Patna High Court
Veena KumariversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- ALLOWED
- Bench
- SANDEEP KUMAR
Holding
The impugned orders are set aside as they violate natural justice; the matter is remanded for a fresh show‑cause notice and proper hearing.
Summary
Veena Kumari, a Programme Officer under MGNREGA, was served with show‑cause notices alleging irregularities in plantation schemes and subsequently had her contract cancelled, a recovery order of Rs 3,92,800 imposed and an FIR ordered. She challenged the District Magistrate’s orders (01‑12‑2022) and the State’s order (25‑04‑2023) by filing a writ petition, contending that the punishment was based on grounds not mentioned in the notice, that she was denied a proper hearing and that the burden of proof was wrongly placed on her. The High Court examined the joint inspection report, the show‑cause notice, and the procedural history, finding that the authorities had introduced new points, failed to consider her detailed reply, and inverted the evidential burden, thereby violating the principles of natural justice. Relying on Supreme Court precedents, the Court held that disciplinary orders must be based on the material raised in the notice and that the department must prove misconduct on a pre‑ponderance of probability. Consequently, the Court set aside the impugned orders and remanded the matter to the District Magistrate to issue a fresh, reasoned show‑cause notice and pass any punishment after a proper hearing.
Issues considered
- The order cancelling the petitioner’s contract and directing recovery/FIR violates the principles of natural justice.
- The punishment order was based on grounds not raised in the original show‑cause notice.
- The burden of proof for alleged misconduct lies with the department, not the employee.
- The impugned order is non‑speaking and fails to comply with procedural guidelines.
Legislation cited
Subjects
- natural justice
- audi alteram partem
- MGNREGA
- contract cancellation
- show‑cause notice
- burden of proof
- administrative law
- writ petition
- FIR
- disciplinary action
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.8927 of 2023
======================================================
Veena Kumari, wife of Indubhushan Sharma, Resident of Mohalla- Kasim
Bazar, P.S.- Kasim Bazar, District- Munger.
... ... Petitioner
Versus
1. The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Rural Development
Department, Govt. of Bihar, Patna.
2. The District Magistrate, Patna.
3. The Deputy Development Commissioner, Patna.
4. The District Programme Officer, MGNREGA, Patna.
5. The Executive Engineer, MGNREGA, DRDA, Patna.
... ... Respondents
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Rakesh Kumar Sharma, Advocate
Mr. Alok Anand, Advocate
Mr. Piyush Kumar Pandey, Advocate
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Vikash Kumar, S.C.-11
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SANDEEP KUMAR
C.A.V. JUDGMENT
Date : 09-01-2026
By way of this writ petition, the petitioner has
prayed for the following reliefs:-
“i. For issuance of writ in the nature of Certiorari
for quashing the order dated 25.04.2023 passed
by the Respondent No.1 and communicated to
the petitioner vide Gyapank No.1728131 dated
27.04.2023 whereby and where-under appeal
has been dismissed as well as the order dated
01.12.2022 passed by the District Magistrate,
Patna (Respondent No.2) and communicated to
the petitioner vide Gyapank No.2080 dated
01.12.2022 whereby and whereunder the
contract of the petitioner on the post of
Programme Officer, MGNREGA has been
Patna High Court CWJC No.8927 of 2023 dt.09-01-2026
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cancelled and direction has been given for
lodging of FIR.
ii. For issuance of writ in the nature of Mandamus
for a direction to the respondent authorities to
reinstate the petitioner on the post of
Programme Officer, MGNREGA with all
consequential benefits as the order passed by
the respondent authorities is based on biasness
and prejudice mind.”
2. In the year 2007, the petitioner was
appointed as the Programme Officer under the Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 and
subsequently after working in various districts of Bihar, she was
transferred and posted at Danapur Block, Patna vide order dated
18.12.2020, where she joined on 19.12.2020.
3. It is the case of the petitioner that while
working at Danapur, the petitioner found that the Panchyat
Rojgar Sevak, Ganghara, Danapur is not working properly and
therefore the predecessor of the petitioner as well as the
petitioner had sent several letters, bringing this to the notice of
the respondent authorities. Certain Van Poshaks had also sent a
letter to the respondent no.3 regarding the non-payment of their
remuneration by the Panchyat Rojgar Sevak, Ganghara,
Danapur. In this backdrop, a show cause notice was issued by
the respondent no.3 on 02.09.2021 to the petitioner and others
Patna High Court CWJC No.8927 of 2023 dt.09-01-2026
3/17
seeking an explanation regarding the non-payment of the
remuneration to the Van Poshaks. In response thereto, the
petitioner submitted her response on 24.09.2021, stating
categorically, that all the schemes were initiated in the month of
July, 2020, that is, before the joining of the present petitioner,
and therefore the then Programme Officer and the Panchyat
Rojgar Sevak, Ganghara were responsible for the non-payment.
