Kamal Kishore Sharma v. National Bank Of Agriculture And Rural Development
2001-05-31
T.S.DOABIA
body2001
DigiLaw.ai
JUDGEMENT PER T.S. DOABIA J 1. On 30.06.1996 in the performance Appraisal Report certain remarks were made. These were conveyed to the petitioner vide communication dated 18.02.1997, these adverse remarks are as under: i. Due to his in-subordinations always he has shown disrespect to senior officers; ii. Though he is having abilities and knowledge about working but due to his dis-inclination for section work, he has put his competencies to astray. 2. The letter addressed to the petitioner is Annexure A petitioner preferred an appeal. This is Annexure D. He submitted a further representation on 25.03.1997. In this he made a prayer that matters mentioned in this communication may kindly be given serious consideration. The matters were - a. As to whether the Officer, who has reported the matter and is responsible for making the remarks was an Officer under whom he had worked; b. Whether before making the adverse remarks the petitioner was ever apprised about his short comings; c. Whether there was any remissness in his work; d. That his previous record be also seen because no body would change his habit in a day or so or in weeks also. 3. The representation submitted by him stands rejected. This was communicated to the petitioner vide Communication dated 31.07.1997. Petitioner has challenged that order. 4. Respondents have filed objections. The stand taken is that the attitude of the petitioner towards his superiors was not healthy and that he used to show dis-respect to them. It is submitted that he was orally advised to improve himself, but there was no response from his side. It is further submitted that under the NABARD Staff Rules of 1982, the procedure which is there for assessing the record was followed. 5. Another grievance of the petitioner is that vide order dated 30.08.1997, the petitioner has been promoted as Clerk Grade -1 w.e.f. 18.08.1997. He submits that he was supposed to be promoted w.e.f. 01.02.1997. As this belated promotion is said to be linked with the adverse remarks, the petitioner is making a grievance regarding this fact also. (The stand of the respondents is that so far as other employees are concerned, their record was clear, but as the record of the petitioner was not clear therefore, his promotion was delayed.
As this belated promotion is said to be linked with the adverse remarks, the petitioner is making a grievance regarding this fact also. (The stand of the respondents is that so far as other employees are concerned, their record was clear, but as the record of the petitioner was not clear therefore, his promotion was delayed. The basic relief which is being sought by the petitioner is that the adverse remarks should be quashed and the respondents be directed to re-consider the issue regarding promotion. 6. There can be no dispute with the broad proposition that in the matter of making of entries in the performance reports a decision has basically to been taken by the authority competent to do so and that this court is not to act as an appellate authority. 7. As indicated above these are matters on which this court would normally not interfere. However, the argument is that in rarest of the rare case it would be possible for this court to interfere. Petitioner joined service on 01.06.1990. The adverse report came to be made on 30.06.1996. What is said is due to his insubordination always he has done disrespect to Senior Officers. If this type of remark is to be made then there should be some justification for making such a remark. Any particular instance where there was an act of in-subordination should have been of some record maintained by the respondents bank. In-subordination is a word with serious implications. In Black Law Dictionary, the term has been defined as under: "State of being in-subordinate, dis-obedience to constituted authority. Refusal to obey some order which a Superior Officer is entitled to give and being obeyed. Term imports a wilful or intentional dis-regards of the lawful and reasonable instructions of the employer." 8. As a matter of fact, the stand taken by the respondent Bank in para 3 of the preliminary submissions is that petitioner had shown his misconduct on several occasions and that the petitioner was also asked to mend his ways, but he did not do so. It is stated that the petitioner was also counslled by the officer incharge. Even though such statement has been made in para 3, but nothing has been brought on the record to substantiate this. There are opinions which are purely subjective. There are opinions which are objective also.
It is stated that the petitioner was also counslled by the officer incharge. Even though such statement has been made in para 3, but nothing has been brought on the record to substantiate this. There are opinions which are purely subjective. There are opinions which are objective also. An act of continuous in-subordination has to be based on some objective materiel and not on subjective opinion. This is one aspect of the matter. 9. The other aspect of the matter is that the petitioner has preferred an appeal, which has been dismissed. As is apparent from the Dictionary meaning of in-subordination, the term has been defined as a wilful or international disregard of the lawful and reasonable instructions of the employer. If this be the position then this has to be supported by some material on the record. This is missing. 10. As indicated above even the appeal preferred by the petitioner has been dismissed by a non-speaking order. The petitioner had categorically stated that he had rendered six years of service and if there was nothing adverse in the last six year, then what was the basis of the decision to make a remark when he was due for promotion is a matter which should have been dealt with. The fact as to whether this is dealt with or not is not apparent. 11. This petition is accordingly allowed. Appellate authority is directed to re-decide the matter. The authority would examine and go into the question as to whether there is any instance of in-subordination or the petitioner has merely been victimized on account of some other factor or this is merely a device with a view to deprive him of promotion at the proper stage. Let a decision be taken within a period of six months from the date of copy of the order is made available by the petitioner to the respondent. In the meanwhile, the adverse entry shall bot be given effect to in the matter of promotion or further promotions. Disposed of accordingly.