Ratan Singh Yadav vs State of U.P. and Others

Rakesh Tiwari, J.—Heard learned Counsel for the parties, the learned standing counsel for the State and perused the record.

The present writ petition has been filed challenging the suspension order dated 22nd June 2007(Annexure-15 of the writ petition), passed by D.I.G. Varanasi Range). The second prayer made in the writ petition is for direction not to interfere with the peaceful functioning of the petitioner on the post of Inspector, Kotwali Mugalsarai, District Chandauli.

The contention of the counsel for the petitioner is that the dispute arose when the petitioner was posted as S.H.O. at P.S. Kotwali, Mugalsarai. During that period he claims to have prevented some illegal activities of the sitting M.L.A. of the area concerned and arrested-his close relatives who were involved in animal smuggling from U.P. to Kolkata via State of Bihar. Hence in pursuance of a letter dated 30.11.2006 written by the said M.L.A. of Samajwadi Party to the D.I.G. Varanasi Range, Varanasi, the petitioner has been suspended by the D.I.G. vide order dated 01.12.2006 (Annexure-6 to the writ petition) which was challenged by him in writ petition No. 68231 of 2006, Ratan Singh Yadav v. State of U.P. and Ors. in which the suspension order dated 01.12.2006 was stayed vide order dated 8.12.2006 by the High Court.

It is submitted that on coming to know of this fact, the petitioner was immediately transferred on the same date i.e. 8.12.2006 from Chandauli to District Jaunpur as Inspector under suspension. The petitioner then filed another writ petition challenging the aforesaid order of transfer on ground of malafide. The transfer order dated 8.12.2006 was also stayed by the High Court on 14.12.2006.

It is stated that the petitioner was again transferred vide order dated 20.2.2007, in the garb of General Election of U.P., which too was challenged by the petitioner in the writ petition No. 10822 of 2007, Ratan singh v. State of U.P. and Ors.; that writ petition was dismissed vide judgment and order dated 27.02.2007 holding that:

By the impugned order dated 20,2.2007, the petitioner, who is an Inspector of Police, has been transferred from District Chandauli to District Varanasi on the ground that the petitioner has been posted at Chandauli for more than 3 years in the last 4 years. Such transfer order has been passed in compliance of the directions issued by the Election Commission and as such I would not be inclined to interfere with the same. However, it would be open to the petitioner to approach the appropriate authority for being transferred back to District Chandauli after the assembly elections are over.

Subject to the aforesaid observation, this writ petition stands dismissed. No order as to costs.

Sd/Vineet Saran, J. 27.2.07

Aggrieved by the judgment dated 27.2.2007, he challenged the validity and correctness of the order dated 27.2.2007 in Special Appeal. The Court in the Special Appeal granted ad-interim order in favour of the petitioner restraining the respondents not to interfere in peaceful working of the petitioner and further called for reply from the respondents namely Superintendent of Police, Chandauli and D.I.G., Varanasi Range, Varanasi.

It is stated by the counsel for the petitioner that in this background, the impugned order dated 22.6.2007 suspending the petitioner on the ground of carelessness in discharging his duties has been passed. It is urged by the counsel for the petitioner that the charges levelled against the petitioner are of a general nature and no major punishment can be awarded on the basis of the charges as enumerated in the charge sheet, served upon the petitioner on 12.8.2007. It is staled that prior to it, copy of the preliminary inquiry report submitted by the Additional Superintendent of Police, Chandauli on 23.7.2007 has also not been ever given the petitioner which is illegal and amounts to denial of principles of natural justice.

Reliance has been placed by the counsel for the petitioner upon the case of Niranjan Singh and Another Vs. State of U.P. and Others, in this regard. It is submitted that from a perusal of the inquiry report, it is also apparent that neither any heinous offence has been committed by the petitioner nor his conduct is so grave that he should be suspended yet the impugned order of suspension has been passed with a malafide intention and seeing the background of the impugned suspension order the same is not sustainable.

It is urged that Rule 4 of the U.P. Police Officers of the Subordinate Ranks (Punishment & Appeal) Rules, 1991, framed u/s 70 and 2 of the Police Act provided that a police of subordinate rank who shall discharge his duties with carelessness or in a negligent manner and if the charges are proved, no major punishment can be imposed. Rule 4 is as under;

(a) Fine to any amount not exceeding one month''s pay.