Further, upon learning of these facts, the petitioner has directed
the Panchyat Rojgar Sevak, to make physical inspection of the
schemes and submit a report to initiate the payments to the Van
Poshaks. Subsequently, the payments were made, and the Van
Poshaks as a consequence had sent an application dated
22.10.2021 regarding withdrawal of their earlier complaint.
4. It is the further case of the petitioner that
suddenly a show cause notice dated 02.02.2022 was served
upon the petitioner and others regarding the irregularities found
in 17 plantation schemes during the inspection. In connection to
the aforesaid show cause notice, the Panchyat Rojgar Sevak-
Arun Kumar sent a letter dated 14.03.2022 to the petitioner,
stating therein that there were certain defects in the records
relating to the 17 plantation schemes which were removed and
further that due to floods and ensuing water logging, some
Patna High Court CWJC No.8927 of 2023 dt.09-01-2026
4/17
plants were destroyed, but were again planted and thereafter the
remuneration would also be paid to the Van Poshaks. The
petitioner sent her reply to the show-cause notice dated
02.02.2022 on 21.03.2022. Thereafter the respondent no.2,
District Magistrate, Patna passed the order dated 01.07.2022,
whereby, the contract of the petitioner to the post of Programme
Officer, MGNREGA was cancelled and further an order of
recovery of Rs.3,92,800/- from the petitioner was also passed.
Aggrieved by the aforesaid order dated 01.07.2022, the
petitioner preferred an appeal, raising the ground that the
aforesaid order dated 01.07.2022 was passed without affording
proper opportunity of hearing to the petitioner and further that
the show cause notice did not contemplate the facts which were
later on included in the order dated 01.07.2022. The appellate
authority vide order dated 21.10.2022, remanded the matter
back for a fresh consideration. Thereafter, the matter again came
before the District Magistrate, Patna for re-consideration, and
after affording an opportunity of personal hearing, the District
Magistrate, Patna passed the impugned order dated 01.12.2022.
Since the aforesaid impugned order brings out the background
of the present case at hand, it may be apposite to quote the entire
impugned order dated 01.12.2022, which reads as under:-
“Jherh oh.kk dqekjh vuqca/k jí dk;ZØe inkf/kdkjh]
Patna High Court CWJC No.8927 of 2023 dt.09-01-2026
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ç[k.M&nkukiqj ftyk&iVuk ds eujsxk ;kstuk fØ;kUo;u esa
vfu;ferrk ds vk/kkj ij vuqca/k jí fd;s tkus rFkk jkf'k olwyh ls
lacaf/kr ekeys dh iqulZeh{kk lquokbZ ds nkSjku dh xbZA ¼lk{; Lo:i
lquokbZ ds nkSjku fy;s x;s QksVksxzkQ ,oa mifLFkfr dh Nk;kçfr
layXu½
fofnr gS fd xzkeh.k fodkl foHkkx] fogkj iVuk ds i=kad
11593 fnukad 08-10-2021 ls çkIr funs'k ds vkyksd esa fnukad
