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1997 DIGILAW 696 (ALL)

MOHD ZAHOOR v. COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT MADARSA HANFIA AHLE SUNNAT BAHAR UL ULOOM MAU

1997-06-04

B.S.CHAUHAN, R.R.K.TRIVEDI

body1997
R. R. K. TRIVEDI, J. Aforesaid two Special Appeals are directed against the same judgment. The questions of fact and law involved are also identical, hence both the appeals can be conveniently decided by a common judgment. Special Appeal No. 445 of 1996 shall be the leading case. 2. Facts, in short, necessary for ap preciating the controversy in these appeals are that Madarsa Hanfia Able Sunnat Bahar-Ul- Uloom (hereinafter referred to as the Institution) is an Arabian Madarsa imparting religious education and also Arabic and Percian languages n various dis ciplines. The examinations of this Institu tion are held by Registrar of Arabic Madarsas, U. P. , at Allahabad. The Institution is in grant-in-aid list of the State Government and gets maintenance grant. Mohammad Zahoor (petitioner of Writ Petition No. 39602 of 1993) and Mukhtar Ahmad (petitioner of Writ Petition No. 39424 of 1993 were appointed as assistant teachers in Alia Section of the Institution where teach ing is imparted from Class I to V. Both were appointed under separate orders of ap pointment dated 22-2-1989 with effect from 1-3-1989 on probation. The orders of ap pointment in favour of aforesaid two appel lants have been filed as Annexure 1 to the counter affidavit filed in the writ petition. The aforesaid period of probation was ex tended by order dated 20-3-1991 for another period of one year. The period of probation was further extended in case of both the appellants by order dated 10-4-1992 for a period of one year. On 13-2-1993, however, both the appellants were served with a notice that by extending the period of probation, opportunity was provided to them for improvement but on account of iheir lethargy and inefficiency, the standard of education has gone down which has af fected the reputation of the Institution and the students have started deserting it. The Committee of Management is of the view that they may not be continued on the post, hence notice is given that if they have noth ing to say in their defence, they may submit their explanation within 22 days. There after, by order dated 3-4-1993. (Annexure 7 to Writ Petition No. 39502 of 1993) ap pellant Mohd. Zahoor was discharged from service and by order dated 2-4-1993 (An nexure ? to Writ Petition No. 39424 of 1993) appellant Mukhtar Ahmad was dis charged from service. There after, by order dated 3-4-1993. (Annexure 7 to Writ Petition No. 39502 of 1993) ap pellant Mohd. Zahoor was discharged from service and by order dated 2-4-1993 (An nexure ? to Writ Petition No. 39424 of 1993) appellant Mukhtar Ahmad was dis charged from service. Challenging the or ders terminating them from service, both the appellants have filed separate writ peti tions as mentioned above, which have been decided by a common judgment dated 15-4-1996. Aggrieved by the aforesaid judgment, both have preferred separate special ap peals. 3. We have heard Shri R. G. Padia, learned counsel for appellants and Shri M. A. Qadeer, learned counsel appearing for the Management and the learned standing counsel. 4. Shri R. G. Padia has submitted that under the Rules applicable to the appel lants, the initial period of probation con templated is one year which could be further extended for another period of one year. In the present case, however, appellants were appointed on 1-3-1989. The maximum period of probation contemplated in the Rules expired on 1-3-1991 and both the ap pellants ought to have been treated con firmed after expiry of the period of proba tion. However, the Management acting against the provisions contained in the Rules, exended the period of probation on 20-3-1991 and on 10-4-1992 for period of one year on each occasion and thus appel lants were illegally continued on probation and they have been illegally terminated from service. It has also been submitted that as clear from the order terminating the ap pellants from service, it is based on specific charges and it is not an order of discharge of a probationer simpliciter. As the order ter minating the appellants from service con tained allegations and it cast stigma, there ought to have been an inquiry providing an opportunity of hearing to the appellants. It has also been submitted that under the Government Orders, the order of termina tion could not have effect without approval of the Inspector Arabic & Percian Madarsas, U. P. , Allahabad. As there was no ap proval, the order of termination is void ab initio and the appellants are entitled for relief claimed in the writ petition from this Court. The learned Single Judge, however, failed to appreciate properly the aforesaid legal questions involved and has illegally dismissed the writ petition. 5. As there was no ap proval, the order of termination is void ab initio and the appellants are entitled for relief claimed in the writ petition from this Court. The learned Single Judge, however, failed to appreciate properly the aforesaid legal questions involved and has illegally dismissed the writ petition. 