(b) Confinement to quarters (this term includes confinement to Quarter Guard for a term not exceeding 15 days extra guard or other duty).

(c) Withholding of promotion.

(d) Deprivation of good conduct pay.

(e) Withholding of increment, including stoppage at an efficiency bar.

It appears from the perusal of the aforesaid preliminary enquiry report that the charges, which have been, levelled against the petitioner of a general nature. The charges against the petitioner are (1) that he reached on the spot in plain dress in the night of 20-21. 06.2007 at 3.20 a.m. and the F.I.R. was lodged. (2) He was asked to convert Section 382 to 396 I.P.C. but he did not do so hence the I.O. on the direction of the Senior Officers had to convert the crime u/s 382 to 396. Thereafter, the enquiry was taken over by the petitioner and he also started investigation by the order of the senior officers for that purposes Parcha No. 1A of the Case Diary is apparently visible but even then the petitioner has been charged that he was not vigilant and he shown his carelessness.

It is vehemently urged by the counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner is president awardee due to his good work and conduct but the respondents have started harassing tactics which is apparent from their conduct that the petitioner was suspended on 22.6.2007 and the charge sheet was served to him on 12.8.2007 and when then petitioner demanded the documents mentioned in the charge-sheet for filing his reply he was deputed of the same that more than four months elapsed but neither documents were given to him nor he has been permuted to inspect the same which is a violation of principles of natural justice and opportunity, and as such, the suspension order is liable to be quashed.

It is stated that law is now settled that if the charges are not of serious nature then no major punishment can be imposed and the delinquent employee should not be suspended in such cases. Reliance |in this regard is placed upon the judgment and order dated 6.9.2007 passed by the Division Bench of this Court in Writ Petition No. 35923 of 2007 Dr. Arvind Kumar Ram v. State of U.P. and Ors.

The learned standing Counsel has urged that alternate and efficacious statutory remedy is available to the petitioner under Rules 20 and 23 of the U.P. Police Officers of the Subordinate Rules (Punishment & Appeal) Rules 1991 (hereinafter called as the ''Rules of 1991''), and since the remedy available to him is statutory he has to first exhaust it before he can approach the Court under Article 226 of the Constitution as it is now settled by the Apex Court that it cannot be bye passed.

The counsel for the respondents submits that the argument advanced by the counsel for the petitioner are fallacious inasmuch as President''s Award does not grant immunity from the authorities proceeding against the petitioner if found wanting in his duty. It is stated that in so far as the stay order dated 03.04.2007 of the Division Bench in Special Appeal is concerned, it is has been obtained by creating an impression in the minds of the Court that the petitioner was transferred in violation of Code of Conduct issued by the Election Commission whereas the correct fact is that the petitioner was transferred in compliance of the order dated 16.12.2006 of the Election Commission having served for more than three years at one Police Station on 20.02.2007. Considering this fact, the same Bench of the Court in Special appeal passed a further order dated 13.09.2007 as under:

Special Appeal No. 374 of 2007 Hon''ble H.L. Gokhale, C.J. Hon''ble Angani Kumar, J Dated 13"'' September, 2007 P.C.

(1) This appeal will be listed peremptorily for final hearing on 1st October, 2007 afternoon.

(2) Mr. Kripa Shankar Singh, learned Counsel for the appellant makes a statement that until the appeal is heard, the appellant will not press for contempt or any other proceeding for enforcement of the interim order.

Sd/- H.L. Gokhale, CJ. (Chief Justice)

Sd/- Angani Kumar, J. (Angani Kumar) Dated: 13.09.2007.

As regards the contention of the petitioner regarding suspension on account of M.L.A. is concerned, it is stated that it is a subject matter under consideration of this Court in writ petition No. 66493 of 2006.

The argument of the respondents is that after receipt of the President''s Award it appears that the petitioner has taken himself to be above jail the procedure prescribed by the law and also above the authority of law which is against the very essence of the of the Police Force being a discipline force. Such characters that tarnish the image of the Police have to be dealt with strictly.

From perusal of paragraph 25 of the writ petition it appears that the petitioner has been suspended by order dated 22.06.2007. appended as Annexure-15 to the writ petition without any cogent reason. The foundation of the impugned order appears to be an incident which is said to have taken place in the night of 20.21.06.2007 at the residence of one Manish Tiwari in District Chandauli whose father was killed by armed-men but and the petitioner registered a Crime Case No. 279 of 2007, u/s 382 of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to offence of theft after preparation is made for causing death, hurt or restrained in order to commit theft, whereas it was a case of Section 396 IPC i.e. ''Dacoity'' with Murder''.