01-12-2021 dks ftyk Lrjh; Vhe ¼ftyk dk;ZØe inkf/kdkjh] eujsxk
,oa dk;Zikyd vfHk;ark] eujsxk½ ds }kjk nkukiqj ç[k.M ds xzke
iapk;r xaxgkjk esa eujsxk vUrxZr o`{kkjksi.k ls lacaf/kr 17 ;kstukvksa
dh tk¡p dh xbZA tkap ds nkSjku fuEukafdr eq[; vfu;ferrk,¡ ikbZ
xbZ] ftl vk/kkj ij dkjZokbZ dh xbZ&
vkjksi&
1- o`{kkjksi.k ls lacaf/kr 17 ;kstukvksa ¼dqy O;; dh xbZ jkf'k
16]64750.00 #å½ fcuk iw.kZ vfHkys[k ,oa ikS/kk yxkus gsrq EMR ds
cxsj lkexzh dk Hkqxrku fd;k x;kA
a- vfHkys[k esa ;kstuk dk mYys[k vkns'k Qyd esa ugha gS]
ftlls ;g r; dj ikuk eqf'dy gS fd ;kstuk okf"kZd dk;Z
;kstuk esa yh xbZ ugha\ blls lacaf/kr dkxtkr vfHkys[k esa
layXu ugha gSA
b- ykHkkFkhZ dk Hkwfe ftl ij ikS/kkjksi.k fd;k x;k gS ls
lacaf/kr dkxtkr ,oa lgefr i= vfHkys[k esa layXu ugha gSA
c- vfHkys[k us iapk;r jkstxkj lsod ds LFkku ij iapk;r
rduhdh lgk;d dk vfHkdrkZ ds :i esa fcuk frfFk dk
gLrk{kj ik;k x;kA
d- ikS/ks yxkus gsrq ekLVj j‚y fuxZr ugha fd;k x;k gSA
mijksä ewy dkxtkr vfHkys[k esa ugh gksus ds i'pkr
Hkh dk;ZØe inkf/kdkjh }kjk Hkqxrku dh çfØ;k dks vafre :i
fn;k x;kA
2- dk;ZLFky ij fujh{k.k ds le; 17 ;kstukvksa esa ls 16 ;kstukvksa esa
lwpukiê ugh ik;k x;k ,oa vfHkys[k esa QksVksxzkQ Hkh ugha ek;k
x;kA LFky tk¡p ds mijkUr Li"Vhdj.k i`PNk esa çkIr mÙkj esa
lwpukiê ds LFkku ij Vhu IysV dk lwpukiê dk QksVksxzkQ tek
fd;k x;k tks eujsxk vf/kfu;e ds çfrdwy gS D;ksafd foHkkxh;
i=kad 346703 fnukad 05-01-2018 ds vuqlkj Vhu] yksgk ,oa ¶ySDl
dk lwpukiê cukuk oftZr gSA
mYys[kuh; gS fd futh Hkwfe ij o`{kkjksi.k ;kstukvksa esa
lwpukiê ds fy, fu/kkZfjr jkf'k 2900@&#å gS ftlds LFkku ij
4500@&#å dk vfHkJo layXu dj Hkqxrku fd;k x;k gS tks
fd ,d xaHkhj forh; vfu;ferrka gSA dk;ZØe inkf/kdkjh ,oa iapk;r
rduhdh lgk;d ds }kjk ;g Lohdkj Hkh fd;k x;k gSA
3- lHkh 17 ;kstukvksa esa ikS/kk yxkus gsrq ekLVj jksy fuZxr
ugh fd;k x;k gSA vfHkys[k esa layXu oStfyLV vo/kh 10-06-2020 ls
30-08-2022 dyq 82 fnu esa ek= ,d ekuo fnol dk Hkqxrku 194
fd;k x;k A
Patna High Court CWJC No.8927 of 2023 dt.09-01-2026
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eLVj j‚y ij iapk;r jkstxkj lsod ds LFkku ij
iapk;r rdfudh lgk;d dk vfHkdrkZ ds :i esa fcuk frfFk
dk gLrk{kj ik;k x;kA
4- xSfo;u ¼QSfUlax½ ,oa isLVhlkbM dk dksbZ foLr`r fooj.k
ekih iqLr esa ntZ ugha gS fQj Hkh Amount dks lumpsum dj
jkf'k dh fudklh dh xbZA
a avfHkys[k esa layXu Bill Vouchers dk la/kkj.k =qfViw.kZ <ax ls
fd;k x;k gS rFkk vfHkJo fcuk ikfjr gq, gh Hkqxrku dh xbZA bl
vk/kkj ij fu;e laxr Hkqxrku dh çfØ;k ugh viuk;h xbZA
b. eujsxk fu;e vUrxZr cM+s ikS/ks dk ewY; 35& :å rFkk NksVs ikS/ks
dk ewY; 15&:å fu/kkZfjr gSA ysfdu vfHkys[k esa foi= çfr ikS/ks
25 :å dk layXu fd;k x;k gSA
5- fujh{k.k ds le; ;kstukvksa esa ek= 01 ls ysdj vf/kdre 101
ikS/ks thfor ik;s x,A Øe laå 13 dh ;kstuk esa ek= 01] Øe laå
08 ,oa 12 dh ;kstuk esa ek= 02&02 Øe laå 06 dh ;kstuk esa ek=
03 ikS/ks thfor ik;s x,A