5. Shri M. A. Qadeer, on the other hand, submitted that the appointment of the appellants was beyond the sanctioned post and was itself illegal, hence they are not entitled for any relief. It has been further submitted that the Rules are not statutory and no approval was legally required in the facts and circumstances of the case. It has been further submitted that appellants were continuing on probation which was ex tended from time to time on their own re quest. The Committee of Management on assurance of appellants acted in bona fide belief that they will show improvement in their work and conduct though it was not satisfied with the performance of the appel lants. Appellants cannot now question the validity of the extension of the period of probation as it was extended at their in stance. Both the appellants have been dis charged from service during the period of probation which is in conformity with the terms and conditions in the order of ap pointment and it is a legal and valid order in view of the provisions contained in Rule 26. The appellants could not be treated as con firmed employees as the order of confirma tion was not passed by the Committee of Management at any point of time. No inquiry or opportunity of hearing to the ap pellants was legally necessary. The order of discharge is a termination simpliciter and the facts narrated therein indicate only mo tive of the employer and they are not basis of the order passed against the appellants. 6. We have thoroughly considered the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties. There is no doubt about the legal position that the object of probation is to test the suitability of the person ap pointed. If the appointing authority finds that the. candidate is not suitable, the employer certainly has power to terminate the services of the employee. 6. We have thoroughly considered the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties. There is no doubt about the legal position that the object of probation is to test the suitability of the person ap pointed. If the appointing authority finds that the. candidate is not suitable, the employer certainly has power to terminate the services of the employee. There is also no doubt about the legal position that there is nothing like automatic confirmation/ab sorption of a candidate in service on expiry of the period of probation unless specifical ly provided so in the Rules applicable to the service. In the circumstances, it is necessary to examinations the contention of the par ties in context with the Rules governing the employment of the appellants. The Gover nor of Uttar Pradesh no 23-8-1987 ap proved non-statutory Rules for regulating recognition of Arabic and Percian Madarsas which are known as Uttar Pradesh Ashas-kiya Arabi Tatha Farsi Madarson Ki Manyata Niyamawali. A copy of the Rules has been filed as Annexure 2 to the writ petition Rule 26 of these Rules contains provision with regard to probation. Rule 26 as provided under the Rules (in Hindi) and its English translation is being given herein again as, in our opinion, the translation of Rule 26 as provided in the judgment of the learned single Judge is not correct. " (Appointments on clear vacancies shall be on probation. The period of probation shall be for one year. The period of probation may be ex tended for one year. The Management shall have right to terminate before expiry of the period of probation.)" 7. From perusal of Rule 26, it is clear that it only fixes the outer limit of the period of probation but the Rules no where contain any prohibition that the period of probation could not be for a longer period than provided in Rule 26. In absence of any prohibition, in our opinion, it was open for the Management to continue the probation for a reasonable period for testing the suitability of the candidate. Learned coun sel for the appellants strongly contended that the period of probation could not be extended beyond the period of two years. However, this contention loses its force as the period probation was extended on the request of the appellants as clear from Annexures 1, 2 and 3 filed along with the counter affidavit. Learned coun sel for the appellants strongly contended that the period of probation could not be extended beyond the period of two years. However, this contention loses its force as the period probation was extended on the request of the appellants as clear from Annexures 1, 2 and 3 filed along with the counter affidavit. The last extension of probation was on 10-4-1992 for a period of one year in respect of both the appellants. Thus, the period of probation was to continue up to 9-4-1993. Both the appellants were given notice on 13-2-1993 that their probation was ex tended from time to time with the hope that they shall show improvement in their work and conduct but they failed to do so. They were also asked to give explanation in their defence, if any and thereafter the orders terminating appellants from service were passed on 2-4-1993 and 3-4-1993 which was well within the period of probation. Thus, in view of the language used in Rule 26 which is applicable to the appellants, it is difficult to accept the submission of the learned coun sel for the appellants that there was any thing like automatic confirmation or that the period of probation could not be ex tended beyond the outer limit of two years provided in Rule 26. In our opinion, the Management could have exercised their power to discharge the appellants from ser vice but it extended the period of probation on the request of the appellants themselves. Thus, the view taken by the learned single Judge on this question is perfectly justified and calls for no interference. 