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Patna High Court

Bishnudeo Prasad SinghversusThe State Of Bihar and Ors

Decided
Disposal
ALLOWED

Holding

The disciplinary order withholding the petitioner’s increment is void as the departmental enquiry was conducted without any evidence and in violation of the procedural safeguards mandated by the Bihar CCA Rules, 2005 and principles of natural justice.

Summary

The petitioner, a government clerk, was subjected to a departmental proceeding stemming from a 2001 vigilance complaint alleging corruption in a housing scheme. Although he was acquitted of all criminal charges in 2017, the department, after an 11‑year delay, issued an order in January 2018 withholding one increment and revoking his suspension just two days before his retirement. The petitioner challenged the order, arguing violations of Rule 17 of the Bihar CCA Rules, 2005, lack of any witness evidence, and breach of natural‑justice principles, while the State contended that the disciplinary authority acted within its powers. The High Court held that the enquiry was conducted without any admissible evidence, contravened statutory procedural requirements, and therefore the punishment was unsustainable. Consequently, the court set aside the impugned order, directed restoration of all increments, full pension, and payment of arrears, and declined to remit the matter for a fresh enquiry. The writ petition was allowed.

Issues considered

  • Whether the departmental enquiry conducted under the Bihar CCA Rules, 2005 complied with the principles of natural justice and the procedural requirements of Rule 17.
  • Whether the disciplinary authority can impose a penalty on the basis of no evidence, especially when the petitioner was acquitted in the criminal case.
  • Whether the petitioner was required to exhaust the alternative remedy of appeal before the Commissioner before approaching the High Court under Article 226.

Legislation cited

Subjects

  • departmental enquiry
  • natural justice
  • due process
  • service law
  • increment withholding
  • Article 226
  • Article 311
  • Rule 17 Bihar CCA Rules
  • evidence
  • punishment without evidence
  • retirement

Judgment

                      IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                               Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.18295 of 2018
                 ======================================================
                 Bishnudeo Prasad Singh Son of Sri Sita Ram Prasad Singh Resident of
                 Supasang, P.S. Wena, District- Nalanda.

                                                                            ... ... Petitioner/s
                                                    Versus
           1.    The State Of Bihar
           2.    The District Magistrate Saran at Chapra.
           3.    The Deputy Collector, Establishment, Saran at Chapra.

                                                           ... ... Respondent/s
                 ======================================================
                 Appearance :
                 For the Petitioner/s   :       Mr. Majid Mahboob Khan, Advocate
                                                Mr. Arun Kumar Bhagat, Advocate
                 For the Respondent/s   :       Md. Nadeem Seraj- GP-5
                 ======================================================
                 CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RITESH KUMAR
                                       ORAL ORDER

2   22-06-2026                    Heard the learned counsel for the parties.

                                 2. The present writ petition has been filed for the

                   following relief(s):-

                                            “1. That petitioner seeks indulgence of this
                                            Hon'ble court for quashing the office order
                                            no. 34/2018 contained in memo no. 125
                                            dated 29.1.2018 issued under the signature
                                            of District Magistrate Chapra by which
                                            punishment of withholding of increment
                                            with non cumulative effect has been passed
                                            just two days before superannuation and
                                            after eleven years of submission of enquiry
                                            report and after about five months from
                                            acquittal in criminal case And further for
                                            issuance of a writ in the nature of
                                            mandamus commanding the respondent to
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                                    pay and provide all the consequential
                                    benefits and further for issuance of a
                                    writ/writs command/ commands , directions
                                    /directions, order / orders as your lordship
                                    may deem fit and proper in the facts and
                                    circumstances of the case.”
                                    Brief Facts of the Case
                      3. The brief fact which are necessary for adjudication