mä ds laca/k esa vfHkdj.k dk;kZy; ds i=kad 159 fnukad 02-02-
2022 ds }kjk fuEu fcUnqvksa ij Li"Vhdj.k dh i`PNk dh xbZ %&
1- ykHkkfFkZ;ksa dk Hkwfe ls lacaf/kr dkxtkr ,oa lgefr i= vfHkys[k
esa layXu ugha gSA
2- vfHkys[k ,oa çfrosnu esa rRdkyhu iaØksålaå Jh vf[kys'k dqekj
dk gLrk{kj ugha gSA vfHkys[k esa iåjkså lså ds gLrk{kj gsrq fu/kkZfjr
LFkku ls uhps ,oa çfrosnu esa iaåjhålså ds LFkku ij rRdkyhu
irålå Jh lathr dqekj dk gLrk{kj fpuk frfFk dk gSA
3- dk;Z LFky ij fujh{k.k ds le; 17 ;kstukvksa esa ls dqy 16
;kstukvksa esa lwpukiê ugha ik;k x;kA vfHkys[k esa lwpukiê dk
QksVksxzkQ Hkh layXr ugha gSA lwpukiê ds fy, çkDdyu esa foHkkx ls
fu/kkZfjr jkf'k ¼2900-åå:å½ ls vf/kd jkf'k dk vfHkJo layXu fd;k
x;k gSA
4- ;kstukvksa esa ikS/kk yxkus gsrq eLVj jksy fuxZÙk ugha fd;k x;k gSA
rRdkyhu iaårkålå }kjk ekih iqLr esa jkf'k ntZ dh xbZ gS tks
rRdkyhu duh; vfHk;ark Jh çnhi dqekj }kjk lR;kfir gSA ekih
iqLr ij% dk;kZof/k /eLVj j‚y ,oa ekih ysus dh frfFk Hkh vafdr ugha
gS- tks eujsxk vf/kfu;e ds çfrdwy gSA
5- xSfc;u ¼Qflax½ ,oa isLVhlkbM dks fcuk foLr`r fooj.k ds gh
iaålålå }kjk ekeh&iqLr ntZ fd;k x;k gS tks lgh ugha gSAA
6- dqy 12 ;kstukvksa esa 200 ikS/kksa ,oa ok;j dWlhax gsrq nks&nks
vfHkJ; esa jkf'k vafdr gSA
7- fujh{k.k ds le; ;kstukvksa esa ek= 1 ls ysdj vf/kdre 101 ikS/ks
thfor ik;s x,A Øe laå 13 dh ;kstuk esa ek= 01- Øe lå 08 ,oa
12 dh ;kstuk esa ek= 02&02 Øe laå 06 dh ;kstuk esa ek= 03 ikS/ks
thfor ik;s x,A
8- dk;Z LFky dk ,d Hkh QksVksxzkQ vfHkys[k esa layXu ugha gSA
9- mijksä lHkh ;kstukvksa esa vfHkdrkZ ipk;r jkstxkj lsod ds
LFkku ij fdlh vU; iapk;r jkstxkj lsod dks çHkkj u nsdj
vukf/k—r :i ls rRdkyhu iapk;r rduhdh lgk;d] Jh lathr
Patna High Court CWJC No.8927 of 2023 dt.09-01-2026
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dqekj jk; dks cuk;k x;k gSA bl laca/k esa vfHkys[k esa dk;ZØe
inkf/kdkjh ds Lrj ls dksbZ vkns'k fuxZr ugh gSA
10- mijksä lHkh ;kstukvksa esa lgk;d vfHk;ark dk;Zikyd vfHk;ark
ds lR;kiu ds fcuk jkf'k dk Hkqxrku fd;k x;k gSA
Jherh oh.kk dqekjh vuqcan jí dk;ZØe inkf/kdkjh ls çkIr
Li"Vhdj.k ds mijkUr foHkkxh; i=kd 196 fnukad 25%03-2022 esa
çkIr funs'k ds vkyksd esa rRdkyhu dk;ZØe inkf/kdkjh] nkukiqj dh
lquokbZ 28-05-2022 dks ftyk inkf/kdkjh egksn; ds le{k dh xbZA
lquokbZ ds nkSjku rRdkyhu dk;ZØe inkf/kdkjh ds i{k dks lquus ds
i'pkr naM ds lkFk vkns'k fuekZr fd;k x;k A fnukad 28-05-2022
dks laiUu lquokgh ds lk{; ds :i esa rRdkyhu dk;ZØe inkf/kdkjh
dh mifLFkfr ,oa muls çkIr fyf[kr çfrosnu lyXu gSA buds }kjk
foHkkxh; lquokbZ esa of.kZr fd;k x;k fd ^^ftyk inkf/kdkjh] iVuk
ds i=kad 878 fnukad 20-05-2022 }kjk lquokbZ gsrq fnukad
28-05-2022 dks vijkgu 04%00 cts mifLFkr gksus dk funs'k çkIr
fdarq fu/kkZfjr frfFk dks lquokbZ esa mifLFkr gksus ds ckotwn Hkh
lquokbZ ugh gqbZA^^ lquokbZ gksus ds ckn Hkh bl rjg dk >wBk vkjksi
yxkuk budh xyr ea'kk] feF;k vkjksi ,oa mnaMrk dks n'kkZrk gSA
