STATE OF RAJASTHANversusM.C. SAXENA

A                           STATE OF RAJASTHAN
                                         v.
                                  M.C. SAXENA

                              FEBRUARY 24, 1998

B             [S. SAGHIR AHMAD AND G.B. PATTANAIK, JJ.]


         Service Law :

         Rajasthan Civil Service (CCA) Rules, 1958 ; Rule 33.

C         Departmental enquiry-Enquiry Report-Delinquent employee
    exonerated-However, Disciplinary Authority gave reasons disagreeing with
    the Enquiry Report and awarded punishment-Employee not given opportunity
    of hearing by the Disciplinary Authority-Validity of-Held : The only
    requirement is to record reasons for disagreement--There is no requirement
    of affording further opportunity of hearing of the delinquent employee-The
D   court cannot interfere unless the findings of the Disciplinary Authority are
    not reasonable-Hence, punishment awarded is valid.

          Punishment-Lapse of-From date of punishment or date of
    deliquency-Departmental Circular-Provided punishment would lapse after
    seven years from the date ofpunishment and not from the date of delinquency-
E   Validity of-Held : Departmental Circular, valid.

        The respondent, an Engineer with the appellant-State Government, was
  charged with using sub-standard materials in construction work. The· Enquiry
  Officer exonerated the respondent on the ground that the samples, which
  were sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), were not in accordance
F with the prescribed procedure and therefore, the report of the FSL could not
  relied upon. The disciplinary authority gave reasons for his disagreement
  with the findings of the Enquiry Officer and awarded punishment to the
  respondent

          The Departmental Promotion Committee found the respondent fit for ·
    promotion for the year 82-83 and the respondent was accordingly promoted.
G   However, the respondent filed a writ peition before the High Court contending
    that the punishment lapsed after a period of seven years from the date of       t
    deliquency and, therefore, the respondent should have been considered for
    promotion for the years 1980. The High Court allowed the petition. Hence
    this appeal.
H         On behalf of the appellant it was contended that in view of the Depart-
                                         1090
                             STA TE v. M.C. SAXENA                         1091
    mental Circular the period of seven years could only be counted from the        A
    date of the order of punishment and the date of delinquency was immaterial.

        On behalf of the respondent it was contended that since the Disciplinary
    Authority did not give the respondent an opportunity of hearing before
    awarding the 1mnishment it was liable to be set aside.
                                                                                    B
         Dismissing the appeal, this Court

          HELD : 1.1. The disci11linary authority can disagree with the findings
    arrived at by the enquiry officer and act upon his own conclusion, but the
    only requirement is that the said disciplinary authority must record reasons
    for his disagreement with the findings of the enquiry officer. H the            C
    disciplinary authority gives reasons for disagreeing with the findings of the
    enquiry officer then the Court cannot interfere with those findings unless
    it comes to the conclustion that no reasonable man can come to the said
    finding. The disciplinary authority was well within his powers to award
    punishment on the findings arrived at by him. (1095-D-E)                        D
r
         1.2. A set of charges having been framed and the delinquent
    government servant having filed his show cause to the set of charges, the
    regular enquiry having been held and the enquiry officer having recorded
    his findings and thereafter the disciplinary authority having disagreed with
    the finding by recording the reasons therefor and ultimately awarding           E
    punishment there is no procedural irregularity therein nor can it be said
    that there has been any violation of principles of natural justice. Hence,
    there is no requirement of affording the respondent a further opportunity of
    hearing. [1095-G-H; 1096-A)

          2. The High Court erred in coming to the conclusion that the              F
    punishment would Japes after a period of seven years from the date of
    delinquency and not from the date of punishment. [1094-H)

         CIVIL APPELLATE JURISIDiCTION: Civil Appeal No. 2536 of
    1993 Etc.
                                                                                    G
          From the Judgment and Order dated 21.1. 93 of the Rajasthan High Court
    in D.B.C. P. No. 3323of1989.

         Aruneshwar Gupta, A.K. Bhati and Surya Kant for the appearing parties.

          The Judgment of the Court was delivered by                                H
    1092                   SUPREME COURT REPORTS                     [1998] l S.C.R.

