Holding

An appellate or revisional authority must indicate brief reasons when confirming or enhancing a disciplinary order, even though detailed reasons are not obligatory.

Summary

Madhusudhan Rao, a forester, was disciplined for alleged embezzlement of government funds. The Divisional Forest Officer imposed stoppage of increments and other penalties, which Rao appealed. The Conservator of Forests enhanced the punishment to dismissal without giving any reasons, and the Chief Conservator later reduced it to removal, again without reasons. The Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal set aside those orders, holding that the appellate and revisional authorities had not exercised independent discretion, had ignored procedural requirements under the Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, and had failed to give any reasons. The High Court affirmed the Tribunal’s decision. Before the Supreme Court, the issue was whether an appellate or revisional authority must provide a reasoned order when confirming or enhancing a disciplinary punishment. The Court held that while detailed reasons are not mandatory, brief reasons must be indicated to satisfy the principles of natural justice. Consequently, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal.

Issues considered

Whether an appellate or revisional authority is required to give a reasoned order when confirming or enhancing a disciplinary punishment.
Whether the absence of reasons vitiates the appellate or revisional order.
Whether procedural requirements under the Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules were complied with.

Legislation cited

Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1991s. Rule 18(2), s. Rule 20, s. Rule 27(2), s. Rule 37(2)
Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965s. Rule 27(2)

Subjects

disciplinary proceedingsmisconductservice lawreasoned orderappellate authorityrevisional authorityprocedural fairnessnatural justiceembezzlementpunishment enhancement

Judgment

[2008) 2 S.C.R 610

A DIVL. FOREST OFFICER, KOTHAGUDEM & ORS.
V.
MADHUSUDHAN RAO
(Civil Appeal No. 1104 of 2008)
FEBRUARY 8, 2008
B
(A.K. MATHUR AND ALTAMAS KABIR, JJ.).

Service Law:
Misconduct - Disciplinary proceedings - Punishment
C imposed -Appeal and I or revision - Requirement of reasoned
order by appellate I revisional authority while confirming the
order passed by lower forum - Held: In the interests of justice,
the delinquent officer is entitled to know at least the mind of
the appellate or revisional authority in dismissing his appeal
D and I or revision - Though no detailed reasons are required
to be given, but some brief reasons should be indicated even
in an order affirming the views of the lower forum - Andhra
Pradesh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal)
Rules, 1991 - rr.18(2), 37(2).
E Respondent was appointed as a "Forester".
Disciplinary proceedings were initiated against him on the
charge of embezzlement of Government funds. The
disciplinary authority viz the Divisional Forest Officer
found Respondent guilty and imposed upon him the
F punishment of stoppage of annual increments etc.
Respondent filed appeal. The appellate authority viz the
Conservator of Forests, enhanced the punishment by
dismissing Respondent from service. Revision petition
filed by the Respondent before the Chief Conservator of
G Forests was partly allowed to the extent that the order of
"dismissal from service" was modified to "removal from
service". Respondent moved the Administrative Tribunal
which set aside the orders passed by the authorities
below holding that they did not exercise their independent
H 610
DIVL. FOREST OFFICER, KOTHAGUDEM & ORS. v. 611
MADHUSUDHAN RAO
~
.....,.,...- discretion while awarding enhanced punishment. The A
High Court held that although the appellate authority had .
the power to enhance the punishment, it was also the duty
of the appellate authority to consider the grounds and
then only to reject the appeal. Holding that in the same
proceeding, the appellate authority enhanced the B
punishment without considering the grounds raised by
the respondents, which was illegal and contrary to law,
~
~ the Court dismissed the Writ· Petition filed by the
appellants.
In the instant appeal, it was contended that while c
confirming an order, against which an appeal has been
preferred, the appellate authority was not required to pass
a reasoned order since the order impugned was before
him and he was merely endorsing the same.
Dismissing the appeal, the Court D
-* HELD: 1.1. Having considered the submissions
~ made on behalf of the respective parties and also having
regard to the detailed manner in which the Administrative
Tribunal had dealt with the matter, including the E
explanation given regarding the disbursement of the
money received by the respondent, there is no reason to
differ with the view taken by the Administrative Tribunal
and endorsed by the High Court. No doubt, the Divisional
Forest Officer dealt with the matter in detail, but it was also
_...._ the duty of the appellate authority to give at least some F
reasons for rejecting the appeal preferred by the
respondent. A similar duty was cast on the revisional
authority being the highest authority in the Department
of Forests in the State.· Even the revisional authority
merely indicated that the decision of the Divisional Forest G
Officer had been examined by the Conservator of Forests,
"' Khammam wherein the charge of misappropriation was
clearly proved. He too did not consider the defence case
as made out by the respondent and simply endorsed the
punishment of dismissal though reducing it to removal H
612 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 2 S.C.R.

