Holding

A departmental enquiry is vitiated when a member of the enquiry committee also serves as a material witness, creating a reasonable apprehension of bias that pervades the whole proceeding.

Summary

The appellant, Rattan Lal Sharma, a principal of Dr. Hari Ram Higher Secondary School, was suspended and charged with twelve offences, including the alleged misuse of Rs.129.37 from an amalgamated fund. An enquiry committee of three members, including Shri Maru Ram, was constituted; Maru Ram also acted as a witness for the administration on charge No.12 and the appellant objected to his inclusion, which was overruled. The enquiry found the appellant guilty and the Managing Committee recommended dismissal, which was confirmed by the Deputy Commissioner and the Commissioner under the Punjab Aided Schools (Security of Service) Act, 1969. The appellant challenged the proceedings, arguing that Maru Ram’s dual role violated the principle of natural justice and created a reasonable apprehension of bias, rendering the enquiry vitiated. The Supreme Court held that the presence of a member who was also a material witness created a flagrant breach of nemo judex in propria causa, pervading the entire enquiry and invalidating the dismissal order, and allowed the appeal, setting aside the Division Bench judgment.

Issues considered

The validity of the departmental enquiry where a committee member also acted as a witness for the administration.
Whether the appellant’s objection to the inclusion of Shri Maru Ram was a waiver of the bias plea.
Whether the principle of natural justice applies to administrative enquiries under the Punjab Aided Schools (Security of Service) Act, 1969.
Whether the bias, if established, percolates to affect the entire enquiry and the subsequent dismissal order.

Legislation cited

Punjab Aided Schools (Security of Service) Act, 1969s. Section 3

Subjects

natural justicebiasnemo judex in propria causadepartmental enquiryPunjab Aided Schools Actadministrative lawprocedural fairnessconflict of interestdismissal of government employee

Judgment

RATTAN LAL SHARMA A
v.

MANAGING COMMITTEE, DR. HARi RAM (CO-EDUCATION)
HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL AND ORS. .,

[M.N. VENKA TACHALIAH CJ. AND G.N. RAY J.] B
MAY 14, 1993

Nawral Justice-Bias-Reasonable apprehension of bias- Member of
enquiry committee deposing in support of a charge on behalf of
administration-Held, it is a flagrant violation of principles of natural
j11stice-Ne1110 Debet essejudex in propria cause-Punjab Aided Schools (SeCll- C
rity of Service) Act, 1969, S.3,

_ . The appellant, appointed Principal of Dr. Hari Ram (Co-education)
Higher Secondary School, was placed under suspension and a charge-sheet
containing.12 charges issued to him. Charge No.12 accused him of use of an
D
unaccounted sum of Rs. 129.37, gil'en to him by Maru Ram, teacher-in-
charge of amalgamated fund.

The enquiry committee constituted comprised 3 members, of which the
said Maru Ram was a member. Maru Ram deposed as a witness for the
administration in support of charge no. 12. The appellant's objection to the E
inclusion ofMaru Ram on the enquiry committee was O\'erruled, and he was
found guilty of some of the charges including the said charge and the
Managing Committee proposed to dismiss him from service.

The appellant's application for inspection of documents to enable him
to make his representation before the Deputy Commissioner-the confirm- F
ing authority under S.3(2) of the Punjab Aided Schools (Security of Service)
Act, 1969-was rejected by the Managing Committee, the Deputy Commis-
sioner and the Commissioner.

The appellant then filed a writ petition in the High Court for quashing G
the enquir~· report and the orders passed by the Managing Committee, the
Deput~·.Commissioner and the Commissioner.

The Managing Committee, opposing the petition, contended that the
enquiry committee was not partial or inimical towards the appellant. It was H

863
SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1993) 3 S.C.R. ~

contended that Maru Ram was the only teacher member of the Managing
A
Committee other than the appellant himself; therefore only Maru Ram could
be taken in the enquiry committee as a representative of the teacher·s' union.
It was further contended that though the application for inspection had been
made after his dismissal, he had not been refused permission for inspection;
he had been asked to indicate the rules under which he could see the fde.
B
A Single Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court allowed the
petition on the ground that the departmental proceeding was vitiated by the
flagrant violation of natural justice. Since one of the members of the Manag-
ing Committee acted both as a Judge and as a witness to prove one. of the

c
charges against the appellant despite the objections made by the appellant
against the inclusion of such member in the committee, the en.tire enquirJ'
proceeding was vitiated. He held that the bias continued and percolated to the
entire proceeding and should not be restricted to char·ge no .. 12. Since the
enquiry report was required to be considered by the Deputy Commissioner
--
.