A        G. B. PATTANAIK, J. These two appeals, one by the state ofRajasthan
  and the other by the concerned employee arise out of the same judgment and
  as such are being disposed of by this common judgment. The respondent
  Shri. M.C. Saxena in Civil Appeal No 2536 of 1993 is an engineer who joined
  the service of the Rajasthan Government in the year 1957 as Assistant Engineer.
B While he was continuing as Executive Engineer at Bharatpur, certain complaints
  were received by the Anti Corruption Department to the effect that the
  material used by the Engineer at Seola and Baretha Bandhs are sub-standard
  materials. On the basis of the said complaint certain preliminary enquiry was
  held and then the State Government issued a set of charges against the
  respondent and four other officials in June 1979. On receipt of the e:-..]Jlanation
C from the respondent, an enquiry officer was appointed to enquire into the
  charges against the respondent by order of the State Government dated 21st
  January, 1980. The enquiry officer ultimately submitted a report on 24th July
  1984 indicating therein that the samples which have been taken by the
  concerned officer and were sent to the FSL was not in accordance with the
  prescribed procedure and therefore the report of the FSL cannot be relied
D upon. Accordingly the Enquiry Officer exonerated the respondent. During the
  pendency of the aforesaid departmental proceedings the respondent was
  promoted to the post of Superintending Engineer on provisional basis by
  order dated 24th November, 1984. The State Government who is the Disciplinary
  Authority of the respondent considered the report of the Enquiry Officer and
E disagreed with the finding of the said enquiry officer. The State Government
  came to the conclusion that the charges against the respondent have been
  duly established and accordingly awarded the punishment of withholding of
  two increments without cumulative effect by order dated 8th October, 1995.
  On a Review Petition being filed by the respondent under Rule 33 of the
  Rajasthan Civil Services (CCA) Rules, 1958, the Government allowed the same
F partly by order dated 17th December 1986 and reduced the punishment imposed
  to withhold one increment without cumulative effect. Tue respondent then
  filed a second Review Petition which however was dismissed by order dated
  20th June 1988. In the year 1989 the Departmental Promotion Committee
  considered the cases of promotion in respect of vacancies in the post of
G Superintending Engineer for 81-82 and 82-83 but did not find the respondent
  fit for promotion for the year 81-82. The said DPC however, found the
  respondent suitable for promotion in respect of the vacancies in the year 82-         l·

  83. In accordance with the said decision the State Government finally passed
  the order on 27th December 1989 granting retrospective promotion to the
  respondent to the post of Superintending Engineer. The respondent then filed
H a writ petition in the Rajasthan High Court challenging the validity of certain
                   STATE v. M.C. SAXENA [G.B. PATTANAIK, J.]                    1093

    provisions of Classification, Control and Appeal Rules as well as the                A
    recommendations of the Departmental Promotion Committee for selection on
    promotion against the vacancies of 81-82 and 82-83 for the post of
    Superintending Engineer and the consequential order of the State Government
    dated 27th December 1989. The said writ petition was registered as Civil Writ
    Petition No 3323 for 1989, and has been disposed of by the judgment dated
    21st January, 1993, which is being impugned by the State of Rajasthan in civil       B
    Appeal 2536of1993. The employee Slui M.C. Saxena also has come up in the
    other appeal challenging the order of punishment inflicted upon him by the
    State of Rajasthan, in withholding one increment without cumulative effect.
    It may be stated that during the pendency of the writ petition before the High
    Court the respondent was promoted to tl1e post of Additional Chief Engineer          C
    against tl1e vacancy of 1992-93. The High Court by t11e impugned order came
    to t11e conclusion that since the delinquency in respect of which respondent
    stood charged in the Departmental proceeding was of t11e year 1973, the
    punishment awarded would lapse after expiry of seven years from the date
    on which the alleged delinquency was committed and therefore non
r   consideration of the respondent for promotion in the year 1980 is vitiated. The      D
    High Court furt11er directed to hold the Departmental Promotion Committee to
     consider t11e case of t11e respondent for promotion to the post of Superintending
    Engineerw.e.f 1980 and on such consideration if he is found suitable to grant
    him retrospective promotion and should be considered also for promotion to
    the higher level.                                                                    E

           Mr. Gupta appearing for the State in Civil Appeal No. 2536 of 1993
    contends that in view of the Departmental proceeding initiated against t11e
    respondent and ultimately order of punishment inflicted upon by the
    disciplinary authority withholding one increment without cumulative effect,          F
    the conclusion of the High Court that the respondent was entitled to be
    considered for promotion w.e.f 1980 is wholly unsustainable in law. He further
    contended that in view of the relevant circular of the Government, the period
    of seven years can only be counted from the date of t11e order of punishment
    and t11e date of delinquency is wholly immaterial, and the High Court conunitted
    error in holding tllat the period of seven years could be counted from t11e date     G
    of delinquency. Mr. Gupta further submitted tllat the respondent having been
    duly considered in tile year 1989 but having been found unsuitable for
    promotion to t11e post of Superintending Engineer in respect of vacancy
    or:·urring in 81-82, tllere has bee11 no infringement of Article 16 of tlle
    C.mstitntion and consequently the impugned direction of the High Court               H
    1094                   SUPREME COURT REPORTS                   [1998] 1 S.C.R.

A   cannot be sustained.

           Mr. Surya Kant, the learned counsel appearing for the employee who
    is the Appellant in Civil Appeal No 2564 of 1993 though fairly stat<'d that the
    period of seven years has to be counted from the date of the award of
B   punishment and not from the date of delinquency but contended that the
    enquiry officer having exonerated the delinquent of the charges levelled
    against him, the disciplinary authority could not have inflicted punishment
    without giving an opportunity of hearing to the delinquent and as such the
    impugned order of punishment is liable to be set aside, being in violation of
    principle of natural justice. The learned counsel accordingly urged that the
C   High Court committed gross error in not setting aside the order of punishment
    imposed upon the delinquent government servant.

