President, Sadayanenthal Village Panchayat, Ramanathapuram District v. Baskaran
2013-01-22
K.N.BASHA, P.DEVADASS
body2013
DigiLaw.ai
Judgment 1. This Writ Appeal has been directed as against the order of the Writ Court setting aside the order of the appellant dismissing the first respondent from his job and directing the appellant to hold fresh enquiry within prescribed time. 2. Mr. Mahesh Raja, learned Government Advocate took notice for R2 and R3. As the point involved is very narrow, we have decided to dispose of this writ appeal at the admission stage itself. 3. The case of the first respondent is that he was working as Over Head Tank Operator in the Panchayat since 20.01.2000. He served as such for about 12 years continuously. However, in order to accommodate some other person, on 09.12.2011, the appellant issued him show cause notice imputing allegations against him. He submitted his representation on 14.12.2011. However, without holding enquiry, with a copy of the resolution dated 15.12.2011 the appellant sent him a letter that he has been terminated from service. 4. The respondent challenged the said order in the writ Court. The writ Court set aside the order and directed conducting of enquiry. 5. Aggrieved, the Panchayat President filed this writ appeal. 6. According to the learned counsel for the appellant, there is distinction between an order of discharge simpliciter and an order of dismissal after enquiry. The learned counsel contended that the first respondent was employed temporarily, the appellant passed a simple order of discharge, it need not be followed by an enquiry. Such an order cannot be questioned. In such circumstances, conducting of enquiry will not arise and that the writ Court is not right in directing conducting of enquiry. In support of his submissions, the learned counsel would cite PAVANENDRA NARAYAN VERMA v. SANJAY GANDHI P.G.I. OF MEDICAL SCIENCES AND ANOTHER (2002 (1) CTC 302) and STATE OF HARYANA AND ANOTHER v. SATYENDER SINGH RATHORE ( (2005) 7 SCC 518 ). 7. Long back we have bid farewell to the law of Master and servant, which field is now occupied by many statues and also constitutional mandates. 8. In this case, the respondent was admittedly employed for several years as an Overhead Tank Operator. He is a lowly paid employee. He was paid out of Government funds. Allegations were leveled against him. He was asked to go out without an enquiry. The Writ Court did not deny the appellant his power of dismissing the first respondent from service.
In this case, the respondent was admittedly employed for several years as an Overhead Tank Operator. He is a lowly paid employee. He was paid out of Government funds. Allegations were leveled against him. He was asked to go out without an enquiry. The Writ Court did not deny the appellant his power of dismissing the first respondent from service. But asked him only to hear him and decide. The Writ Court directed, the appellant to observe the minimum justice of Principles of Natural Justice. But, the appellant says that he do not wish to observe the minimum justice, as the first respondent has been issued with a marching order, which is a discharge simpliciter. 9. PAVANENDRA NARAYAN VERMA (supra) relates to the discharge of a probationer, whose services were found not satisfactory. A period of probation has been prescribed to see that the person appointed is whether fit enough to be appointed permanently during which period he will be under the scanner of the employer. It cannot be equated with the case of the respondent, who served the Panchayat for several years and allegations were also made against him. 10. SATYENDER SINGH RATHORE (supra) is also on a different angle. The Court noticed that there is distinction between discharge simpliciter and dismissal by way of punitive action. The Court also held that it depends on the facts and circumstances of each case. 11. In A.P.STATE FEDERATION OF COOP. SPINNING MILLS LTD., v. P.V.SWAMINATHAN ( 2001 (10) SCC 83 ), the Hon'ble Apex Court held as under:- "The legal position is fairly well settled that an order of termination of a temporary employee or a probationer or even a tenure employee, simpliciter without casting any stigma may not be interfered with by the Court. But the Court is not debarred from looking at the attendant circumstances, namely, the circumstances prior to the issuance of order of termination to find out whether the alleged inefficiency really was the motive for the order of termination or formed the foundation for the same order.
But the Court is not debarred from looking at the attendant circumstances, namely, the circumstances prior to the issuance of order of termination to find out whether the alleged inefficiency really was the motive for the order of termination or formed the foundation for the same order. If the Court comes to a conclusion that the order was, in fact, the motive, then obviously the order would not be interfered with, but if the court comes to a conclusion that the so-called inefficiency was the real foundation for passing of order of termination, then obviously such an order would be held to be penal in nature and must be interfered with since the appropriate procedure has not been followed." 12. In LAKSHMANAKUMAR Vs. THE DISTRICT MANAGER, "TASMAC" LIMITED ( 2006(1) CTC 660 ), this Court held as under; "The Apex Court, in more than one case, has held that when an order of termination involves civil consequences and consequently amounts to stigma, the same cannot be passed without there being a charge memo, enquiry and the finding as to those charges. This proposition of law has been recently reiterated by the Apex Court in STATE OF HARIYANA V. STAYENDER SINGH RATHORE ( 2005(7) SCC 518 ). In that judgment, the Supreme Court has relied upon its earlier judgment in DIPTI PRAKASH BANERJEE Vs. SATYENDRA NATH BOSE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR BASIC SCIENCES ( 1999 (3) SCC 60 ), and has held that if findings were arrived at in an enquiry as to misconduct behind the back of the officer or without a regular departmental enquiry, the simple order of termination is to be treated as "founded" on the allegations and will be bad." 13. in R.THIRUPATHY AND OTHERS Vs. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, MADURAI AND OTHERS ( 2006 (2) CTC 574 ), This Court has also held that temporary employee is also entitled for a fair hearing and fair enquiry with impartial mind and failure to provide such opportunity, amounts to failure of principles of natural justice. 14. Thus even if a person is appointed on a temporary basis before sending him out from his job, the employer should follow fair procedure. There must be fair play in action. There must be fairness in it. 15.
14. Thus even if a person is appointed on a temporary basis before sending him out from his job, the employer should follow fair procedure. There must be fair play in action. There must be fairness in it. 15. Even it can be viewed from the anvil of Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which guarantees right to life, which is not possible without a means of livelihood, namely, job. Such a means of livelihood cannot be taken away without following a fair and reasonable procedure. Taking away one's means of livelihood at the whims and fancy, sweet will and pleasure of the employer is against one's basic human right-right to live. 16. In the facts and circumstances of the case, the Panchayat President cannot be allowed to bid farewell to the basic requirement of law-observance of principles of natural justice. 17. In this view of the matter, the order of the writ court cannot be faulted. 18. In the result, this Writ Appeal fails and the same is dismissed. The order of the Writ Court is upheld. The appellant shall carry out the directions of the Writ Court within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this Judgment.