-
for the purpose of affirming the proposed order of dismissal, the fact of bias
and prejudice was required to be considered and the appellant was not
D
debarred from raising such vital plea of bias in the writ proceeding. The
decision arrived at on the basis of an illegal and biased enquiry could not be
sustained.

On appeal, the Division Bench reserved the order of the Single Judge. It
E held that the plea of bias was vague; that the appellant had waived it by not
raising it specificall~· before the Deputy Commissioner .and Commissioner,
and that as the Deputy Commissioner was not influenced by charge no.'12
only but was im'pressed with some other charge, no interference with the
impugned order was called for. -
F Allowing the appeal, this Court,

HELD : 1. In Administrative Law, Rules of natural justice are founda-
tional and fundamental concepts and the law is now well settled that the
principles of natural justice are part of the legal and judicial procedures.
G (871-E)

Franklin v. Minister of Town and Country Planning [1947] 1 ALL ER
289; Kislian Chand Arora v. Commissioner of Police, Calcutta [1961] 3 SCR
135; Breen\'. Amalgamated Engineering Union (1971] All ER 1148; Maneka
Gandhi v. Union of India [1978] 2 SCR 621; State of Orissa v. Bina-pani Dei
H (19.87]2SCR 625andA.K. Kraipak v.Unionoflndia& Ors. [1970'] l SCR457,
RA TIAN LAL i·. MANAGING COi\,!MITfEE 865

referred to. A

2. Since the rules of natural justice arc not embodied rules, it is not
possible and practicable to precisely define the parameters of natural justice.
(872-H)

Russel v. Duke ofN01folk [1949] 1 ALL ER 109; Union ofIndia v. P.K. Roy B
(1968] 2 SCR 186; AK. Kraipak v. Union of India [1970] l SCR 457 and Prof.
Wade, Administrative Law, cdn 1988 p. 503, referred to.

3. One of the cardinal principles of natural justice is : Nemo de bet esse
jude:cin propria causa : No man shall be a judge in his own cause. The deciding
authority must be impartial and without bias. (874-C) C

Secretary to Government Transport Department v. Munu.nvamy [1988]
Suppl. SCC 651 and State of U.P. , .• Mohd. Nooh [1958] SCR 595, referred to.
(874-C)

For appreciating a case of personal bias, the test is whether there was a D
real likelihood of a bias even though such bias has not in fact taken place.

De Smith, Judicial Review of Administrative Action [1980] p. 269 R v.
Sunder/al Jmtices [1924] 1 KB 357 at 373; R. v. Sussex Justices (1924] 1 KB
256 at 259; Halsbury's Laws ofEngland (4th Edn.) Vol. 2, para 551 and Manak
Lal v. Dr. Prem Chand [1951] SCR 575, referred to. E

It is in this sense that it is often said that justice must notonl~· be done
but must also appear to be done. (875-E)

4. ln the factsof'this case, there was notonl~· a reasonable apprehension
of bias of one of the members of the enquiry committee, but such apprehen- F
sion became real when Maru Ram appeared as a witness against the appel-
lant, and, thereafter proceeded with the enquiry proc.eeding as a member of
the enquirJ committee to uphold the correctness of his deposition as a Judge.
(875-F)

5. The Division Bench dismissed the writ petition improperly on a
technical ground that the plea of bias could not be raised in a writ proceeding
especially when it was not specifically taken before the Deputy Commissioner
and the Commissioner; more so when this defence could be waived b~· the H
person suffering the prejudice. (876-E)
866 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1993] 3 S.C.R.

Generally, a point not rai.o;ed before the tribunal or administrative
A
authorities may not be allowed to be raised for the first time in writ
proceedings. Which is equitable and discretionary and interference is not a
matter of course particularly when the plea sought to be raised for the first
time in a writ proceedings requires investigation of facts. (876-A)

B A.M. Allison v. State of Assam, AIR 1957 SC 227, referred to.

But if the pica goes to the root of the question and is based on admitted
and uncontrovcrtcd fact'i and does not requir~ an)' further investigation into
a question of fact, it is only desirable that a litigant should not be shut out from
raising such plea. (pp. 19-20) (876-C)
c
A.S. Arunachalam Pillai'" Ml.~ Southern Roadways l.Jd. AIR 1960 SC
1191 and The Cantonment Board v. l'yarelal 1965 3 SCR 341, referred to.

