Research › Search › Judgment

Chhattisgarh High Court · body

2022 DIGILAW 47 (CHH)

M. M. Chaturvedi v. State of Chhattisgarh

2022-01-24

ARUP KUMAR GOSWAMI, N.K.CHANDRAVANSHI

body2022
JUDGMENT : N.K. Chandravanshi, J. 1. This writ appeal is preferred against the order dated 3-5-2019 passed by the learned Single Judge in WP(S) No. 5384/2017, whereby the order dated 11-9-2017 of compulsory retirement of appellant/petitioner (hereinafter referred to as 'the petitioner') passed by the respondents was set aside/quashed and direction was issued for reinstatement of petitioner. He was held entitled to all consequential benefits, but monetary benefits for the intervening period were denied. 2. The petitioner was initially appointed to the post of Ranger in the year 1992 and he completed probation period in the year 1994. In the D.P.C. held in the year 2015, he was found suitable for promotion from the post of Ranger to the post of Assistant Conservator of Forest, but due to insufficiency of vacancy, he could not be promoted. Again in the year, 2016, he was found fit for promotion by the D.P.C. and vide order dated 19-9-2016, he was promoted from the post of Ranger to the post of Assistant Conservator of Forests. But vide order dated 11-9-2017, the respondents, invoking the provisions contained in Rule 2 (A) of the Fundamental Rules, 1956 and Sub Rule (1) (B) of Rule 42 of Chhattisgarh Civil Services Pension Rules, 1976, compulsorily retired him. The petitioner assailed the order of his compulsory retirement dated 11-9-2017 by filing WP(S) No. 5384/2017. The same was allowed in part by the learned Single Judge, as has been stated in para 1 of this judgment. Since, the learned Single Judge did not grant relief regarding monetary benefits for the intervening period, this writ appeal was filed for aforesaid limited grievance. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the learned Single Judge, while considering the order of compulsory retirement dated 11-9-2017 at length, has found that the order of compulsory retirement was absolutely arbitrary, malafide, unreasonable and unjustifiable. No fault of petitioner of any nature was found. No ground has also been specified in the order for denying monetary benefits. The learned Single Judge ought to have granted relief of monetary benefits for the intervening period also. He would further submit that principal of "No work, no pay" is not applicable in this case, because the petitioner was prevented from doing his work due to illegal order of compulsory retirement passed by the respondents and also because the petitioner was not gainfully employed during that intervening period. He would further submit that principal of "No work, no pay" is not applicable in this case, because the petitioner was prevented from doing his work due to illegal order of compulsory retirement passed by the respondents and also because the petitioner was not gainfully employed during that intervening period. Further contention of the learned counsel of the petitioner is that due to such illegality committed by the respondents, the petitioner suffered irreparable loss including monetary loss. If he is not granted monetary benefits for the intervening period, then it would amount to approval of wrong done by the respondents, which would cause gross injustice to the petitioner. Learned counsel for the petitioner would next submit that the Rule 54 (A) (1) and (3) of the Fundamental Rules, 1956 also provides that if compulsory retirement of a government servant is set aside by the Court on merits of the case, then he shall be entitled to full pay and allowances for the period to which, he would have been entitled. He placed reliance on the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Shobha Ram Raturi v. Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited and others reported in (2016) 16 SCC 663 . Thus, he prayed for grant of relief as has been sought for. 4. Learned State counsel, while supporting the reply filed by him, would submit that respondents did not assail the order passed by the learned Single Judge and the same has been complied with and implemented in its letter and spirit. After passing of that order, the petitioner submitted his joining report on 27-9-2019, which was allowed by the respondents. Thereafter, the petitioner filed this belated writ appeal deliberately, i.e. after execution of the order. He would further submit that since the petitioner has acquiesced his right as order has been complied with, and therefore, he cannot challenge the order passed by the learned Single Judge. Hence, the order passed by the learned Single Judge does not call for any interference in this writ appeal. 5. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record and also gone through the order passed by the learned Single Judge. Hence, the order passed by the learned Single Judge does not call for any interference in this writ appeal. 5. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record and also gone through the order passed by the learned Single Judge. Perusal of the impugned order passed by the learned Single Judge shows that the matter of compulsory retirement of the petitioner has been considered on the basis of merits of his service record and considering all the aspects, has observed in para 25 and 26 as under:- "25. Perusal of the contents of the pleadings that have been brought on record by way of reply and additional return of the State, it does not reveal any strong material produced by the State which can be said to be adverse so far as service record of the petitioner is concerned, inasmuch as, there is no adverse entry in the ACR, there is no punishment in the recent past except for one minor punishment that too was inflicted 10 years ago and the overall grading in the ACR also not being below "Good", this court is of the opinion that the impugned order therefore is bad in law and the same is in contravention firstly to the guidelines framed by the State vide their circular dated 25.04.2017 and at the same time, the same is also without any basis or sufficient materials while scrutinizing the case of the petitioner. 