Sohan Ram vs The State of Jharkhand

Prashant Kumar, J.—Both the anticipatory bail applications are heard together as both applications arose from same FIR and the allegation against the Petitioners are similar as they are expert member of the Interview Board. Both anticipatory bail applications are in connection with Ranchi Special Case No. 23 of 2010 ( Vigilance P.S. Case No. 23 of 2010) pending in the court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Ranchi.

Heard Sri Nitya Nand Sinha and Sri K.P. Deo learned Counsel for the Petitioners and Sri T.N. Verma, learned Counsel for the Vigilance Department.

It is alleged in the FIR that the Chairman , members of Jharkhand Public Service Commission in connivance with experts of Interview Board and other candidates had committed large scale bungling, manipulation, irregularities and tempered the marks obtained by the candidates and recommended the names of their own relatives and other candidates for appointment in Government service. It is further alleged that the Petitioners, who are members of Interview Board had raised the marks of several candidates by interpolating in the evaluation sheet for wrongful gain.

It is submitted by learned Counsel for the Petitioners that Petitioners were invited by Jharkhand Public Service Commission to act as an Expert in the Interview. It is further submitted that according to the Rules of Jharkhand Public Service Commission experts are required to give marks on the separate sheet and after signing the same they sealed it and deposit in the office, thereafter, they have no concern with the said marks sheet. It is submitted that if any interpolation made in the aforesaid marks sheet, the same ought to have been done in the office and Petitioners can not be blamed for the same. It is further submitted that nothing has been brought on record by the Vigilance Department to show that the said interpolation were made by these Petitioners. Accordingly, it is submitted that the Petitioners, who were retired government servant having clean past record, may be granted anticipatory bail. On the other hand, learned Counsel for the Vigilance Department submits that there are sufficient materials to show that Petitioners interpolated the marks sheet and thereby raised the marks of different candidates. Learned Counsel of Vigilance Department produced various evaluation sheets of Interview Board relating to these Petitioners and submits that the Petitioners not only made interpolation in the said evaluation sheet rather they put their initials on it, which prima facie goes to show that the Petitioners had made such interpolation and raised marks of different candidates. Accordingly, it is submitted that Petitioners did not deserve to be enlarged on anticipatory bail.

Having heard the submission, I have gone through the records of the case and also the various evaluation sheet of interview of 2nd Civil Service Examination conducted by Jharkhand Public Service Commission. From perusal of the same, it appears that Petitioner Sohan Ram had made interpolation in the marks of candidates having Roll No. 1120632, 1102704 whereas Petitioner Batshwar Pandit has made interpolation in the marks of candidates having Roll No. 1239442 and both the Petitioners had also put their initials on the aforesaid evaluation sheet. It also appears from the impugned order that besides aforesaid candidates both the Petitioners made interpolation in the evaluation sheets of other candidates and by doing so they raised their marks.

Considering the aforesaid materials on record, I find that Petitioners do not deserve to be enlarged on anticipatory bail. Accordingly, the prayer for anticipatory bail of Petitioners of both the anticipatory bail applications, above named, is rejected.