6. The bias of Shri Maru Ram, one of the members of the enquir)·
D committee had percolated throughout the enquiry proceeding thereby
vitiating the principles ofnatural justice and the findings made by the enquiry
committee was the product of a biased and prejudiced mind. The illegality
committed in conducting the depart~ntal proceedings has left an indelible
stamp of infirmity on the decision of the Managing Committee since affirmed
by the Deput~· Commissioner and the Commissioner. (876-G)
E
State of U.P. v. Mo/id. Nooh, (1958} SCR 595, relied on.

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 2860 of 1993.

F
From the Judgment and Order dt. 31.10.1990 of the Punjab and Haryana
High Court in L.P.A. No. 1427 of 1982.

K. Lahiri and J.D. Jain for the Appellant.

G D.'{. Sehgal and K.K. Mohan for the Respondents.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

u G.N. RAY, J. Special leave granted. Heard learned counsels for the parties.
867,
-~ IV\TL-\N LAL l'. MANAGING COMMITTEE [RAY, J]

On the application for special leave tp appeal notice was issued by this Court A
on the respondents indicating therein that the said application for special leave to
appeal will be disposed of finally at the notice stage itself on the short question as
to why the disciplinary proceedings and the order passed therein should not be set
aside and a fresh enquiry should be ordered on the ground that one of the
participants of the enquiry committee was biased. Such notice was served on the
respundents and the respondent Nos. 1 and 4 have entered appearance through a B
learned counsel and also filed counter affidavit to the special leave petition.

The appellant was appointed as Principal of Dr. Hari Ram (Co-education)
Higher Secondary School. Datarpur in Tehsil of Dasuya in the District of
Hoshiarpur. He was placed under suspension by the Managing Committee of the
said School and charge sheet containing 12 charges was issued to the appellant. c
Charge No. 12 was to the following effect :

"the following amounts are reported to have been used by you and
are unaccounted for:-
D
A sum of Rs. 129 .37 on account of amalgamated fund for the
month of December, 1969 given to you by Shri Maru Ram teacher
incharge amalgamated fund."

The school authorities appointed an enquiry committee consisting of three
members of which the said Shri Maru Ram was one of the members. It is an E
admitted position that the said Shri Maru Ram appeared as a witness in support of
charge No. 12 on behalf of administration in the said enquiry proceedings. The
appellant raised an nhjection for inclusion of the said Shri Maru Ramin the enquiry
committee but the said objection of the appellant was overruled by the Enquiry
Committee inter alia on the ground that -
F

"similarly your objepion to the appointment of Shri Maru Ram in
the enquiry committee is ill-conceived, unfounded. unjustified and
invalid because Shri Maru Ram is as good a member of the
Managing Committee as any one else and as such as member is
entitled to act on any sub committee formed by the Managing G
Committee and even perhaps more in this case because to give you
a fair trial. it was necessary to have a teachers· union's representa-
tive on the Enquiry Committee, Shri Maru Ram represented the
Union of the staff of the school and is thus your own representative . ff
as such." /
868 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1993] 3 S.C.R.

A There is no dispute to the fact that the said Shri Marn Ram himself deposed in the
enq_uiry proceedings in support Of Charge No. 12 againstthe appellant and he also
participated as one of the members of the Enquiry Committee. The Enquiry
Committee found the appellant guilty on some of the charges including the said
charge No. 12. The Managing Committee proposed to dismiss the appellant ft\lm
service. It is not disputed that the disciplinary proceeding against the petitioner is
B to be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Punjab Aided (Schools
Security of Service) Act, 1969. Sub-Section (2) of Section 3 of the said Act is set
out hereunder:-

"No order of dismissal or removal or reduction in rank of an
c employee shall take effect unless it has been confirlhed by the
Deputy Commissioner who may refuse to do so, if in his opinion, the
provisions of Sub section (1) have not been complied with."'

In view of such provision in the aforesaid Act, the report of the Managing
Committee and the proposal for dismissal of the appellant from service were sent
D for confirmation by the Deputy Commissioner. The appellant being informed of
the decision of the Managing Committee to dismiss him from service subject to
the confirmation by the Deputy Conunissioner, Hoshiarpur. made an applicatilin
to the President of the Managing Committee for the inspection of the stipend
register and the office file of the case of December 29, 1970 so that he could make
a proper representation to the Deputy Commissioner of Hoshiarpur. The Manag-
E ing Committee. however. did not give inspection to the appellant of the said
records but the original application made by the appellant to the President of the
Managing Committee was not entertained but then and there returned \vith the
· remarks '"under what rules do you wish .to see the file please.