A from service. (Para 18] [618-D-H]
1.2. An appellate or revisional authority is not
required to give detailed reasons for agreeing and
confirming an order passed by the lower forum but, in
. the interests of justice, the delinquent officer is entitled. to
8 know at least the mind of the appellate or revisional
authority in dismissing his appeal and/or revision. It is
true that no de~ailed reasons are required to be given, t
but some brief reasons should be indicated even in an
order affirming the views. of the lower forum. [Para 19]
C [619-A-B]
. State of Madras vs. A.R. Srinivasan AIR 1966 S.C.1827;
Som Datt Datta Vs. Union of India & Ors. 1969 2 S.C.R. 177;
Tara Chand Khatri vs. Municipal Corporation of Delhi & Ors.
D. 1977 1 S.C.C. 472 R.P Bhatt vs. Union of India & Ors. 1986 2
S.C.C. 651 and Ram Chander vs. Union of India & Ors. (1986)
3 S.C.C. 103 - referred to. ·
CIVILAPPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 1104 """ '
of 2008.
E From the Judgment and Order dated 09.03.2005 of the
High Court of Judicature of Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad in
Writ Petition No. 3817 of 2005.
H.S. Gururaja Rao, Manoj Saxena, Rajnish Kr. Singh, Rahul
F Shukla and T.V. George for the Appellants.
D. Ramakrishna Reddy and T. Anamika for the
>
Respondent.
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
G ALTAMAS KABIR, J. 1. Leave granted. Delay condoned.
2. This appeal at the in.stance of the Divisional Forest '/-·
Officer, Kothagudem and other officers of the Ministry of Forests,
Government of Andhra Pradesh is directed against the judgment
H and order dated 9.3.2005 passed by the Division Bench of the
~

1 .DIVL. FOREST OFFICER, KOTHAGUDEM & ORS. v.
MADHUSUDHAN RAO [ALTAMAS KABIR, J.]
613

\
~
4 Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissing the Writ Petition No. A
3817 of 2005 filed by the appellants herein.
3. The Writ Petition was filed challenging the order dated
23.11.2004 passed by the Andhra Pradesh Administrative
Tribunal, Hyderabad, in O.A. No. 1157 of2002 allowing the same
and directing that the respondent herein be reinstated in service. B
4. From the materials as disclosed, it appears that the
"
~
respondent herein was appointed as a "Forester" on 7.4.1994
and was posted in Section Komararam from 7.4.1994 to
24.8.1996. According to the appellants, during the said period C'
the appellant was advanced funds to carry out different works
under the Andhra Pradesh Forestry Project. Despite having
received such funds, he did not undertake the said work and
disciplinary proceedings were initiated against him on the
following charges:
D
"1. (a) Neglect of duty with mala fide intention by not
"
_... depositing the Government funds in the Joint Account
(Bank) thereby causing embezzlement of Government
money of Rs. 10,000/-
(b) by false expenditure and producing the fabricated E
vouchers without executing the work amounting to
embezzlement of Government money of Rs. 54,625.00,
(c) by not maintaining the muster rolls and non-payment
of wages of Rs.4865.00 to the labourers, resulting in F
.... embezzlement of the money.
....
2. Misappropriation of Rs. 580.00 collected towards
C'fees, by not issuing CF.140 receipt to the accused."
Having been found guilty of both the charges by the
G,
Divisional Forest Officer, the following punishment was imposed
~ upon the respondent, namely,
(i) (5) Annual Grade Increments was stopped with
cumulative effect apart from recovery of Government
losses of Rs. 64,725/- at the rate of Rs. 500/- per H
,.J

)
614 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2008] 2 S.C.R. I
'

A month in (130) installments; J- r
l

(ii) The suspension period from 24.8.1996 to 17.4.197 be
regularised towards Earned Leave available to the
respondent.