         Having heard the learned counsel for tl1e parties and having given our
  anxious consideration to tl1e submissions made and on going tlrrough the
  impugned judgment of the High Court, we are of the considered opinion tl1at
D the High Court committed gross error in issuing the impugned directions. A
  departmental proceeding was admittedly initiated against the respondent by
  serving upon him a set of charges on 1st June, 1979. That departmental
  proceeding culminated in the order of punishment imposed by the State
  Government on 8th October, 1975. When a departmental proceeding is already          ,
E pending but no punishment has been inflicted upon and the question of
  promotion of tl1e delinquent government servant arises then the Departmental
  Promotion Committee can adopt a sealed cover procedure which is well
  known in the service jurisprudence. But if tl1e departmental proceeding
  culminates in imposition of a punishment on tl1e delinquent, the question of
  reconsideration of tl1e delinquent's case for promotion would not arise at that
F stage. In the case in hand since the disciplinary authority disagreeing witl1
  the report of the enquiring officer held the respondent guilty and imposed tl1e
  punishment of stoppage of two increments without cumulative effect which
  was later on reviewed and punishment of stoppage of one increment without•
  cumulative effect was finally imposed, the High Court could not have directed
  the State Government to reconsider the case of promotion of the respondent
G to the post of Superintending Engineer w.e.f 1980 onwards. The said direction
  is wholly unsustainable and is accordingly set aside. The High Court also
  committed serious error in holding that in terms of the relevant circular, the
  seven year period could count from the date of delinquency and would lapse
  in the year 1980, even though the departmental proceeding was continued
H and ultimately culminated by imposing an order of punishment in the year
                   STATE v. M.C. SAXENA [G.B. PATTANAIK, J.]                     1095

     1985. In fact Mr. Surya Kant appearing for the delinquent could not support          A
     the aforesaid reasoning of the High Court. In this view of the matter, we have
     no hesitation to come to the conclusion that the High Court committed
     serious error by requiring that the case of the delinquent government servant
     should be considered for promotion to the post of Supdt. Engineer
     retrospectively w.e.f 1980 onwards. We accordingly quash the said direction          B
     of the High Court.

            The grievance of the delinquent government servant is based upon a
     thorough misconception about the rights of the government servant concerned.
     It is undisputed that the enquiring officer did not rely upon the FSL report
     on the ground that the procedure prescribed for taking sample have not been          C
     followed and therefore exonerated t11e delinquent government servant. But
     the disciplinary authority recorded reasons for disagreeing with the findings
     of t11e enquiring officer and held tliat the charges against the respondent has
     been established. It is well settled that the disciplinary authority can disagree
     with the findings arrived at by the enquiring officer and act upon his own
y    conclusion, but the only requirement is that the said disciplinary authority         D
     must record reasons for his disagreement with the findings of the enquiry
     officer. If the disciplinary authority gives reasons for disagreeing wit11 the
     findings of enquiring officer then the Court cannot interfere with those fmdings
     unless it comes to the conclusion that no reasonable man can come to the
     said finding. In this view of tlie matter, t11e disciplinary authority was well      E
     within his powers to award punishment on the findings arrived at by him. We
     do not find any force in the submission of the learned counsel appearing for
     the delinquent government servant that before t11e disciplinary authority
     proceeds to award punishment, t11e delinquent government servant should
     have been afforded a further opportunity of hearing. As it appears, the
·(
     punishment of stopping two increments wit11out cumulative effect is a minor          F
     punishment under CCA Rules. Then again the delinquent government servant
     filed review petition and State Government allowed the review petition and
     reduced the punishment to stoppage of one increment without cumulative
     effect. In such circumstances the argument that there has been a gross
     violation of principle of natural justice is devoid of force. A set of charges       G
     having been framed and the delinquent government servant having filed his
     show cause to t11e set of charges, the regular enquiry having been held and
     the enquiring officer having recorded his findings and thereafter the disciplinary
     authority having disagreed with the findings by recording the reasons tl1erefor
     and ultimately awarding minor punishment of stoppage of one increment
     without cumulative effect, there is no procedural irregularity therein nor can       H
    1096                   SUPREME COURT REPORTS                    [1998] l S.C.R.

A it be said that there has been any violation of principle of natural justice. Thus
    the punishment imposed upon by the authority has rightly not been interfered
    with by the High Court.

           In the aforesaid premises the impugned judgment of the High Court is
    set aside. Civil Appeal No 2536 of 1993 is allowed. Civil Appeal No 2564 of
B   1993 filed by shri M. C Saxena stands dismissed and Writ Petition filed by him
    is dismissed. No order as to costs.

    V.S.S.                                               C.A. No. 2536/93 allowed
                                                      C.A. No. 2564/93 dismissed.