          of the present case are that while the petitioner was posted as

          Account-cum-in-charge clerk in Revil Ganj Block office in the

          Distrct of Saran at Chapra, a complaint case bearing Complaint

          Case No. 31 of 2001 was filed before the Special Court

          (Vigilance) North Bihar, Muzaffarpur, with an allegation that the

          then Block Development Officer, in collusion with other

          employees of the block, committed illegality in allotment of

          Indra Awas Yojana and embezzled government fund. After

          preliminary enquiry, vigilance case bearing Vigilance P.S. Case

          No.01 of 2002 was instituted against the petitioner and others,

          wherein charge-sheet was submitted vide charge-sheet no. 247

          of 2007 and thereafter cognizance was taken on 14.07.2010 for

          the same set of charges. A departmental proceeding was also

          initiated against the petitioner and memo of charge was issued to

          him, vide Memo No. 256 dated 10.02.2006. Certain charges

          were leveled against the petitioner. Prior to that vide memo no.
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          563 dated 28.05.2001, issued under the signature of the District

          Magistrate, Saran at Chapra, the petitioner and two other

          persons were put under suspension in view of lodging of

          Vigilance P.S. Case No. 01 of 2001. Subsequently, vide memo

          no. 213 dated 9.2.2002, issued under the signature of the District

          Collector Establishment, Saran at Chapra, the suspension of the

          petitioner was revoked and it was further directed that the

          departmental proceeding against the petitioner will continue and

          the decision on payment of salary for the period under

          suspension, will be taken after finalization of the criminal case

          lodged against him. A show cause notice was issued to the

          petitioner and the petitioner in compliance thereof, submitted his

          reply to the show-cause notice on 22.05.2006, wherein he

          specifically denied all the charges leveled against him and

          requested for exonerating him from the charges. The Enquiry

          Officer and the Presiding Officer were appointed and the

          proceeding against the petitioner was started on 9.5.2006. In the

          departmental proceeding, the Presenting Officer presented the

          case of the department, while the petitioner appeared and

          pleaded his innocence before the Enquiry Officer. The Enquiry

          Officer after conducting enquiry submitted his report before the

          disciplinary authority on 18.10.2006, wherein he found the
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          charges leveled against the petitioner, to be proved. Second

          show cause notice was issued to the petitioner by the

          disciplinary authority vide memo no.139 dated 18.01.2007. The

          petitioner immediately thereafter submitted his reply before the

          disciplinary authority on 9.2.2007, wherein he denied all the

          charges, which were leveled against him and requested the

          disciplinary authority to exonerate him from all the charges,

          which were leveled against him. Subsequently, the petitioner

          surrendered before the competent court on 8.5.2013 and was

          subsequently released on bail on 3.7.2013. After his release from

          jail, the petitioner gave his joining on 5.7.2013. The petitioner

          was again put under suspension vide office order no. 230 of

          2013     contained       in   memo       no.    910,   dated   15.7.2013,

          retrospectively w.e.f. 8.5.2013 i.e. the date on which the

          petitioner surrendered before the competent court. Vide memo

          no. 1565 dated 22.11.2013 issued under the signature of the

          District Magistrate, Saran at Chhapra, while taking note of the

          earlier suspension order dated 15.7.2013, whereby the petitioner

          was retrospectively put under suspension w.e.f. 8.5.2013 and the

          fact that the petitioner, after his release from jail gave his joining

          on 5.7.2013, was again put under suspension with immediate

          effect and it was directed that during period of suspension, he
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          will be given subsistence allowance and his headquarter, during

          period of suspension was fixed at Mashrakh Block. It was

          further recorded that the departmental proceeding against the

          petitioner be concluded at the earliest. No action was taken by

          the disciplinary authority on the Enquiry Report submitted by

          the Enquiry Officer on 18.10.2006 for almost 11 years and all of

          a sudden by the impugned order contained in memo no.125

          dated 29.1.2018 i.e. after almost 11 years of the submission of

          the Enquiry Report, the disciplinary authority, only two days

          prior to the retirement of the petitioner, proceeded to pass the

          order of punishment, whereby minor punishment of withholding

          of one increment with non-cumulative effect was passed against

          the petitioner. Simultaneously, the order of suspension of the

          petitioner was also revoked by the said impugned order dated

          29.1.2018 and he was posted at Sadar Sub-division, Chapra and

          was directed to give his joining at the earliest.