dk;kZy; ds vkns'k Kkikad 1280 fnukad 01-07-2022 ds }kjk
rRdkyhu dk;ZØe inkf/kdkjh ds vuqca/k dks lekIr djrs gq, 3-928
yk[k olwyh djus dk funs'k ikfjr fd;k x;kA bl vkns'k Kkikad esa
fuEukafdr 06 foUnq mYysf[kr Fksa %&
1- lacaf/kr ;kstukvksa esa ikS/kk yxkus ds fy, e&MR fuxZr
ugh fd;k x;k] flQZ ,d fnu dk eLVj j‚y fuxZr dj
;kstukvksa dks Ongoing dj mifLFkr ntZ djrs gq, lkexzh
en esa dqy 16-37 yk[k :å dk Hkqxrku fd;k x;kA ;g
xaHkhj foÙkh; vfu;ferrk dk |ksrd gSA
2- dqy 17 ;kstukvksa esa 16 ;kstukvksa esa lwpukiê ugha ik;k
x;kA lkFk gh fu/kkZfjr jkf'k ¼2900/& :å½ ls vf/kd jkf'k
¼4500/& :å½ dk vfHkJo layXu dj jkf'k dh xyr
fudklh dh xbZ gSA
3- tk¡p çfrosnu ds vuqlkj ekihiqLr esa ekih dh frfFk
,o ;kstukvksa dh dk;kZof/k vafdr ugha ikbZ xbZ ,oa
ikS/kkjksi.k gsrq eLVj j‚y fuxZr ugha fd;k x;k gS]
ftlls ;g Li"V ugha gksrk fd fdrus ikS/ks yxs Fksa vFkok
ikS/ks yxk;s gh ugha x;s FksA tk¡p çfrosnu esa ;g lR;kfir
fd;k x;k gS fd lkexzh ds foi= esa fu/kkZfjr nj ls vf/kd
jkf'k vafdr dj jkf'k dh fudklh dh xbZ gSA ;Fkk NksVs ikS/ks
ds fy, 25/& :å dk foi= vfHkys[k esa layXu fd;k x;k
gS] tcfd foHkkx }kjk fu/kkZfjr nj 15/ :å gSA
4- t‚p çfrosnu esa Li"V fd;k x;k gS fd lacaf/kr lHkh
;kstukvksa esa ouiks"kdksa dh fu;qfä ugh dh xbZ Fkh vFkok
ouiks"kdks dk Hkqxrku ugh fd;k x;kA ftlls ;g çrhr
gksrk gS fd ;kstuk dk fØ;kUo;u fu;ekuqlkj ugh fd;k
x;k gSA LFky ij ikS/kksa dh mÙkjthfork U;wure ikbZ xbZA
Patna High Court CWJC No.8927 of 2023 dt.09-01-2026
8/17
5- rRdkyhu duh; vfHk;ark] eujsxk }kjk vius i= esa
mYys[k fd;k x;k gS fd lacaf/kr ;kstukvksa ds vfHkys[k esa
mudk gLrk{kj QthZ gSA
6- ;kstukvksa ds layXu ewy vfHkys[k esa lacaf/kr ykHkkfFkZ;ksa
dk vukifÙk çek.k i=/Hkwfe nLrkost ,oa dk;Z LFky dk
QksVksxzkQ tk¡p ds le; vfHkys[k esa ugha ik;k x;kA
mYys[kuh; gS fd mä vkns'k ds fo:) vuqca/k jí dk;ZØe
inkf/kdkjh ds }kjk foHkkxh; Lrj ij vihy dh xbZ] ftldh lquokbZ
fnukad 11-10-2022 dks foHkkx }kjk djrs gq, vius vkns'k Kkikad
1327721 fnukad 25-10-2022 ds vkyksd esa ftyk inkf/kdkjh] iVuk
ds }kjk iqu% lquokbZ djus dk funs'k fn;k x;k gSA bl vkns'k esa
foHkkx }kjk fuEukafdr fcUnq mYys[kuh; gS %&
^^vihykFkhZ dks fd;s x;s Li"Vhdj.k esa vafdr dkj.k i`PNk
ds 10 fcUnq esa ls ftyk inkf/kdkjh] iVuk ds vuqca/k jí
laca/kh vkns'k esa ftu 06 fcUnqvksa dks lanfHkZr fd;k x;k gS]
muesa ls dqN fcUnq dkj.k i`PNk ds fcUnq çrhr ugha gksrs gSa]
budh iquZleh{kk fd;k tkuk vko';d çrhr gksrk gSA^^
mä vkyksd esa fuEukafdr fcUnq mYys[kuh; gS %&
a. vuqca/k jí laca/kh vkns'k esa dqy 06 fcUnq gSA buesa dqy 04 fcUnq
Øekad 01] 02] 03 ,oa 06 vihykFkhZ ls dh xbZ Li"Vhdj.k esa
mYysf[kr gSA
b- vuqca/k jí laca/kh vkns'k ds Øekad 04 esa Ouiks"kdksa dh fu;qfä
ugha fd;s tkus lacaf/kr rF; Li"Vhdj.k esa Li"V mYysf[kr ugh gS]
ijarq Li"Vhdj.k esa fujh{k.k ds le; vfrU;wu la[;k esa ikS/kksa ds
thfor ik;s tkus dk mYys[k gS lkFk gh ;kstukvksa esa ikS/kk yxk;s