F Sd/- R.D. Sharma
29.12. 1970."'

The appellant thereafter submitted his representation to the Deputy Commissioner
against the proposed order of dismissal of the appellant and it was urged by the
appellant that the Managing Committee acted in a prejudicial mariner and had been
G trying to urge his dismissal on unfounded grounds. By order dated March 18, 1971,
the Deputy Commissioner rejected the representation of the appellant. The
appellant thereafter preferred an appeal against the order of confirmation by the
Deputy Commissioner under Sub-section (5) of Section 3 of the said Act to the
Commissioner, Jullundur Division but such appeal was also dismissed by the
H Corrunissioner on December 3. 1973. The appellant thereafter moved a Writ
~- RA TIAN LAL, .. MANAGING COMMITrEE [RAY. J) 869

Petition in the High Court of Punjab and Haryana being Civil Writ Petition No.
A
1121 of 1974 inrer alia praying for quashing the enquiry report and the orders
passed by the Managing Committee, Deputy Commissioner, Hoshiarpur and the
Commissioner, Jullundur Division. The Managing Committee contested the said
Writ Petition by entering appearance though Paras Ram, Local Manager-cum-
Vice President of the Managing Committee and the counter affidavit was also filed
to the Writ Petition. The Managing Committee disputed the contention ofthe B
appellant that the enquiry committee was biased, partial and inimical towards the
appellant and Shri ~1aru Ram, a member of the staff with whom the appe'llant was
not on good terms and who was the root cause of the trouble became the member
of the enquiry committee and after his inclusion the enquiry was sununed up in a
slip-shed manner. In the counter affidavit it was contended on behalf of the
Managing Conunittee that in the Managing Committee members of the staff are C
required to be taken. Two 1nembers from teaching staff were taken on the
Managing Committee and the appellant-Principal was one of the members and the
other member was the said Shri Marn Ram. As the appellant himself was the
accused, the only member who could be taken in the enquiry committee wa;; the
other representative of the teachers union, Shri Maru Ram, It was further stated that
D
the appellant had raised objection before the Committee against his inclusion in
the enquiry committee but such objection was not entertained, and it was stated
that the enquiry committee was neither partial nor inimical towards the appellant
and the enquiry committee was comprised of three members including the
President Shri B.B. Kash yap and the said Shri Marn Ram, teachers representative
in the Managing Committee. In the counter affidavit, it was further stated that the E
appellant had applied for inspection of the stipend register but such demand of
inspection was made after the appellant was dismissed. Even then, the inspection

- was not denied and the appellant had been asked to indicate under what rules he
could see the file. At this stage, it may be indicated that when the appellant had
asked for inspection, there was no question of the appellant being dismissed
because under the said Act the proposed order of dismissal cannot take effect until F
.;uch proposal is confirmed by the Deputy Commissioner. The appellant asked for
inspection of the register to make effective representation before the Deputy
Commissioner. But such inspection was not given and the application itself was
returned then and there apparently on the gronnd of absence of any specific rule
for such inspection.
G
A Single Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court allowed the Writ
Petition on the ground that the departmental proceeding was vitiated for the
flagrant violation of the principle of natural justice. The learned Judge indicated
that Charge No. 12 was sought to be proved by Shri Maru Ram himself who
appeared as a witness before the enquiry committee although he was one of the . H
870 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1993) 3 S.C.R.

members of the enquiry committee. Since one of the members of the Managing
A
Coinmittee acted both as a Judge and as a witness to prove one of the charges
against the appellant despite the objections made by the appellant against the
inclusion of such member in the Conunittee, the entire enquiry proceeding was
vitiated. The learned Judge further held that the contention of the respondents that
the bias of Shri Maru Ram, even if any, should be restricted only to charge No. 12
B and as such the order of dismissal also on the basis of other charges should not be
set aside, could not be accepted. The learned Judge was of the view that since Shri
Maru Ram conducted the enquiry with bias, the said bias continued and percolated
to the entire proceeding and such bias therefore should not be restricted to charge
No. 12 on! y. The learned Judge also rejected·the contention of the respondents that
as the appellant did not raise the plea of bias on the part of Shri Maru Ram before
c the Deputy Commissioner or the Commissioner specifically, the appellant shbuld
not be allowed to raise the question of bias. The learned Judge held inter alia that
it was evident from the enquiry proceeding and the report of the enquiry committee
that the said Shri Maru Ram was member of the enquiry committee and had also
deposed as a witness in the enquiry proceeding. Since such report was required
to be considered by the Deputy Conunissioner for the purpose of affirming the
D
proposed order of dismissal, the said fact of bias and prejudice was required to be
considered and the appellant was not debarred from raising such Yitai plea of bias
in the Writ proceeding. The learned Judge was of the view that in the facts and
circumstances of the case, the decision of the Managing Committee and the orders
passed by the Deputy Commissioner and the Commission:er on the basis of an
E illegal and biased enquiry against the petitioner could not be sustained. The
learned Judge therefore, allowed the said petition, set aside the proposed order of
dismissal and the order of confirmation passed by the Deputy Commissioner and
the appellate order passed by the Commissioner and directed the Deputy Commis-
sioner to decide the reference made by the Managing Committee for confirmation
of the proposed order of dismissal passed by the Deputy Commissioner in the light
-
F of the observations made in the judgment.