                            Submission on Behalf of the Petitioner

                      4. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that

          on the basis of the allegations leveled and the petitioner and

          some others, a departmental proceeding was initiated by

          issuance of memo of charge on 10.02.2006, however alongwith

          the memo of charge, no list of witnesses or imputations were
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          given to the petitioner, which is in complete violation of the

          provisions contained in Rule 17(3) & (4) of the Bihar CCA

          Rules, 2005.

                      5. He further submits that even the Enquiry Officer

          during course of enquiry, without following the due process of

          law, found the charges leveled against the petitioner to be

          proved, only on the basis of the submission of the Presenting

          Officer and on the basis of the accusations made against the

          petitioner in the Criminal Case bearing Vigilance P.S. Case No.

          01 of 2001. He submits that no witnesses were adduced on

          behalf of the Presenting Officer and the documents, which have

          been mentioned in the Enquiry Report, were never proved by

          their respective authors and even the petitioner was not given

          any opportunity to adduce any evidence/witness in his behalf.

          He submits that the entire departmental proceeding proceeded

          without following the due process of law and the present case is

          a case of no evidence.

                      6. The learned counsel for the petitioner further

          submits that the entire departmental proceeding vitiated on the

          ground that the provisions contained under Rule 17 of the Bihar

          CCA Rules, were never followed. He further submits that

          although, the First Information Report was lodged against the
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          petitioner in 2001, and charge sheet was submitted in 2007,

          however, the departmental proceedings was initiated against the

          petitioner on the same allegation, on which the criminal case

          was lodged. He submits that the petitioner was acquitted in the

          criminal case, which was lodged against him bearing Vigilance

          P.S. Case No. 01 of 2001 which gave rise to Special Case No. 55

          of 2002. The learned Trial Court i.e. the Special Judge

          (Vigilance), North Bihar, Muzaffarpur by a detailed judgment

          dated 25.8.2017 passed in Special Case No. 55 of 2002 proceed

          to record that the accused persons are held not to be guilty for

          commission of offence under Sections 409, 420, 467, 471, 477

          (A) and 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 13(1) (d)

          read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, due

          to lack of evidence.

                      7. The Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that

          the basis of initiation of departmental proceeding was the

          lodging of the criminal case, in which the petitioner has been

          acquitted on 25.8.2017 and the entire departmental proceeding

          was conducted on the basis of the said complaint, which was

          lodged by complainant which gave rise to Vigilance P.S. Case

          No.01 of 2001. He submits that the even during course of

          departmental enquiry, the Enquiry Officer relied upon the
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          charges which were leveled against the petitioner in Vigilance

          Case and relied upon the first information report of the said

          Vigilance Case.

                      8. The learned Counsel for the petitioner in support of

          his contention refers to and relies upon a judgment of the

          Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the case of (Punjab

          National Bank and Others Vs Roop Singh Negi & Ors.)

          reported in 2009 (2) SCC 570, wherein in paragraph nos. 14 &

          23, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has held as follows:-

                                   “14.       Indisputably,   a   departmental
                                   proceeding is a quasi-judicial proceeding.
                                   The enquiry officer performs a quasi-
                                   judicial function. The charges levelled
                                   against the delinquent officer must be found
                                   to have been proved. The enquiry officer
                                   has a duty to arrive at a finding upon taking
                                   into consideration the materials brought on
                                   record by the parties. The purported
                                   evidence collected during investigation by
                                   the investigating officer against all the
                                   accused by itself could not be treated to be
                                   evidence in the disciplinary proceeding. No
                                   witness was examined to prove the said
                                   documents. The management witnesses
                                   merely tendered the documents and did not
                                   prove the contents thereof. Reliance, inter
                                   alia, was placed by the enquiry officer on
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                                   the FIR which could not have been treated
                                   as evidence.”
                                   23.    Furthermore,        the   order   of   the
                                   disciplinary authority as also the appellate
                                   authority are not supported by any reason.
                                   As the orders passed by them have severe
                                   civil consequences, appropriate reasons
                                   should have been assigned. If the enquiry
                                   officer had relied upon the confession made
                                   by the appellant, there was no reason as to
                                   why the order of discharge passed by the
                                   criminal court on the basis of selfsame
                                   evidence should not have been taken into
                                   consideration. The materials brought on
                                   record pointing out the guilt are required to
                                   be proved. A decision must be arrived at on
                                   some evidence, which is legally admissible.
                                   The provisions of the Evidence Act may not
                                   be applicable in a departmental proceeding
                                   but the principles of natural justice are. As
                                   the report of the enquiry officer was based
                                   on merely ipse dixit as also surmises and
                                   conjectures, the same could not have been
                                   sustained. The inferences drawn by the
                                   enquiry        officer   apparently   were    not
                                   supported by any evidence. Suspicion, as is
                                   well known, however high may be, can
                                   under no circumstances be held to be a
                                   substitute for legal proof.”
                      9. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
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          petitioner further refers to and relies upon a judgment of the

          Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the case of (State of Uttar

          Pradesh Vs Saroj Kumar Sinha), reported in 2010 (2) SCC

          772 wherein in paragraph nos. 27, 28 and 30, it has been held as

          follows:-

                                  “27. A bare perusal of the aforesaid sub-
                                  rule shows that when the respondent had
                                  failed to submit the explanation to the
                                  charge-sheet it was incumbent upon the
                                  inquiry officer to fix a date for his
                                  appearance in the inquiry. It is only in a
                                  case when the government servant despite
                                  notice of the date fixed failed to appear that
                                  the inquiry officer can proceed with the
                                  inquiry ex parte. Even in such circumstances
                                  it is incumbent on the inquiry officer to
                                  record the statement of witnesses mentioned
                                  in the charge-sheet. Since the government
                                  servant is absent, he would clearly lose the
                                  benefit      of    cross-examination   of   the
                                  witnesses. But nonetheless in order to
                                  establish the charges the Department is
                                  required to produce the necessary evidence
                                  before the inquiry officer. This is so as to
                                  avoid the charge that the inquiry officer has
                                  acted as a prosecutor as well as a judge.”
                                  “28. An inquiry officer acting in a
                                  quasijudicial authority is in the position of
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                                  an independent adjudicator. He is not
                                  supposed to be a representative of the
                                  department/disciplinary
                                  authority/Government. His function is to
                                  examine the evidence presented by the
                                  Department, even in the absence of the
                                  delinquent official to see as to whether the
                                  unrebutted evidence is sufficient to hold that
                                  the charges are proved. In the present case
                                  the aforesaid procedure has not been
                                  observed. Since no oral evidence has been
                                  examined the documents have not been
                                  proved, and could not have been taken into
                                  consideration to conclude that the charges
                                  have been proved against the respondents.”
                                  “30. When a departmental enquiry is
                                  conducted against the government servant it
                                  cannot be treated as a casual exercise. The
                                  enquiry       proceedings    also     cannot    be
                                  conducted with a closed mind. The inquiry
                                  officer has to be wholly unbiased. The rules
                                  of natural justice are required to be
                                  observed to ensure not only that justice is
                                  done but is manifestly seen to be done. The
                                  object of rules of natural justice is to ensure
                                  that a government servant is treated fairly in
                                  proceedings        which    may     culminate   in
                                  imposition        of    punishment      including
                                  dismissal/removal from service.”
                      10. The learned counsel for the petitioner further
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          refers to and relies upon a judgment dated 20.01.2025 passed by

          the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in Civil Appeal No.183 of

          2025, (Bhupinderpal Singh Gill Vs State of Punjab and

          Others) whereby in paragraph nos. 12 and 33, the Hon’ble

          Supreme Court of India has held as follows.

