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2016 DIGILAW 1551 (PAT)

Kumari Manju Sinha, wife of Sri Guddu Singh v. State of Bihar

2016-11-25

HEMANT GUPTA, VIKASH JAIN

body2016
JUDGMENT : Hemant Gupta, J. 1. The Challenge in the present Letters Patent Appeal is to an order passed by the learned Single Bench of this Court on 25th April, 2016 whereby, the appointment of the appellant was set aside for the reason that the Selection Committee was chaired by her husband and, therefore, there is likelihood of bias. 2. Learned counsel for the appellant vehemently argued that the Selection Committee for appointment of Panchayat Teacher has no discretion as the selection has to be made on the basis of pre-determined criteria as mentioned in Rule 9 (v) of the Bihar Panchayat Primary Teachers (Appointment and Service Conditions) Rules, 2006. The Rules contemplate determination of merits on the basis of marks obtained in Matric/Higher Secondary and Intermediate and also two years experience in B.L.D. Since the merit is to be prepared on the basis of pre-determined criteria, the presence of the husband of the appellant has not caused any prejudice to any candidate as there was no discretion with her husband while making selection. 3. It is also contended that the presence of her husband was necessary as ex-officio member being the Mukhiya of the Gram Panchayat and, thus, keeping in view the doctrine of necessity, it cannot be said that the participation of the husband of the appellant has given unfair advantage to the appellant. 4. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and find no merit in the present appeal. Even in the face of pre-determined criteria, the Selection Committee was chaired by the husband of the appellant as Mukhiya of the Gram Panchayat. There cannot be any bias, but there is likelihood of bias. Things should always be done, which are above suspicion of any kind. Therefore, the participation of the husband of the appellant cannot be said to be fair process of selection for the post of Panchayat Teacher. 5. Still further, there is no application of doctrine of necessity in the present case. Mukhiya is one of the members of the Selection Committee and he chairs the meeting, but there are other four members. Even if the husband of the appellant recuses himself from the meeting, the meeting could have been continued with four other members present. 5. Still further, there is no application of doctrine of necessity in the present case. Mukhiya is one of the members of the Selection Committee and he chairs the meeting, but there are other four members. Even if the husband of the appellant recuses himself from the meeting, the meeting could have been continued with four other members present. The fact that the husband of the appellant participated in the selection process in which his wife was selected is sufficient to return a finding that it was a tainted selection. 6. In view of the said fact, we do not find any merit in the present Letters Patent Appeal. The same is, therefore, dismissed.