B 5. Aggrieved by th~ said order of punishment passed by
the Divisional Forest Officer, Kothagudem, the respondent filed r-

an appeal to the Conservator of Forests, Khammam Circle, r
Khammam. The said authority upon going through the materials •
was of the view that it was a clear case of misappropriation of
c Government funds which entailed more punishment than had
been awarded by the Divisional Forest Officer. The respondent's
case was, therefore, reopened in terms of Rule 18(2) of the
Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (Classification, Control and
Appeal) Rules, 1991 and a show cause notice was issued to
the respondentin terms of Rule 37(2)(v) directing himto show
D
cause as to why he should not be removed from service. Upon
considering the reply submitted by the respondent, the >
Conservator of Forests passed order dated 11.7.2001 .._ I

dismissing the respondent from service. f
~

E 6. A revisio:i petition filed by the respondent before the
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Andhra Pradesh was
partly allowed by his order dated 19.11.2001 to the extent that
the order of "dismissal from service" was modified to "removal
from service". It may be indicated that neither the Conservator
F of Forests, Khammam Circle, Khammam, nor the Chief .~
Conservator of Forests, Andhra Pradesh, in their separate
orders gave any reasons. as such for maintaining first the ,,,·
punishment as imposed by the Divisional Forest Officer and
thereafter the enhanced punishment of dismissal passed by the ,.
~

Conservator of Forests.
G
7. It is against the said orders that the respondent rnoved )>
the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal, which after """
considering the matter in detail formulated the following points
for consideration in the case:
H
DIVL. FOREST OFFICER, KOTHAGUDEM & ORS. v. 615
MADHUSUDHAN RAO [ALTAMAS KABIR, J.]

.... (a) Whether the order of the appellate authority is vitiated A
~
and liable to be set aside?
(b) Whether there are any procedural lapses, which are
not pointed out by the appellate authority?
(c) Whether entertainment of appeal without condoning 8
the delay is bad?

-<(,,
(d) What decision have and given in this matter?
A

8. The Tribunal observed on a careful consideration of the
submissions made that all that was found in the appellate c
authority's order dated 11. 7 .2001 was a narration of charges
made against the respondent and it did not independently apply
its mind to the materials before it before proceeding to dispose
of the matter. The Tribunal also took note of the fact that a copy
of the Enquiry Officer's report had not been supplied to the
D
respondent although the same was mandatory under Rule 20
... of the Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (Classification, Control
and Appeal) Rules. It observed that even the said aspect had
_,
not-been considered by the appellate authority.
9. It was also noted that although it was mandatory on the E
part of the Government to consult the Public Service
Commission in case of passing an order of removal from service,
such consultation does not appear to have taken place as the
counter affidavit filed was silent in that regard.
10. On consideration of the aforesaid facts, the Tribunal F
-(
concluded that the appellate authority had not exercised its
independent discretion while awarding the enhanced
punishment of removal from service.
11. The reasoning of the Administrative Tribunal was duly
G
considered and endorsed by the High Court in the Writ Petition
~
filed by the appellants herein. The High Court observed that
although the appellate authority had the power to enhance the
punishment, it was also the duty of the appellate authority to
consider the grounds and then only to reject the appeal. The
H
616 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 2 S.C.R.

A High Court also observed that though in the same proceedin_g, J
~
the appellate authority came to a conclusion that the punishment ~
was required to be enhanced, without considering the grounds
raised by the respondents, it simply enhanced the punishment,
which was illegal and contrary to law. On the said reasoning,
B the High Court dismissed the Writ Petition filed by the appellants.
12. Appearing in support of the appeal, Mr. H.S. Gururaja
Rao, learned Senior Advocate, submitted that while confirming
an order against which an appeal has been preferred, the >-
appellate authority is not required to pass a reasoned order
•
c since the order impugned was before him and he was merely
endorsing the same.
13. In support of his aforesaid submission, Mr. Gururaja
Rao referred to a Constitution Bench decision of this Court in
State of Madras Vs. A.R. Srinivasan [AIR 1966 S.C. 1827],
D
which was a case involv,ing compulsory retirement of a civil
servant in which the aforesaid question had arisen. Repelling
the argument of Mr. Setalvad that even while affirming an order, .~

an authority acting in a quasi-judicial character should indicate ....
some reasons as to why it accepted the findings of the lower
E forum, this Court held that having regard to the material which is
made available to the State Government, it would be somewhat
unreasonable to suggest that the State Government must record
its reasons why it accepted the findings of the Tribunal. This
Court went on to observe further that even while differing with ,
F the order of the lower forum, the State Government was merely I
~
required t.o give reasons why it differs though it was not )..
necessary that such reasons should be detailed or elaborate.
The conclusion arrived at by the Constitution Bench ~as that \;

where the State Government agrees with the findings of the
G Tribunal which are against the delinquent officer, it could not be
said as a matter of law that the State Government could not
impose penalty against the delinquent officer in accordance with
>-
the findings of the Tribunal, unless it gave reasons to show why
the said findings were accepted ·by it. ~