8. Learned counsel for the appellants relied on certain authorities which are being mentioned here: 1. Om Prakash Maurya v. U. P. Co operative Sugar Factories Federation, Lucknow and others, AIR 1986 SC 1844 ; 2. Lakshman Ram Kushwaha v. Com mittee of Management and others, (1986) UPLBEC 1390 (DB); 3. Mool Chand v. U. P Financial Cor poration and another, 1991 FLR 258; 4. Sri Chandra v. U. P Financial Cor poration (1994 LIC 859); 5. M. K. Agarwal v. Gur Gaon Gramin Bank and others, AIR 1988 SC 286 ; and 6. State of Punjab v. Dharam Singh, AIR 1968 SC 1210 . 9. We have examined the aforesaid cases. Sri Chandra v. U. P Financial Cor poration (1994 LIC 859); 5. M. K. Agarwal v. Gur Gaon Gramin Bank and others, AIR 1988 SC 286 ; and 6. State of Punjab v. Dharam Singh, AIR 1968 SC 1210 . 9. We have examined the aforesaid cases. However, the views expressed in the aforesaid cases are in different set of facts and in context with the Rules containing different phraseology than contained in Rule 26 which applies to the appellants. The ratio of the aforesaid case thus cannot be applied in the present appeals. In case of Dhoonji Bhai Ramji Bhai v. State of Gujrat, AIR 1985 SC 603 , a Bench consisting of three Honble Judges of the Supreme Court while dealing with the period of probation expressed the legal position in the following manner: 6. "the second contention on behalf of the appellant is that the appellant must be deemed to have been confirmed inasmuch as he was allowed to continue in service even after the expiry of the period of probation of two years specified in the order of appointment. We are of opinion that when the order of appointment recited that the petitioner would be on probation for a period of two years, it conformed to Rule 5 of the Recruit ment Rules which prescribes such period of probation. The Rule states further that the period of probation may be extended in accordance with the rules. The period of two years specified in the Rule is merely the initial period for which an officer may be appointed on probation. As the terms of the same Rule indicate, the period of probation may be extended. The period of two years does not represent the maximum period of probation. " 7. "it is next urged that as no rules have been framed indicating the manner for extending the period of probation, there is no power to extend the period of probation, the argument suffers from a fallacy. The power to extend the period of probation must not be confused with the manner in which the extension may be effected. The one relates to power, the other to mere procedure. Merely because procedural rules have not been framed does not imply a negation of the power. The power to extend the period of probation must not be confused with the manner in which the extension may be effected. The one relates to power, the other to mere procedure. Merely because procedural rules have not been framed does not imply a negation of the power. In the absence of such rules, it is sufficient that the power is exercised fairly and reasonably, having regard to the context in which the power has been granted. " 10. If the aforesaid view of the Apex Court is applied in the facts of the present case, there remains no doubt that the power of extension of the period of probation has been exercised fairly and reasonably. On each occasion it has been extended on the application given by the appellants that they will show improvement. Thus, they were a consenting party for extension of the period of probation and they cannot question the validity of the same once they have availed benefit of the same. Viewed from any angle, we do not find any substance in the submis sions made by the learned counsel for the appellants. 11. The second submission of learned counsel for the appellants was that the order of termination contains allegations causing stigma against the appellants which formed basis for passing the order and the order thus was illegal and arbitrary and cannot be sustained. In this connection it has also been submitted that if the respondent No. 1 wanted to terminate appellants from service on these allegations, there ought to have been a full-fledged inquiry as provided in Rule 34 of the Rules. It has also been sub mitted that after such inquiry the approval of the Inspector of Arabic and Persian Madarsas of U. P. , was also necessary. 12. We have considered this aspect of the matter also. However, as we have al ready found above that the termination has taken place before expiry of the period of probation, the orders passed against appellants do not suffer from any illegality as under Rule 26 as well as in the terms and conditions provided in the order of appoint ment, the Management had right to ter minate the appellants from service during probation if it was not satisfied with their performance. We have examined the order of termination filed as Annexure 7 to the writ petition and, in our opinion, the facts stated therein are only motive for passing the order and they are not basis for the order. The appellants were being reminded of their inefficiency and bad performance from the very beginning. However, they per suaded the management to continue with them on assurance that they will show im provement. However, the appellants failed to carry out their assurance. Thus, the basis for passing the orders of termination against appellants was dissatisfaction regarding their performance. Few instances mentioned in the order are only motives. Submission of learned counsel for appel lants hence cannot be accepted. 13. For the reasons stated above, both these appeals are devoid of merit and are accordingly dismissed. There will be no order as to costs. Appeal dismissed. .