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1989 DIGILAW 55 (BOM)

Ramsingh Sitaram Chavan v. State of Maharashtra & others

1989-02-16

M.L.PENDSE, V.P.TIPNIS

body1989
JUDGMENT - M.L. PENDSE, J.:---The grievance in this petition filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution is to the appointment of respondent No. 3 to the post of Inspector General of Prisons, Maharashtra State. The Chief Secretary, Mr. B.G. Deshmukh, by order dated May 9, 1986, informed respondent No. 3 that a decision is taken to transfer and post him as Inspector General of Prisons, Maharashtra State, and he should relinquish charge his present assignment and assume charge of his new assignment in consultation with Mr. Dravid, who was holding the charge of Inspector General of Prisons. Rules for appointment to the post of Inspector General of Prisons are framed by the Government of Maharashtra in exercise of powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution and are known as "Inspector General of Prisons and Director of Correctional Services (Recruitment) Rules, 1985." 2. Rule 2 provides that appointment to the post of Inspector General of Prisons shall be made either (a) by promotion of suitable person on the basis of selection from amongst the person holding a post in the cadre of Deputy Inspector General of Prisons; or (b) by transfer of an officer from the Indian Administrative Service in the super time scale of pay. The grievance of the petitioner is that respondent No. 3 was not eligible for appointment as he did not fall in either of the requirements under Rule 2. Respondent No. 3 was not in the cadre of Deputy Inspector General of Prisons nor an officer from the Indian Administrative Service in the super time scale of pay. Respondent No. 3 was holding the post of Commissioner, C.I.D. (Intelligence) at the time of his selection. The petitioner, therefore, claims that the appointment of respondent No. 3 is contrary to law and is, therefore, vitiated. In answer to the petition, Smt. Anita Jayawant Phadnis, Section Officer, Home Department has filed return sworn on November 10, 1986 and it is claimed that respondent No. 3 was appointed by order dated August 26, 1986 and the Chief Secretary had merely given intimation on May 9, 1986 to respondent No. 3 of his selection. In answer to the petition, Smt. Anita Jayawant Phadnis, Section Officer, Home Department has filed return sworn on November 10, 1986 and it is claimed that respondent No. 3 was appointed by order dated August 26, 1986 and the Chief Secretary had merely given intimation on May 9, 1986 to respondent No. 3 of his selection. The return further claims that the Rules for selection of Inspector General of Prisons were amended on May 20, 1986 and recruitment was permitted by transfer of an officer from the Indian Police Service holding the rank not below that of Special Inspector General of Police. The return claims that respondent No. 3 was an officer from the Indian Police Service and was holding the rank above that of Special Inspector General of Police. 3. Mr. Gursahani, learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner, submitted that respondent No. 3 who belongs to the cadre of Indian Police Service was not eligible for selection prior to May 20, 1986. The learned Counsel urged that the selection of respondent No. 3 was prior to May 20, 1986 and therefore, the selection was neither valid nor legal. It is not possible to accede to the submission of the learned Counsel because what was done on May 9, 1986 was mere intimation to respondent No. 3 of his selection and this intimation cannot amount to an appointment. The appointment can take effect only on the date when respondent No. 3 took over charge of the post and the charge was taken over by respondent No. 3 on July 10, 1986 i.e. long after the rules were amended. In these circumstances, therefore, even though respondent No. 3 was not entitled to be selected prior to May 20, 1986, we are not inclined to disturb his selection. 4. Mr. Gursahani then submitted that respondent No. 3 was appointed without Constitution of a Selection Committee. The post of Inspector General of Prisons is merely a selection post. The learned Counsel urged that the petitioner was eligible for selection, but the Selection Committee did not examine the claim of the petitioner. It is not possible to permit Mr. Gursahani to raise this contention as the petition does not make any averment on this facet. It is not permissible to the learned Counsel to raise oral submission on a question which requires determination of various facts. Mr. It is not possible to permit Mr. Gursahani to raise this contention as the petition does not make any averment on this facet. It is not permissible to the learned Counsel to raise oral submission on a question which requires determination of various facts. Mr. Gursahani also urged that the United Nations Committee has recommended and so also a Committee constituted by the Central Government presided over by Justice Mulla that a Police Officer or an officer belonging to the Indian Police Service should not be selected for holding the post of Inspector General of Prisons. The idea behind the recommendation is that the prisons should be regulated by persons who has specialised in correctional methods and is not left to police officers who are normally concerned with detection of crime and arrest of criminals. Mr. Gursahani submitted that the Maharashtra Government amended the Rules by overlooking the recommendations. We are afraid that we cannot entertain this submission, because the rules framed by the Maharashtra Government are in exercise of the powers conferred under Article 309 of the Constitution of India and it is not permissible for this Court to sit over the policy decision taken by the Government and reflected in the Rules. Mr. Gursahani very fairly stated that it is not possible to challenge the vires of the Rules. In these circumstances, the petitioner is not entitled to any relief and the petition must fail. 5. Accordingly, rule is discharged, but there will be no order as to costs. Rule discharged. -----