26. The impugned order dated 11.09.2017 therefore being not sustainable deserves to be and is accordingly set aside/quashed. Consequently, it is ordered that the petitioner shall be reinstated in service and he would also be entitled for all consequential benefits. However, so far as monetary part is concerned, the petitioner would not be entitled for monetary benefits for the intervening period, but the benefits shall be given to the petitioner by giving him notional fixation." 6. Learned Single Judge has held specifically that the order of compulsory retirement of petitioner is bad in law and the same is not only in contravention of guidelines framed by the State itself, but also, it has been passed without any basis or sufficient material. No reason has been assigned as to why monetary benefits for the intervening period has not been allowed to the petitioner. No reason has been assigned as to why monetary benefits for the intervening period has not been allowed to the petitioner. Ground raised by the petitioner before this Court that he was not gainfully employed during the intervening period is un-controverted by the respondents. 7. The provisions governing compulsory retirement of a government servant, which is subsequently set aside by the Court on merits of the case, have been provided in the Rule 54 (A) (1) and (3) of the Fundamental Rules, 1956 which read thus :- "F.R. 54-A (1). Where the dismissal, removal or compulsory retirement of a Government servant is set aside by a Court of Law and such Government servant is re-instated without holding any further enquiry, the period of absence from duty shall be regularised and the Government servant shall be paid pay and allowances in accordance with the provisions of sub-rules (2) or (3) subject to the directions, if any, of the Court. (2) xxx xxx xxx (3) If the dismissal, removal or compulsory retirement of a Government servant is set aside by the Court on the merits of the case, the period intervening between the date of dismissal, removal or compulsory retirement including the period of suspension preceding such dismissal, removal or compulsory retirement, as the case may be, and the date of re-instatement, shall be treated as duty for all purposes and he shall be paid full pay and allowances for the period to which he would have been entitled, had he not been dismissed, removed or compulsory retired, or suspended prior to such dismissal, removal or compulsory retirement, as the case may be. (4) xxx xxx xxx (5) xxx xxx xxx" 8. In the case of Shobha Ram Raturi (supra), which is a case similar to the present case, Hon'ble Supreme Court has observed in para 3 as under:- "3. Having given our thoughtful consideration to the controversy, we are satisfied, that after the impugned order of retirement dated 31-12-2002 was set aside, the appellant was entitled to all consequential benefits. The fault lies with the respondents in not having utilised the services of the appellant for the period from 1-1-2003 to 31-12-2005. Had the appellant been allowed to continue in service, he would have readily discharged his duties. The fault lies with the respondents in not having utilised the services of the appellant for the period from 1-1-2003 to 31-12-2005. Had the appellant been allowed to continue in service, he would have readily discharged his duties. Having restrained him from rendering his services with effect from 1-1-2003 to 31-12-2005, the respondent cannot be allowed to press the self-serving plea of denying him wages for the period in question, on the plea of the principle of "no work no pay". 9. Now, reverting to the present case, as has been mentioned above, learned Single Judge while considering merits of the case of compulsory retirement of the petitioner, has observed that the order of compulsory retirement of the petitioner is not only bad in law, but also, in contravention of the guidelines framed by the State. But, without any basis and mentioning any reason, learned Single Judge denied the monetary benefits for the intervening period to the petitioner. The petitioner could not discharge his duties because of the wrongful order passed by the respondents, as otherwise, he would have readily discharged his duties. In the facts of the case, we are of the opinion that the principle of "no work, no pay" is not applicable. 10. Having considered the aforesaid Fundamental Rules and observations made by Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Shobha Ram Raturi (supra), and also taking into consideration all the facts, as observed above, we find that denial of monetary benefit to the petitioner for the intervening period is not sustainable in law. 11. In view of the reasons recorded hereinabove, we are satisfied that the order impugned passed by learned Single judge, to the limited extent of denying monetary benefits for the intervening period, i.e. from 11-9-2017 to 27-6-2019, deserves to be and is hereby modified, and it is directed that the petitioner shall be entitled to full pay and allowances for the aforesaid period, to which he would have been entitled, had he not been compulsorily retired. 12. The writ appeal is accordingly allowed. No costs.