H
,/....,

DIVL. FOREST OFFICER, KOTHAGUDEM & ORS. v. 617
MADHUSUDHAN RAO [ALTAMAS KABIR, J.]
\
/ 4 14. In this regard reference was also made to two other A
decisions of this ~ourt; (i) Som Datt Datta Vs. Union of India
& Ors. [(1969) 2 S.C.R. 177), and (ii) Tara Chand Khatri Vs.
Municipal Corporation of Delhi & Ors. [(1977) 1 S.C.C. 4721
where the aforesaid sentiments were reiterated. Mr. Gururaja
Rao urged that since this was a serious matter involving B
embezzlement of Government funds, the lacuna in the orders
..., passed by the appellate and revisional authorities should not
,.. be taken as fatal, since the Divisional Forest Officer had dealt
with the charges and the response of the respondents thereto
in great detail. c'.
15. Mr. D. Ramakrishna Reddy, learned counsel appearing
on behalf of the respondent, however, submitted that both the
Administrative Tribunal ·as also the High Court had correctly
come to the conclusion that neither the appellate authority nor
the revisional authority had applied their minds to the appeal D
......
and the revision preferred by the respondent and the orders
passed by the said authorities had been correctly set aside by
-' the Administrative Tribunal on such basis. Learned counsel
further urged that certain mandatory provisions of the Andhra
Pradesh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) E
Rules, had not been followed and as rightly pointed out both by
the Tribunal as also the High Court, although the Conservator of
Forests as the appellate authority was empowered to enhance
the punishment awarded by the Divisional Forest Officer, he
was required to deal with the response to the $how·cause notice F
__._
with more application, instead of simply enhancing the
punishment without giving any reasons therefor. He also urged
that non-supply of the Enquiry Officer's Report was another fatal
defect under Rule 20 of the aforesaid Rules. He urged that the
order of the High Court did not warrant any interference and the
G
appeal was liable to be dismissed.
16. In support of his submissions, Mr. Ramakrishna Reddy
""""
referred to the.decision of this Court in R.P. Bhatt Vs. Union
of India & ors. [(1986) 2 S.C.C. 651] wherein it was observed
that while considering an appeal against an order enhancing H
618 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 2 S.C.R.

A any penalty under the Central Civil Services (Classification, J
>-- '
Control and Appeal) Rules, requirements of Rule 27(2) must be
complied with and consideration would mean a finding of
satisfaction as to whether the procedure laid down .in the Rules
had been complied with and if not complied with, whether such
B non-compliance had resulted in violation of any of the provisions
of the Constitution or in failure of justice. Mr. Ramakrishna Reddy
submitted that the three cases cited by Mr. Gururaja Rao had
already been referred to and ultimately the appeal was allowed >-
).

with the direction on the concerned authority to dispose of the
c appeal before him afresh after applying his mind to the
requirements of Rule 27(2) of the Central Civil Services Rules,
1965.
17. The next case referred to by Mr. Reddy is ~am
Chander Vs. Union of India & ors. [(1986) 3 S.C.C. 103]
D where the decision in R.P. Bhatt's case (supra) was followed.
18. Having considered the submissions made on behalf ......
of the respective parties and also having regard to the detailed
manner in which the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal ...
had dealt with the matter, including the explanation given
E regarding the disbursement of the money received by the
respondent, we see no reason to differ with the view taken by
the Administrative Tribunal and endorsed by the High Court. No
doubt, the Divisional Forest Officer dealt with the matter in detail,
but it was also the duty of the appellate authority to give at least
F some reasons for rejecting the appeal preferred by· the
respondent. A similar duty was cast on the revisional authority >-
being the highest authority in the Department of Forests in the
State. Unfortunately, even the revisional authority has merely
indicated that the decision of the Divisional Forest Officer had
G been examined by the Conservator of Forests, Khammam
wherein the charge of misappropriation was clearly proved. He
too did not consider the defence case as made out by the )'-

respondent herein and simply endorsed the. punishment of
.,
dismissal though reducing it to removal from service. '
H
DIVL. FOREST OFFICER, KOTHAGUDEM & ORS. v. 619.
MADHUSUDHAN RAO [ALTAMAS KABIR, J.]

19. It is no doubt also true that an appellate or revisional A
authority is not required to give detailed reasons for agreeing
and confirmi~g an order passed by the lower foruni but, in our
view, in the interests of justice, the delinquent officer is entitled
to know at least the mind of the appellate or revisional authority
s
in dismissing his appeal and/or revision. It is true that no detailed
reasons are required to be given, but some brief reasons should
be indicated even in an order affirming the views of the lower
forum.
20. Having regard to the above, we are not inclined to
interfere with the order of the High Court and the appeal is C
accordingly dismissed, but without any order as to costs.
B.B.B. Appeal dismissed.