                                    “12. Mr. Patwalia also submitted that the
                                    appellant having been in public service in
                                    excess of three decades without blemish,
                                    the governmental action of initiating
                                    disciplinary proceedings a few days prior
                                    to his retirement and imposing on him the
                                    unwarranted penalty of ordering of a cut in
                                    pension, which is the source of his
                                    sustenance in the winter years of his life, is
                                    absolutely arbitrary apart from smacking
                                    of mala fide, which the High Court failed to
                                    take note of. He, thus, prayed that the
                                    orders of the Disciplinary Authority, the
                                    Single Judge and the Division Bench be set
                                    aside and all benefits be restored in favour
                                    of   the    appellant     to   which   he   was
                                    legitimately entitled.”
                                    33. Certain generic principles governing
                                    interference with orders of punishment that
                                    are passed following inquiry proceedings
                                    have evolved over a period of time. Law is
                                    well settled that an administrative order
                                    punishing a delinquent employee is not
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                                    ordinarily subject to correction in judicial
                                    review because the disciplinary authority is
                                    the sole judge of facts. If there is some
                                    legal evidence on which the findings can be
                                    based, then adequacy or even reliability of
                                    that evidence is not a matter for canvassing
                                    before the high court in a writ petition filed
                                    under Article 226 of the Constitution.
                                    However, should on consideration of the
                                    materials on record, the court be satisfied
                                    that there has been a violation of the
                                    principles of natural justice, or that the
                                    inquiry proceedings have been conducted
                                    contrary        to    statutory       regulations
                                    prescribing the mode of such inquiry, or
                                    that    the     ultimate      decision   of     the
                                    disciplinary      authority     is   vitiated   by
                                    considerations extraneous to the evidence
                                    and merits of the case, or that the
                                    conclusion of the disciplinary authority is
                                    ex facie arbitrary or capricious, so much so
                                    that no reasonable person could have
                                    arrived at such conclusion, or there is any
                                    other ground very similar to the above, the
                                    high court may in the exercise of its
                                    discretion interfere to set things right. After
                                    all, public servants to whom Article 311 of
                                    the Constitution apply do enjoy certain
                                    procedural safeguards, enforcement of
                                    which by the high court can legitimately be
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                                    urged by such servants depending upon the
                                    extent    of    breach   that   is   manifestly
                                    demonstrated.”
                         Submission on Behalf of the Respondent-State
                 11. Per Contra, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of

          the respondents-State submits that the petitioner, along with two

          others was made an accused in Vigilance P.S. Case No. 01 of

          2001, which gave rise to Special Case No.55 of 2002. Based on

          the said accusation of the petitioner in the criminal case, a

          decision was taken to initiate departmental proceedings against

          him by the department and accordingly memo of charge was

          issued to him on 10.02.2006. The Enquiry Officer and the

          Presenting Officer were appointed. The petitioner was given due

          opportunity to participate in the departmental proceeding and

          after a detailed enquiry, the Enquiry Officer proceeded to submit

          his report before the disciplinary authority on 18.10.2006. The

          petitioner was put under suspension twice on account of lodging

          of criminal case against him and on account of him being put

          behind bars. Finally, the impugned order of punishment was

          passed against him by the disciplinary authority on 29.01.2018,

          whereby the disciplinary authority proceeded to award

          punishment of withholding of one increment with non-

          cumulative effect against the petitioner. He submits that against
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          the order dated 29.1.2018, the petitioner has got an alternative

          remedy of filling an appeal before the Commissioner, Saran

          Division, however, the petitioner without availing the said

          alternative remedy, approached this Hon’ble Court by filling the

          present writ petition. He finally submits that the order passed by

          the disciplinary authority does not requires any interference by

          this Hon’ble Court, since the order passed by the disciplinary

          authority is in terms of the provisions contained in the Bihar

          CCA Rules, 2005.

                                      CONSIDERATION

                         12. Having considered the rival submissions and

          after going through the records, it appears that a complaint was

          filed against the petitioner, which gave rise to Vigilance P.S.

          Case No. 01 of 2001. After enquiry, charge sheet was submitted

          against the petitioner vide charge sheet no. 247 of 2007 and

          thereafter cognizance was taken against him on 14.07.2010. A

          decision was taken at the level of department for initiation of

          departmental proceeding against the petitioner and subsequent

          thereto memo of charge was served upon the petitioner on

          10.02.2006, for the charges mentioned therein, however, the

          memo of charge does not contain the list of witness or the

          imputation of charge, in terms of provisions contained in Rules
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          17 (3) and (4) of the Bihar CCA Rules, 2005. Further, during