The petitioner was found guilty of minimization gravity of a heinous crime. The petitioner at the relevant time was posted as Inspector and Station In-charge and ought to have taken the investigation upon himself of such a grave offence and heinous crime instead the directed the Sub Inspector for investigating the matter.

It appears that the impugned order of suspension has been passed upon a report submitted by Anand Kumar. Circle Officer Chandauli regarding the entire incident which was further forwarded by Shri Jawahar Singh, Additional Superintendent of Police. Chandauli holding petitioner to be responsible for dereliction of duty and for minimization of a heinous crime. Copy of the report of the Circle Officer Chandauli is dated 22.206.2007 and forwarding report of the S.P. Chandauli is dated 22.06.2007 itself. It is against the aforesaid suspension order, which has been impugned by the petitioner in the present writ petition.

The High Court after hearing the arguments of the petitioner on 02.07.2007 did not find it proper to grant any interim order, however, the report dated 22.06.2007 upon which the suspension order was passed was directed to be handed over to the counsel for the petitioner and the same was handed over to the petitioner''s counsel in the Court itself on the said date. The order dated 02.07.2007 is quoted below:

Learned Standing counsel has accepted the notice on behalf respondents. He prays for and is granted one months time to file counter affidavit.

List on 07.08.2007

On the matter being taken up todays, copy of the report sent by Fax by Additional Superintendent of Police dated 22.06.2007 has been perused, said report raises serious question in respect of conduct of petitioner, Sri Kripa Shanker Singh, Advocate representing petitioner submits that entire things are manipulated. At this stage no interim order is being passed. The question of granting interim order would be considered after exchange of counter affidavit along with documentary evidence.

Sri Kripa Shanker Singh has been served with copy of the report dated 22.06.2007, which has been made foundation and basis of impugned order of suspension.

Sd- V.K. Shukla, J. Dt/- 2.7.2007.

The petitioner has been placed under suspension and thereafter a preliminary inquiry was also conducted by Additional S.P. Chandauli who submitted its report on 23.07.2007. Upon the aforesaid report, vide order dated 25th July 2007, the Superintendent of Police, Chandauli, recommended departmental proceedings under Rule 41 of the Rules, 1991.

It appears from records that a detailed charge sheet has been submitted by the Enquiry Officer which when served upon the petitioner was refused to be accepted by him hence it was pasted at his official residence and has also been sent by registered post as well as the same has been filed along with supplementary affidavit which has been received by the counsel for the petitioner but due to non-cooperation it is not concluded as yet.

In the case of Kripa Shanker Prasad v. State of U.P. and Ors. reported in 2004(1) U.P.L.B.E.C. 124 relied upon by the petitioner, the Division Bench held that suspension on the basis of preliminary inquiry report is improper. The said judgment of the Division Bench was referred to Full Bench of three judges which set aside the judgment of the division Bench holding that suspension order can also be passed on the basis of preliminary inquiry report. The decision of the Full Bench in the case of Shahroj Anwar Khan v. State of U.P. and Anr. is reported in 2007 (3) E.S.C. 1793(FB).

In my opinion under the aforesaid Rule 4 of the U.P. Police Officers of the Subordinate Ranks (Punishment & Appeal) Rules 1991 read with Section 70 of the Police Act, if a Police Officer is careless or negligent in discharging his duties he can be awarded with the aforesaid punishment which are in minor in nature and no major punishment can be imposed. Moreover, no major penalty can be imposed as per Section 170 of the Police Act which is another provision of Punishment and Appeal Rule 1991 and only a minor punishment can be imposed, even if the charges are proved regarding the negligence and carelessness of the petitioner in respect of discharging of his duties which has been levelled by the officers in the charge sheet.

In the facts and circumstances of the case, there appears to be no illegality or infirmity in the impugned order of suspension passed u/s 17 of the 1991 Rules. The writ petition is liable to be dismissed and is accordingly dismissed with direction to the authorities concerned to conclude and bring the enquiry to its logical end within a period of three months from today. It is expected that petitioner will also participate and cooperate with enquiry. No order as to costs.