The Managing Committee being aggrieved by the said decision of the
learned Single Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court preferred an appeal
before a Division Bench of Punjab and HaryanaHigh Court being L.P.A. No. 1427
of 1982. The Division Bench, however, held that it had not been brought on-record
G as to what objection was taken and in what form against Shri Maru Ram who was
a memberofthe enquiry committee. The Division Bench, however, noted the order
passed by the Managing Committee rejecting the objection of inclusion of Shri
Maru Ram in the Managing Committee by quoting the order passed hy the enquiry
committee. The Division Bench was of the view that the plea of bias could be
H waived and if the appellant felt that the enquiry proceeding was vitiated by the
RA TIAN LAL.v. MANAGING COMMI1TEE [RAY, J] 871

reason of bias because ofinclusion of Shri Maru Ram, he could have raised
A
specific plea of bias before the Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner. Since
such specific plea was not raised before-the Deputy Commissioner and Commis-
sioner. the appellant should not be allowed to raise such contention in the Writ
Petition. The Division Bench also held that the plea of bias of Shri Maru Ram as
indicated in the Writ Petition was also very vague. The Division Bench further held
that the Deputy Commissioner gave opportunity to the appellant to meet certain B
charges and he was not influenced by Charge No. 12 only in respect of which the
said Shri Maru Ram appeared as witness. As it appeared from the order that the
Deputy Commissioner was impressed with some other charges for which the otder
of dismissal could be confirmed, no interference was called for against the
impugned order. The Division Bench, therefore, allowed the appeal and disrrjissed
the Writ Petition. C

As aforesaid, the appeal is directed against the said impugned judgment of
the Division Bench in L.P.A. No. 1427 of 1982 dismissing the Writ Petition. In
terms of the notice issued on the special leave application the short q~estion as to
why the enquiry and the order passed therein should not be set asiqe and a fresh
D
enquiry should not be ordered on the ground that one of the par.ticipants of the
Committee was biased, is required to be considered in this appt;al.

In Administrative Law, Rules of natural justice are foundational and funda-
mental concepts and law is now well settled that the principles of natural justice
are part of the legal and judicial procedures. On the question whether the principles E
ofnatural justice are also applicable to the administrative bodies, formerly, the law
courts in England and India had taken a different view. It was held in Franklin v.

- MinisterofTown and Country Planning [1947] 2 All ER 289 thattheduty imposed
on the minister was merely administrative and not being judical or quasi-judicial,
the principle of natural justice as applicable to the judicial or quasi judicial
authorities was not applicable and the only question which was required to be F
considered was whether the Minister had complied with the direction or not. Such
view was also taken by the Indian courts and reference may be made to the decision
of this Court in Kishan Chand Arora v. Commissioner of Police, Calcuua [ 1961 J
3 SCR 135. lt was held that the compulsion of hearing before passing the order
implied in the maxim a11di alterwn partem applied only to judicial or quasi-judicial
G
proceedings7 Later ort, the law courts in England and also in India including this
Court have specifically held that the principle of natural justice is applicable also
in administrative proceedings. In Breen v. Amal ganaled Engineering Union
[ 1971] 1 All ER 1148 Lord Denning emphasised that Statutory body is required
to act fairly in function whether administrative or judicial or quasi judical Lord H
872 SUPREME COURT REPORTS I 1993) 3 S.C.R.

morris observed (as noted by this Court in Maneka Gandhi's decision - [1978] 2
A
SCR 625 that.

"We can. I think, take pride in what has been done in recent periods
and particularly in the field of administrative law by invoking and
by applying these principles which we broadly classify under the
B designation of natural justice. Many testing problems as to their
application yet remain to be solved. But I affirm that the area of
administrative action is but one area in which the principles are to
be deployed."