          course of enquiry, the Enquiry Officer only on the basis of the

          submissions and by relying upon the accusation made against

          the petitioner in the vigilance case and certain documents, which

          were provided/presented by the Presenting Officer, found the

          petitioner to be guilty of the charges leveled against him and he

          found the charge against the petitioner to be proved. In the entire

          departmental proceeding, no witnesses were examined on behalf

          of the Presenting Officer/the Department and since no witness

          was examined, there is no question of the documents being

          proved by their respective authors. Further, the petitioner was

          not given any opportunity in terms of Rule 17(14) of the Bihar

          CCA Rules, 2005 to cross-examination or to adduce the witness

          on his behalf and the entire departmental proceeding was

          conducted against the petitioner in complete violation of the

          provision contained in Rule 17(3), (4) and (14) of the Bihar

          CCA Rules, 2005. Further, the Enquiry Officer on the basis of

          allegation leveled against the petitioner in the vigilance case,

          proceeded to hold him guilty of the charges leveled against him.

          The entire departmental proceeding is of no evidence. The law

          in this regard is very much settled that this court under Article

          226 can interfere in cases, even if alternative remedy are
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          available and when the entire departmental proceeding was

          conducted in complete violation of the provisions contained

          under law and the case is of no evidence. The present case is a

          glaring example of the said provision, since in the entire

          departmental proceeding, no witnesses were adduced and the

          Enquiry Officer only on the basis of the allegations against the

          petitioner in the vigilance case proceeded to found the charges

          to be proved against the petitioner. This Court is conscious of

          the fact that the petitioner has not availed the alternative remedy.

                          13. In a recent judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme

          Court of India in the case of (Jai Prakash Saini Vs. Managing

          Director U.P. Cooperative Federation Ltd. And Ors.)

          reported in 2026 (3) PLJR 125 SC, wherein in paragraph nos.

          17 and 18, it has been held as follows:-

                                  “17. From the decisions of this Court in Sur
                                  Enamel (supra): (AIR 1963 SC 1914) and
                                  Kharak Singh (supra): (2008 AIR SCW
                                  7507),      followed    in   Chamoli   District
                                  Cooperative (supra): (AIR 2016 SC 2510),
                                  which deals with similar service rules as are
                                  applicable here, it is now settled that unless
                                  the charged employee accepts his guilt in
                                  clear terms, an enquiry on the charges
                                  drawn against him would have to be held. In
                                  the enquiry, the employer/department would
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                                  have to take steps first to lead evidence
                                  against the workmen/delinquent charged
                                  and give an opportunity to him to cross
                                  examine those witnesses. Only thereafter, the
                                  workmen /delinquent shall be asked whether
                                  he wants to lead any evidence and/or submit
                                  an explanation about the evidence led
                                  against him. Even in a case based solely on
                                  documentary evidence, unless the relied
                                  upon documents are admitted by the
                                  charged employee, a witness would have to
                                  be examined to prove those documents and
                                  when so examined, the witness would have
                                  to be tendered for cross-examination.”
                                  “18. In the instant case, we find that the
                                  department had not produced any witness in
                                  the enquiry even though the charges levelled
                                  upon the appellant were denied by him.
                                  Therefore, in our view, the enquiry stood
                                  vitiated. Once the enquiry stood vitiated, the
                                  consequential order of punishment/recovery
                                  cannot be sustained. We therefore allow this
                                  appeal. The impugned judgment and order
                                  of the High Court is set aside. The writ
                                  petition of the appellant stands allowed to
                                  the extent indicated below. The order of
                                  dismissal and consequential recovery is set
                                  aside. The Federation is, however, at liberty
                                  to hold a de novo enquiry, if it so desires,
                                  within a period of six months from the date
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                                  of this order. If the Federation does not hold
                                  de novo enquiry as permitted above, the
                                  appellant shall be entitled to reinstatement
                                  with     benefit        of   continuity   in   service
                                  including arrears of salary after adjusting
                                  suspension allowance, if any, paid already.
                                  In case the Federation chooses to hold an
                                  enquiry, it shall reinstate the appellant and
                                  place him under suspension till completion
                                  of the enquiry and during this period pay
                                  suspension allowance as may be payable in
                                  accordance with law. In case de novo
                                  enquiry is held, other service benefits
                                  including arrears of salary as well as
                                  benefits of continuity in service shall depend
                                  on the outcome of the enquiry.”
                      14. From the above decision of the Hon’ble Supreme

