enhancement of the penalty in the

proceedings of the appeal by the Appellate Authority or not.

I find that the point of breach of principles of natural justice by the Appellate Authority deserves consideration. It appears that the Appellate

Authority, while deciding the appeal, could modify the order passed by the Disciplinary Authority and such power can also be read for

enhancement of the penalty, provided the petitioner or the employee concerned is put to the notice or opportunity of hearing is given to him for

enhancement of penalty. In the present case, no such notice has been given to the petitioner, nor had the petitioner any opportunity to put forward

his case as to why the penalty should not be enhanced in the appeal. Therefore, it is clear that the order is passed by the Appellate Authority

without giving any opportunity of hearing to the petitioner in respect to enhancement of penalty. In my view, the reasons recorded by the Appellate

Authority even for the purpose of giving benefits to the petitioner for the period of suspension to be treated as the period on duty for pension is co-

related and are inter-connected and, therefore, it can be said that the whole order passed by the Appellate Authority dated 1-4-2002 is vitiated on

account of the enhancement of the penalty and also inter-connected reasons recorded for treating the period of suspension as on duty for the

purpose of pension.

In view of the aforesaid discussion, the impugned order dated 1-4-2002 Annexure ""A"" passed by the Additional Chief Conservator of Forest,

Gujarat State, Gandhinagar is quashed and set aside with the clarification that the appeal shall be restored to file again and the Appellate Authority

shall be at liberty to decide the appeal in accordance with law after giving opportunity of hearing to the petitioner. It is made clear that if the

Appellate Authority is inclined to consider the matter for enhancement of penalty, a specific notice shall be given to the petitioner and opportunity

of hearing shall also be given in this regard to the petitioner and thereafter only the final order in appeal shall be passed in accordance with law. It is

made clear that all other contentions are kept open.

The petition is allowed to the aforesaid extent. Rule made absolute accordingly. No costs.