tkus gsrq eLVj j‚y fuxZr ugh fd;s tkus dk mYys[k fd;k x;k gS]
ftlls Li"V gS fd ouiks"kdksa dh fu;qfä ,oa Hkqxrku dh çfØ;k ugh
dh xbZ Fkh] tks o`{kkjksi.k ;kstuk esa f'kfFkyrk ,oa vfu;ferk dks
n'kkZrk gSA
c- vuqca/k jí laca/kh vkns'k ds Øekad 05 esa rRdkyhu duh;
vfHk;ark] eujsxk }kjk lacaf/kr ;kstukvksa ds vfHkys[k esa muds
gLrk{kj QthZ gksus ls lacaf/kr fcUnq Li"Vhdj.k i`PNk esa 'kkfey ugha
gS] D;ksafd Li"Vhdj.k i`PNk ds mijkUr duh; vfHk;ark] eujsxk }kjk
;g rF; çfrosfnr fd;k x;k FkkA
iqulqZuokbZ ds nkSjku vihykFkhZ }kjk fdlh çdkj dk lqlaxr
lk{; çLrqr ugh fd;k x;k] ftlds vk/kkj ij ;g ekuk tk; fd
ljdkjh jkf'k ds xcu esa dk;ZØe inkf/kdkjh ds :i esa mudh
lafyIrrk ugh gSA lkFk gh foHkkx esa buds }kjk dh xbZ vihy esa
fnukad 28-05-2022 dks fu/kkZfjr frfFk dks lquokbZ esa mifLFkr gksus ds
ckotwn Hkh lquokbZ ugh gksus dk rF; ,d feF;k vkjksi ,oa vihykFkhZ
dh /k`"Brk gSA
mä ds vfrfjä vihykFkhZ ds fo:) dkjZokbZ ds iwoZ
foHkkxh; funs'k i=kad 196 fnukad 25-03-2022 ds vkyksd esa fnukad
28-05-2022 dks v/kksgLrk{kjh ds }kjk lquokbZ dh xbZ FkhA bl
lquokbZ ds nkSjku mUgs viuk i{k j[kus dk mfpr volj çnku fd;k
x;k rFkk muds }kjk vkjksiksa ds fo:) dksbZ Bksl lk{; çLrqr ugh
Patna High Court CWJC No.8927 of 2023 dt.09-01-2026
9/17
fd;k x;k FkkA ¼lk{; ds :i esa lquokbZ ds nkSjku vihykFkhZ dh
mifLFkfr ,oa muds }kjk miyC/k djk;s x;s çfrosnu dh Nk;kçfr
layXu½
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iwoZ dk dk;Zdky Hkh çklafxd gSA ;Fkk ftyk inkf/kdkjh] csxqljk; ds
Kkikad 160 fnukad 24-01-2014 ds }kjk mUgs ljdkjh jkf'k ds xcu
djus] dk;Z ds çfr ykijokgh ,oa vuq'kklughurk ds vkjksi esa
dk;ZØe inkf/kdkjh] NkSM+kgh ds in ls lsokeqä fd;k tk pqdk gSA
lkFk gh eujsxk ;kstuk ds dk;kZUo;u esa dh xbZ vfu;ferrk ds
vk/kkj ij vfHkdj.k dk;kZy; csxqljk; ds vkns'k Kkikad 77 fnukad
27-01-2021 ls çkIr funs'k ds vkyksd esa dk;ZØe inkf/kdkjh]
csxqljk; lnj ds i=kad 42 fnukad 31-01-2021 ds }kjk muds fo:)
fl?kkSy Fkkuk] csxqljk; esa çkFkfedh ntZ djus dh dkjZokbZ Hkh dh xbZ
gSA ¼Nk;kçfr layXu½
iqulqZuokbZ esa ekeys dh lE;d leh{kk ds mijkUr vihykFkhZ
ds vihy dks jí djrs gq, iwoZ ds vuqca/k jí ,oa jkf'k olwyh dk
vkns'k ¼Kkikad 1280 fnukad 01-07-2022½ dks ;Fkkor j[krs gq, ?kksj
foÙkh; vfu;ferrk ds vkyksd esa muds fo:) çkFkfedh ntZ djus
gsrq orZeku dk;ZØe inkf/kdkjh] nkukiqj dks funsf'kr fd;k tkrk gSA
5. Being aggrieved by the aforesaid impugned
order passed by the respondent no.2-District Magistrate, Patna,
by which he had sustained the earlier cancellation of the
contract of the petitioner under the Mahatma Gandhi National
Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 as the Programme
Officer and order of recovery of Rs.3,92,800/- from the
petitioner and additionally ordered for registration of F.I.R
against the petitioner, the petitioner preferred an appeal which
came to be rejected vide impugned order dated 06.12.2022.