          Court, it transpires that even if the charges are leveled against

          delinquent and he did not participate in the proceeding and the

          proceeding had conducted ex-parte, even then the documents

          which are relied upon by the department, needs to be proved at

          the level of the department and in absence thereof the charges

          cannot be said to be proved. In the present case, since none of

          the witnesses have been examined and the Enquiry Officer, only

          on the basis of the document adduced on behalf of the

          department and the accusations leveled in the Vigilance case has
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          proceeded to prove the charges against petitioner, therefore, it

          cannot be said that the departmental proceedings was conducted

          in accordance with law.

                      15. Considering the above mentioned facts, this Court

          is of considered opinion that the entire departmental enquiry

          conducted against the petitioner is farce and is of no evidence.

          Accordingly, the impugned order of punishment contained in

          memo no.125 dated 29.01.2018, issued under the signature of

          the District Magistrate, Saran at Chhapra is set aside. Since the

          petitioner has retired on 31.01.2018 and the punishment order

          was passed on 29.01.2018, this Court is not remitting the matter

          back to the respondent authorities for proceeding afresh. This

          Court is conscious of the fact that the departmental proceeding

          against the petitioner was initiated in 2006, based on the

          complaint filed by the complainant in 2001 and now after 20

          years, there is no justification in remitting the matter back to the

          respondent authorities for proceeding afresh in accordance with

          law.

                      16. The High Court under Article 226/227 is entitled

          to interfere when the finding of fact is based on no evidence and

          if in every case where no valid evidence is laid at the enquiry

          proceeding, there is a remand made, it would be offering a
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          premium to of the the negligence management/disciplinary

          authority and condoning the levity with which the departmental

          enquiry was conducted. It is the disciplinary authority, who

          appoints the Enquiry Officer and the Presenting Officer and it is

          expected that the Presenting Officer would be well versed in the

          procedures and also be informed in the manner in which

          evidence has to be laid before the Enquiry Officer, to prove the

          misconduct, alleged against a delinquent employee. In a

          disciplinary enquiry proceeding, it is also the trite principle that

          the standard of proof is preponderance of probability as

          distinguished from proof beyond reasonable doubt, as would be

          required in a criminal prosecution. However, if there is no

          evidence laid at the enquiry, there is no question of any

          preponderance of probability being drawn to find the allegations

          proved nor can the delinquent be penalised on the basis of

          peremptory finding without any valid evidence. The disciplinary

          authority had an opportunity in a properly constituted enquiry

          proceeding and if in such a proceeding no evidence was laid, the

          punishment of dismissal has to be found to be imposed on no

          valid evidence.

                      17. The petitioner is held entitled for grant of all the

          increments, for which he was entitled, prior to passing of the
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          impugned order of punishment dated 29.01.2018. Respondent

          authorities are directed to re-work the entitlement of the

          petitioner, for which he was entitled, prior to passing of the

          impugned order dated 29.01.2018, within a period of three

          months from the date of receipt/production of a copy of the

          order. The consequential benefits arising out of the same must

          be paid to the petitioner within a further period of one month,

          thereafter. It has been informed by the learned counsel for the

          petitioner that till date, the petitioner is receiving 90 % of the

          pension, therefore the respondent authorities are further directed

          to restore the pension of the petitioner to his full entitlement of

          100% and to make payment of the arrears thereupon within the

          above mentioned period of three months. The respondent

          authorities are further directed to take decision with regard to

          payment of salary to the petitioner for the period during which

          he remained under suspension, after deducting the subsistence

          allowance, if any, paid to the petitioner during the period of

          suspension within the aforementioned period of three months,

          since no decision has been taken on the said aspect in the

          impugned order dated 29.01.2018.

                      18. With the aforementioned directions, writ petition

          is allowed.
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                                     19. Pending application(s), if any, shall also stands

                         disposed of.



                                                    (Ritesh Kumar, J)
shital/-

U          T


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