It may be indicated herein that the aforesaid observation was quoted with approval
c by this Court in the decision in Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India [ 1978] 2 SCR
621. In State of Orissa v. Binapani Dei f 1967] 2 SCR 625, this Court also accepted
the application of the principle of natural justice in the order which is administra-
tive in character. It was observed by Shah,J. :

D "It is true that the order is administrative in character, but even an
administrative order which involves civil consequences ... must be
made consistently with the rules of natural justice:·

Similar view was also taken inA.K. Kraipak v. Union ofIndia & Ors. [1970] 1 SCR
457 and the observation of Justice Hedge may be referred to :
E
"Till very recently it was the opinion of the courts that unless the
authority concerned was required by the law under which it func-
tioned to act judicially. there was no room for the application of the
rules of natural justice. The validity of that limitation is now
-
F questioned. If the purpose of the rules of natural justice is to prevent
. miscarriage of justice, one fails to see why those rules should be
made inapplicable to administrative enquiries."

There are number of decisions where application of principle of natural justice in
the decision making process of the administrative body having civil consequence
G has been upheld by this Court but it is not necessary to refer to all such decisions.
Prof Wade in his Administrative Law (1988) at page 503, has very aptly observed
that the principles of natural justice are applicable to almost the whole range of
administrative powers.

Since the rules of natural justice were not emodied rules it is not possible and
H
RA TIAN LAL\'. MANAGING COMMITTEE [RAY.}) 873

practicable to precisely define the parameter of natural justice. In Russel v. Duke
A
of Norfold (1949] l All ER 109 Tucker, L.J. observed:

"There are, in my view no words which are of universal
application to every kind of inquiry and the every kind of domestic
tribunal. The requirements of natural justice must depend on the
circumstances of the case, the nature of the inquiry, the rules under B
which the tribunal is acting, the subject-matter that is being dealt
with, and so forth.''

It has been observed by this Court in Union o_flndia v. P.K. Roy [ l 968] 2SCR
186 that:
c
..The extent and application of the doctrine of natural justice cannot
be imprisoned within the strait-jacket of a rigid formula. The
application of the doctrine depends upon the nature of the jurisdic-
tion conferred on the administrative authority, upon the character of
the rights of the persons affected, the scheme and ·policy of the D
:itatute and other relevant circumstances disclosed in the particular
case ...

Similar view was also expressed in AK. Kraidak's case (ibid). This Court
observf.d:
E
"What particular rule of natural justice should apply to a given case
must depend to a great extent on the facts and circumstances of that
case, the framework of the law under which the enquiry is held and
the constitution of the Tribunal or body of persons appointed for that
purpose. Whenever a complaint is made before a court that some F
principle of natural justice had been contravened, the court has to
decide whether the observance of that rule was necessary for a just
decision on the facts of that case."

Prof. Wade in his Adminisrrarive Law has succinctly summarised the principle of
natural justice to the following effect: G

''It is not possible to lay down rigid rules as to when the principles
of natural justice are to apply: not as to their scope and ext"nt.
Everything depends on the subject matter, the application for
principles of natural justice, resting as it does upon statutory
ff
874 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1993] 3 S.C.R.

implication, must always be in confonnity with the scheme of the
A
Act and with the subject-matter of the case. In the application of the
concept of fair play there must be real flexibility. There must also
have been some real prejudice to the complainant: there is no such
thing as a merely technical infringement of natural justice. The
requirements of natural justice depend on the facts and the circum-
B stances. of the case. the nature of the enquiry, the rules under which
the tribunal is acting, the subject-matter to be dealt with, and so
forth."

One of the cardinal principles of natural justice is : Nerno debetesse judex in
propria causa (No man shall be a judge in his own cause). The deciding authority
c must be impartial and without bias. It has been held by this Court in Secrewry to
Gove mm em Transport Departmem v. Munuswamy [ 1988] Suppl SCC 651 that a
predisposition to decide for or against one party without proper regard to the true
merits of the dispute is bias. Personal bias is one of the three major limbs of bias
namely pecuniary bias, personal bias and official bias. A classic case of personal
bias was revealed in the decision of this Court in state of UP. v. Mohd. Nooh
D
(1988] SCR 595. In the said case, a departmental enquiry was held against an
employee. One of the witnesses against the employee turned hostile. The officer
holding the enquiry then left the enquiry. gave evidence against the employee and
thereafter resumed to complete the enquiry and passed the order of dismissal. This
Court quashed the order of dismissal by holding imer alia that the rules of natural
E justice were grievously violated_