6. The learned counsel for the petitioner has
submitted that the impugned order dated 01.12.2022 passed by
the respondent no.2-District Magistrate, Patna is bad and
unsustainable since it has brought new points, beyond the
Patna High Court CWJC No.8927 of 2023 dt.09-01-2026
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charges levelled in the original show cause notice. The show
cause notice issued to the petitioner was based on ten points,
which according to the learned counsel for the petitioner, has
not been taken into consideration in the aforesaid impugned
order dated 01.12.2022 and rather the same has been passed on
entirely new set of six points which do not form part of the
show cause notice and as such are unsustainable. The learned
counsel has emphasised that it is well settled that the
punishment order can not be passed on new grounds which is
not the part of the show cause notice since it violates the
principles of natural justice. To buttress this argument, the
learned counsel has drawn strength from the decisions of the
Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Commissioner of Income
tax, Mumbai vs. Amitabh Bachchan reported as 2016 (11) SCC
748 and M/s Popcorn Entertainment and Ors vs. CT Industrial
Corportaion and Ors. passed in Civil Appeal 941 of 2007.
7. The learned counsel has also relied on the
decision of the Division Bench of the Jharkhand High Court in
the case of M/s C.J. DARCL Logistics Limited vs Union of
India & Ors. reported as neutral citation 2023 : JHHC : 4980-
DB (W.P. (T) 215 of 2022).
8. It is next submitted on behalf of the
Patna High Court CWJC No.8927 of 2023 dt.09-01-2026
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petitioner that the detailed reply submitted by the petitioner was
not considered by the respondent authorities before passing the
impugned order dated 01.12.2022 and the fact that the
respondent authorities have taken the past conduct of the
petitioner into consideration while no such contemplation was
made in the show cause is also violative of principles of natural
justice.
9. The learned counsel has placed reliance on
the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Md.
Yunus Khan vs. State of U.P. & Ors. passed in (SLP (C) 19318
of 2007.
10. It is also argued that impugned punishment
order dated 01.12.2022 is cryptic and non-speaking in nature,
therefore totally unsustainable and in the teeth of the decision
rendered by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Kranti
Associates Pvt. Ltd. vs. Masood Ahmed Khan reported as
(2010) 9 SCC 496.
11. Lastly, it is also argued by the learned
counsel for the petitioner that the respondent authorities have
themselves not followed their own guidelines dated 08.07.2020
and as such, the impugned orders cannot be sustained.
12. A counter affidavit has been filed on behalf
Patna High Court CWJC No.8927 of 2023 dt.09-01-2026
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of the answering respondent nos. 2 to 4, wherein it is submitted
that based on complaints received regarding implementation of
the plantation work under the Gram Panchyat, Ganghara under
the Danapur Block, Patna, a district level inspection team
conducted enquiry / joint inspection on 01.12.2021 regarding
the 17 schemes under MGNREGA. The aforesaid joint
inspection comprised of District Programme Officer, DRDA,
Patna and Executive Engineer MGNREGA Patna in presence of
the Programme Officer, Danapur, Panchyat Rojgar Sevak,
beneficiaries and the villagers. An inquiry report was submitted
on 23.12.2021 noticing several irregularities in the execution of
the plantation work.
13. Paragraph no.7 of the counter affidavit
detailing the nature of irregularities found during inspection are
as under:-
“7. That it has been found that the total amount of
Rs. 16,64,750/- spent in the 17 schemes without
verification of the complete records. The name
of scheme has not been found to be mentioned in
the records. The detail of the land/consent letter
has not been found in the record on which
plantation has been done. The signature of
Panchayat Technical Assistant in place of
Panchayat Rojgar Sevak has been found as
executant and there is no date mentioned. The
Master Roll has not been issued for plantations.
Patna High Court CWJC No.8927 of 2023 dt.09-01-2026
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Out of 17 schemes 16 schemes has not been
found to be listed on the notice board. There is
no photograph of the plantation work done. On
private land rate of Rs. 2900/- has been fixed for
plantations schemes to be put on notice board.
