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Supreme Court of India

SH. JAI KISHANversusCOMMISSIONER OF POLICE AND ANR.

Citation
1995 INSC 260
Decided
10 April 1995
Disposal
Dismissed

Holding

Successful completion of probation is a condition precedent for confirmation, and termination of a probationer’s services under Rule 5(e)(ii) is valid with no deemed confirmation after the expiry of the probation period.

Summary

Jai Kishan was appointed as a temporary constable in the Delhi Police on 9 September 1982 and placed on probation as required by Rule 5(e) of the Central Services Temporary (Service) Rules, 1966. The rule mandates a two‑year probation, extendable up to three years, after which successful completion leads to confirmation, which is a condition precedent for continued service. The respondent police authority, citing habitual absenteeism and unsatisfactory performance, terminated his services on 14 September 1988 while he was still a probationer. The appellant argued that after the maximum probation period he should be deemed confirmed and that the termination was therefore illegal. The Supreme Court held that confirmation can only occur after successful completion of probation, that the authorities may terminate a probationer’s services without assigning a reason under clause (ii) of Rule 5(e), and that no deemed confirmation arises merely by the lapse of the probation period. Consequently, the termination was upheld and the appeal dismissed.

Issues considered

  • Whether an employee whose probation period has expired but who has not been formally confirmed is deemed to be confirmed under Rule 5(e) of the Central Services Temporary (Service) Rules, 1966.
  • Whether the competent authority can terminate the services of a probationer without assigning any reason under clause (ii) of Rule 5(e).
  • Whether extending probation beyond the statutory maximum of three years is permissible and whether such extension affects the validity of termination.

Legislation cited

Subjects

probationtemporary appointmentconfirmationterminationDelhi Policeadministrative lawCentral Services Temporary Rules

Judgment

A                          SH. JAi KISHAN
                                  v.
                  COMMISSIONER OF POLICE AND ANR.

                                 APRIL 10, 1995

B               [K. RAMASWAMY AND BL. HANSARIA, JJ.)

          Central Civil Services Temporary (Service) Rules, 1966: Rule
    5(e)(l)(ll)(iii)

C          Constable-Temporary appointmenl-i'robatio~Successful probation
    and confirmation a condition precedent for continuance in service-Unsatis-
    factory performance during probatio~Termination of probation and
    removal-Order held valid-Held there was no deemed confirmation after
    expiry of period of probation.

D        The appellant was appointed as a temporary constable on September
  9, 1982. Under Rule 5(e) of the Central Services Temporary .<Service)
  Rules, 1966 he was required to be on probation for a period of two years       \
  which In no case was to extend beyond three years. On successful comple-
  tion of probation he was to be conftrmed In the service. Therefore, conftr-
E matlon Into the service was a condltlon precedent to continue as a member
  of Delhi Police Service. The appellant continued In service upto September
  14, 1988 and on that date an order was passed under Rule S(e) terminating
  his services. He unsuccessfully questioned the termination order befm:"e the
  Central Administrative Tribunal. Against the decision of the Tribunal, an
  appeal was preferred to this Court.
F
        The respondent's case was that appellant's retention in service was
  not considered desirable for the dlsclpllne or the police force because he
  was found to be a habitual absentee and Incorrigible type of police
  employee and this could have set a bad example to other employees. Insplte
G of giving repeated opportunities to Improve, the appellant failed to Im-
  prove his performance and consequently his services were terminated.

          Dismissing the appeal, this Court

          HELD: Successful completion of probation Is a condition precedent
H for conftrmatlon as envisaged In clause (Iii) of Rule S(e) of the Central
                                       268
                            JAi KISHAN v. COMMR. OF POLICE                     269

        CMI Services Temporary (Service) Rules, 1966. The authorities have A
        power to allow maximum period of 3 years of probation. In this case
        Instead of giving him three years, they have given long period of S years so
        as to see whether the appellant would improve his performance in the
        service. Since they found that there was no satisfactory improvement, his
        probation was terminated and he was removed from service as a B
        probationer. Under these circumstances, there is no illegality in the action
        taken by the respondents warranting interference. (271-B, CJ

                State of Punjab v. Dharam Singh, AIR (1968) SC 1210, distinguished.

                CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 5210 of               C
        1995.

              From the Judgment and Order dated 15.12.93 of the Central Ad·
        ministrative Tribunal, New Delhi in 0.A. No. 1969 of 1989.

                Mukul Gupta for the Appellant.                                        D
    I           V.C. Mahajan and S.N. Terdol for the Respondents.

                The following Order of the Court was delivered :

                Leave granted.                                                        E
               We have heard the counsel on both the sides. The appellant was
        appointed as a Temporary Constable on September 9, 1982. After his
        undergoing training, he was posted to 7th Bn. The Central Services Tem-
        porary {Service) Rules, 1966 {for short 'the Rules') and other Rules as
        notified vide Delhi Administration's Notification No. 10/5/79 Home {P) F
        Establishment dated December 17, 1980 are applicable to the Service
        conditions of the appellant. He continued upto September 14, 19sB ~n.·

-       which date the respondents issued and served an order under Rule 5(e) of
        the Rules terminating his services with the expiry of a period of one month
        from that date. The appellant when questioned the same in the Central G
        Administrative Tribunal in C.A. No. 1969/88, by order dated December 15,
        1993 it had dismissed the petition and his review application also was
        dismissed. Thus, this appeal.

              In the counter affidavit it was stated that from the perusal of his
        service record it was observed that the appellant had absented himself        H
    270                  SUPREME COURT REPORTS                  (1995] 3 S.C.R.
A willfully in unauthorised manner on 65 occasions from time to time during
  his entire service of six years and he was not found fit for issue of quasi
  permanency by various officers and was awarded punishment of censure
  and period of absence without pay after r,egular departmental enquiry.
  That the appellant was found habitual absentee and incorrigible type police
  employee and this could have set bad example to other employees of
B uniformed force. The appellant had not shown any capacity or devotion to
  his duties nor he performed the same efficiently. Therefore, his retention
  in service for more period was considered not desirable for the discipline
  of the force.

C           Rule 5(e) of the Rules reads as follows:

            "(e)(i) All direct appointments of employees shall be made initially
            on purely temporary basis. All employees appointed to the Delhi
            Police shall be on probation for a period of two years.

D              Provided that the competent authority may extend the period
            of probation but in no case shall the period of probation extend ·
            beyond three years in all.                                             \
            (ii) The services of an employee appointed on probation are liable
            to be terminated without assigning any reason.
E
            (iii) After successful completion of period of probation, the
            employee shall be confirmed in the Delhi Police by the competent
            authority, subject to the availability of permanent post."

          A reading thereof clearly indicates that all direct recruits are re-
F quired to be on probation for a period of two years and in no case the
  probation would extend beyond the period of three years. During the
  period of probation the probationer is required to complete successfuJJy
  the probation complying with the conditions of passing the test etc. There-
  after, they need be confirmed in the Delhi Police service. The confirmation
G into the service, therefore, is a condition precedent, to continue as a
  member of Delhi Police Service. In spite of giving repeated opportunities
  to improve himself he failed to improve his performance. So he was given
  notice on 14.9.1988 terminating his service by the impugned order.

        It is contended by the learned counsel for the appellant, placing
H reliance on State of Punjab v. Dharam Singh, AIR {1968) SC 1210, that
                  JAi KJSHAN v. COMMR. OF POLICE                      271
                                                                                 /
even if the appellant was not confirmed by passing any order, on expiry of .A.
three years he must be deemed to have been confirmed as a member of \
the Service. Thereafter, the respondents had no jurisdiction to terminate
his service. It is difficult to accept the contention. Dharam Singh's case
bears no relevance, as similar prO\ision was not there in the concerned
rule. Successful completion of probation is a condition precedent for
confirmation as envisaged in clause (iii) of Rule 5(e) of the Rules. The B
authorities have power to allow maximum period of 3 years of probation.
In this case instead of giving him three years, they have given long 5 years
period so as to see whether the appellant would improve his performance
in the service. Since they found that there was no satisfactory improvement,
his probation was terminated and was removed from service as a C
probationer. Under these circumstances, we do not find any illegality in
the ac~ion tak~n by the r~spondents warranting interference.

     The appeal is accordingly dismissed. No costs.

T.N.A.                                                 Appeal dismissed.


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