In the instant case, Charge.No. 12 states that a particular sum on account of
amalgamated fund for the month of December was given ~ the appellant by Shri
Maru Ram who was teacher incharge of the amalgamated fund. In the enquiry
committee comprising of the three members. the said Shri Maru Ram was taken
-
F as one of the members and he himself deposed to establish the said Charge No.12
and thereafter again joined the enquiry committee and submitted a report holding
the appellant guilty of some of the charges including the said Charge No. 12. Shri
Maru Ram was interested in establishing the said charge. From the charge itself,
it is apparent that he had a pre-disposition to decide against the appellant. It is really
unfortunate that although the appellant raised an objection before the enquiry
G
committee by clearly indicating that the said Shri Maru Ram was inimical towards
him a,nd he should not be a member in the enquiry committee, such objection was
rejected.on a very flimsy ground, namely, that since the said Shri Maru Ram was
one of the members of the Managing Committee and was the representative of the r
1-f teachers in the Managing Committee it was necessary to include him in the enquiry
RA TIAN LAL v. MANAGING COMMITTEE [RAY. J] 875

cominittee. It is quite apparent that the enquiry committee could have been A
constituted with other members of the Managing Committee and the rules of the
enquiry are not such that Shri Maru Ram being teacher's representative was
required to be included in the said enquiry committee so that the doctrine of
necessity may be attracted. Ifa person has a pecuniary interest, such interest, ever
it very small, disqualifies such person. For appreciating a case of personal bias or
bias to the subject matter the test is whether there was a real likelihood of a bias B
even though such bias has not in fact taken place. De Smith in his Judicial Review
ofAdministrative Action, ( 1980) at page 262 has observed that real likelihood of
bias means at least substantial possibility of bias. In R.v. Sunderland Justices
[1924] 1 KB 357 (373) it has been held that the Court will have to judge the matter
as a reasonable man would judge of any matter in the conduct of his own business.
In R versus Sussex Justices [1924) 1 KB 256 (259) it has been indicated that c
answer to the question whether there was a real likelihood of bias depends not
upon what actually was done but upon what might appear to be done. In Halsbury
- Laws of England, (4th Edn.) Vol.2, para 551, it has been indicated that the test of
bias is whether a reasonable intelligent man, fully apprised of all the circum-
stances, would feel a serious apprehension of bias. The same principle has also
D
been accepted by this Court in Manak Lal v. Dr. Prem Chand [1957) SCR 575.
This Court has laid down that the test is not whether in fact, a bias has affected the
judgment; the test always is and must be whether a litigant could reasonably
apprehend that a bias attributable to a member of the tribunal might have operated
against him in the final decision of the tribunal. It is in this sense that it is often said

-
that justice must not only be done but must also ap~ear to be done. E

In the facts of the case, there was not only a reasonable apprehension in the
mind of the appellant about the bias of one of the members of the enquiry
committee, namely, the said Shri Maru Ram but such apprehension became real
when the said Shri Maru Ram appeared as a witness against the appellant to prove
the said charge and thereafter proceeded with the enquiry proceeding am member F
of the enquiry committee to uphold the correctness of his deposition as a Judge.
The learned Single Judge considering the aforesaid facts came to the finding that
the participation of Shri Maru Ram as a member of the enquiry committee has
vitiated the enquiry proceeding because of flagrant violation of the principles of
natural justice. Unfortunately, the Division Bench set aside such judgment of the
learned Single Judge and dismissed the Writ Petition improper! y, to say the least, G
on a technical ground that plea of bias ofShri Maru Ram and his acting as a Judge
of his own case by being a member of the enquiry committee was not specifically
taken before the Deputy commissioner and also before the appellate authority,
namely, the Commissioner by the appellant and as such the said plea should not
be allowed to be raised in writ proceeding, more so, when the case of prejudice on ff
I

876 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1993) 3 S.C.R. __)