But for this Rs.4500/-has been paid, which is
serious financial irregularity. This has been
accepted by the concerned Programme Officer
and Panchayat Technical Assistant. Further
wire fencing of only four schemes has been done
but payment for nine schemes has been done.
There is no mention of fencing and pesticide
work in the measurement book, but the amount
has been withdrawn.”
14. It is next submitted that a show cause was
issued on 02.02.2022 to all concerned persons including the
present petitioner and the petitioner was heard personally on
28.05.2022 before the District Magistrate, Patna and thereafter,
impugned order dated 01.07.2022 was passed terminating the
contract of the petitioner and ordering for recovery of
Rs.3,92,800/- from the petitioner.
15. It is stated in the counter affidavit that after
the remand by the appellate authority, the District Magistrate,
Patna again heard the matter and during the reconsideration, the
petitioner had appeared personally, but she could not bring any
material/document which could prove her innocence in the
Patna High Court CWJC No.8927 of 2023 dt.09-01-2026
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alleged financial irregularity. During reconsideration, it was also
found that earlier also, the District Magistrate, Begusarai had
passed an order dated 24.01.2014 whereby serious charges of
defalcation of Government money, dereliction of duty,
carelessness and indiscipline were levelled against the
petitioner. It was also submitted that vide letter dated
31.01.2021, the Programme Officer, Begusarai had even
directed for registration of F.I.R.
16. Lastly, the learned counsel appearing for the
respondents has supported the impugned orders under challenge
and has submitted that the impugned orders do not suffer from
any illegality and have been passed after giving proper
opportunity to the petitioner.
17. I have considered the submissions of the
parties and perused the materials available on record.
18. In the present case, based on the joint
inspection report wherein several discrepancies were detected, a
show-cause notice was issued to the petitioner on 02.02.2022.
From perusal of the show-cause notice, it appears that the
response from the petitioner was asked on ten points. However,
the order dated 01.07.2022 indicates that altogether six points
were considered, which according to the petitioner, were distinct
Patna High Court CWJC No.8927 of 2023 dt.09-01-2026
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and different from the ten points raised in the aforesaid show-
cause notice issued to the petitioner. The aforesaid argument
was made in appeal by the petitioner and on this ground, the
appellate authority had remanded the matter back to the District
Magistrate, Patna, for reconsideration. After remand, the District
Magistrate, afforded personal hearing to the petitioner and
passed the impugned order dated 01.12.2022, by which, the
earlier punishment order dated 01.07.2022 was sustained and
additionally, a direction for registration of the F.I.R. against the
petitioner was passed. The aforesaid impugned order dated
01.12.2022 was challenged by the petitioner in appeal
unsuccessfully.
19. From perusal of the impugned order dated
01.12.2022, it appears that though the petitioner was afforded an
opportunity of personal hearing by the District Magistrate but
the District Magistrate in the impugned order has recorded that
the petitioner has failed to bring on record any
document/material to establish her innocence, which inverts the
burden on the petitioner which is impermissible.
20. It is trite law that the onus lies upon the
department/authority concerned alleging misconduct against the
delinquent, though strict principle of evidence does not apply
Patna High Court CWJC No.8927 of 2023 dt.09-01-2026
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but the threshold of preponderance of probabilities must be met
by the department/authority based on relevant cogent materials.
Mere submission of joint enquiry report does not end the work
of the department but the aforesaid documents must not only be
proved by the department, but the contents of the aforesaid
report along with other relevant materials must illustrate the
alleged act against the delinquent on the threshold of
preponderance of probabilities. Moreover, the impugned order
dated 01.12.2022 also records that the petitioner has an
antecedent while she was posted in the district of Begusarai.
This fact was neither mentioned in the show-cause notice nor a
response was sought from the petitioner on this point.
21. This Court is of the considered opinion that
the impugned order dated 01.12.2022 is not in compliance with
the principles of natural justice and prejudice has been caused to
the petitioner for non-observance of the principles of audi
alteram partem, inasmuch as, the petitioner has not been
afforded a meaningful opportunity to defend on the points on
which the impugned order was passed.
22. In view of the aforesaid discussions, the
impugned order dated 01.12.2022 passed by the District
Magistrate, Patna and the consequential appellate order dated
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25.04.2023 are set aside. The matter is remanded back to the
District Magistrate, Patna, who shall proceed from the stage of
issuance of fresh show-cause notice to the petitioner, which
shall contemplate proposed punishment together with the
grounds on which the action against the petitioner is initiated,
and thereafter pass a reasoned order in accordance with law
after affording an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner.
23. With the aforesaid observations and
directions, this writ petition is allowed to the above extent.
(Sandeep Kumar, J)
pawan/-
AFR/NAFR N.A.F.R.
CAV DATE 14.10.2025
Uploading Date 09.01.2026
Transmission Date
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