. A accountofbias could be waived by the person suffering such prejudice. Generally .
a point not raised before be tribunal or administrative authorities may not.be
allowed to be raised for the first time in the writ proceeding, more so when the
interference in the writ jurisdiction which is equitable and discretionary is not of
course or must as indicated by this Court in A:M. Allison versus State of Assam,
AIR 1957 SC 227 particularly when the plea sought to be raised for the first time
B i.n a Writ proceeding requires investigation of facts. But if the plea though not
specifically raised before the subordinate tribunals or the administrative and
quasi-j\ldicial bodies, is raised before the High Court in the writ proceeding for
the first time and the plea goes to the root of the question and is based on admitted
and uncontroverted facts and does not require any further investigation into a
question of fact, the High Court is not only justified in entertaining the plea but in
C the anxiety to do justice which is the paramount consideration of the Court, it is
only desirable that litigant should not be shut out from raising such plea which goes
to the.root of the !is involved. The aforesaid view has been taken by this Court in
a number of decisions and a reference may be made to the decisions in AS.
Arunachalam Pillai v. Mis Southern Roadways Lui. and another [1960] AIR SC
119 l, Tl1e Cantonment Board, Ambala v. Pmrelal [1963] 3 SCR 341. In our view,
D
the learned Single Judge has very rightly held that the Deputy Commissioner was
under an obligation to consider the correctness and pr~priety of the decision of the
Managing Committee based on the report of the enquiry ~ommittee which since
made available to him, showed on the face ofit that Shri Ramu Ram was included
and retained in the enquiry committee despite objection of the appellant and the
E said Shri Maru Ram became a witness against the appellant to prove one of the
charges. It is really unfortunate that the Division Bench set aside the decision of
the learned Single Bench by taking recourse to technicalities that the plea of bias
on account of inclusion of Shri Maru Ram in the enquiry committee and his giving
evidence on behalf of the department had not been specifically taken by the
-
appellant before the Deputy Commissioner and the Commissioner. The Division
F Bench has also proceeded on the footing that as even apart from Charge No. 12,
the Deputy Commissioner has also considered the other charges on consideration
of which along with Charge No. 12, the proposed order of dismissal was made. no <
•
prejudice has been caused to the appellant. Such view, to say the least, cannot be
accepted in the facts and circumstances of the case. The learned Single Judge, in
our view, has rightly held that the bias of Shri Maru Ram, one of the members of
G the enquiry committee had percolated throughout the enquiry proceeding thereby
vitiatinr the principles of natural justice and the findings made by the enquiry
committee was the product of a biased and prejudiced mind. The illegality
'·-·:
committed in conducting the departmental proceedings has left an indelible stamp
of infirmity on the decision of the Managing Committee since affirmed by the
H Deputy Commissioner and the Commissioner. The observation· of S.R. Das, C.J.

;
RA lTAN LAL 1·. MANAGl;>.IG COMMITfEE [RAY. J] 877

in Mohd Noah's case (ibid) may be referred to in this connection:
A

"Where the error, irregularity or illegality touching jurisdiction or
procedure committed by an inferiorcounor tribunal offirst instance
is so patent and loudly obstrusive that it leaves on its decision an
indelible stamp of infirmity or vice which cannot be obliterated or
cured on appeal or revision. If an inferior court or tribunal of first 8
instance acts wholly without jurisdiction or patently in excess of
jurisdiction or manifestly conducts the proceedings before it in a
manner which is contrary to the rules of natural justice and all
accepted rules of procedure and which offends the superior court's
sense of fair play, the superior court may, we think, quite proper! y
exercise its power to issue the prerogative writ of certiorari to c
correct the error of the court or tribunal of first instance, even if an
appeal to another inferior court or tribunal was available and
recourse was not had to it or if recourse was had to it, it confirmed
what ex:{acie was a nullity for reasons aforementioned."
·, D
We have, therefore, no hesitation in allowing the appeal by setting aside the
impugned judgment of the Division Bench of Punjab and Haryana High Court and
the order of dismissal of the appellant passed by the Managing Committee of the
School confirmed by the Deputy Commissioner and affirmed in appeal by the
Commissioner: This decision, however, will not preclude the Managing Conunit-
tee. however, from pr0<:eeding afresh with the departmental proceedings from the E
stage of issuance of charge sheet. It is, however, made clear that if a fresh enquiry
proceeding is initiated it should be ensured that the enquiry committee is not
composed with any of the members of the previous enquiry committee and such
proceeding should be completed within a period of four months from today. In the.
special facts of the case and in view of the financial difficulties pleaded 1>5' the
respondent. we do not think that it will be proper to compel the management to pay F
full back wages. The school authorities and other concerned authorities arc
directed to pay one fourth of the salary to the appellant from the date of dismissal
till today and thereafter go on paying the salary with such increments whh:h the
appellant would have been entitled to in the absence ofinitiatjon of the departmen-
tal proceeding. Considering the facts of the case, we allow this appeal with custs
against the appearing respondents.

U.R. Appeal alh>w1:d