THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADUversusD. SUBRAMANYAM RAJADEVAN

     THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU                                    A
                                      v..
                  D. SUBRAMANYAM RATADEVAN

                               JULY 9, 1996
                                                                                  B
             [S.C. AGRAWAL AND G.T. NANAVAT!, JJ.]

        Constitution of India, A1ticle 309---Tami! Nadu Civil Services (Clas-
sification, Control and Appeal) Rules 1953, R. 17, 2 .... Tamil Nadu Civil
Services (Disciplina1y Proceedings Tribunal) Rules 1955, R.8-Disciplinmy
proceedin~ase of corruption against Government Servant-Proce-
                                                                                  c
dure-Procedure prescribed in R.8 of the Disciplina1y Proceedings Rules,
which are special Rules applicable in conuption cases, has to be followed
and not the procedure prescdbed in Rule 17 of the Civil Se1vice Rules ... No
such principle o1· natural justice that before deciding to hold a regular
deparlmental inquiry, disciplinary authority has to first hold a preliminary      D
inqui1y by drawing up a charge-n1enio and call for the tv1itten statentent-Ser-
vice Law.

       Some complaints regarding corruption and misconduct against a
Government Servant were made to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti·
Corruption, Madras. The Directorate investigated the complaints and               E
filed its report to the Government. After examining the report, Govern·
ment referred the case to the Tribunal for disciplinary proceedings. The
Tribunal framed three charges and communicated the same to the Respon·
dent.
                                                                                  F
      The Respondent approached the Tamil nadu Administrative
Tribunal challenging the charge-memo on the grounds of delay, vagueness
and breach of the requirement of Rule 17 of Tamil Nadu Civil Service
(Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules (1953). The Administrative
Tribunal c1uashed the charge memo on the ground that the charges were G
required to be formulated by the Disciplinary Authority as required by
R.17 of the Civil Service Rules. It also held that the substantive provisions
of Rule 17 of the Civil Service Rules in regard to the function and powers
of the disciplinary authority cannot be taken away from such authority by
the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Disciplinary Proceeding Tribunal) Rules,
1955 which relate only to the inquiry which is only a component of the H
                                      385.
    386                  SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A proceedings under Rule 17 of the Civil Services Rules and directed the
    Government to re-examine the case and if necessary to pursue the matter
    further to formulate the charges, get the written statement of the defence,
    to examine the case in the light of the written statement, documentary
    evidence and oral evidence available in support of the charges and to
    decide whether the case should be referred to the Disciplinary Tribunal.
B
    Hence, this appeal.

        The llppellant challenged the view taken by the Tribunal and con-
  tended that the Tribunal has misconstrued the Civil Service Rules and the
  Disciplinary Proceedings Rules. Once the Government finds that it is a
C case involving corruption and decide to proceed departmentally against
  the Government servant that the said case has to be referred to the
  Disciplinary Tribunal. In such a case, the procedure prescribed by the
  Disciplinary Proceedings Rules is to be followed and not the procedure
  prescribed by the Civil Service Rules.

D         Allowing the appeal, this Court:

          HELD 1.1. As both the, Civil Service Rules and Disciplinary Proceed-
    ings Rules, have been framed in exercises of the powers conferred on the
  Government by Article 309 of the Constitution of India, they have equal
E force of law. A comparison of the rules clearly reveals that the Civil Service
    Rules are general rules applicable in all ty!_)es of cases, whereas the
    Disciplinary Proceedings Rules are special rules applicable in cases of
    corruption by Government-servants and in respect of all those disciplinary
    cases in 'vhich the Government proposes to revise the original orders
    passed on the charges of corruption. [393-D-E]
F
         1.2. The Trihunal has clearly misconstrued the nature and scope of
    Rule 17 of the Civil Service Rules and failed to appreciate that Rule 17
    does not deal with the powers of the disciplinary authority to punish the
    delinquent Government servant, but only provides the procedure for the
G   cases \Vhere it is proposed to impose a penalty on such Government
    servant. [393-F]

        2. The Tribunal also failed to consider the effect of Rule 2 of the Civil
  Service Rules, which provides that the Civil Service Rules shall not apply
  to the extent it is otherwise expressly provided by or under any other law
H for the time being in force or in any other rule. The words in Rule 8 of
  SCRY. TO GOVT. OFT.N. v. D. SUBRAMANYANRAJADEVAN [NANAVATI.J.]387


Disciplinary Proceeding Rules i.e. "Notwithstanding anything contained in        A
Rule 17" are categorically and very clearly disclose the intention of the Rule
making authority that while conducting inquiries in cases of corruption
and also in cases of corruption combined with other charges the procedure
prescribed in Rule 8 has to be followed and not the procedure prescribed
in Rule 17 of the Civil Service Rules. [393-G-H, 394-A-B]
                                                                                 B
      3. There is no such principle of natural justice that before holding a
regular departmental inquiry the disciplinary authority itself should hold
a preliminary inquiry by first drawing up a charge memo and then calling
for the written statement of defence before taking a decision to hold a
regular departmental inquiry. The view taken by the Tribunal is totally          C
wrong. The judgment passed by the Tribunal is set aside and the appellant
is directed to proceed further with the inquiry pursuant to the charge
memo. [395-B-C]

      Inspector General of Police v. 77zavasiappan, JT (1996) 6 SC 450,
[1996] 2 SCC 145; Managing Directm; U.P. Warehousing Cmporation and              D
Another v. Vinay Narayan Vajpayee, [1980] 2 SCR 773, distinguished.

        CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 5262 of
1993.

    From the Judgment and Order dated 31.7.91 of the Tamil Nadu                  E
Administrative Tribunal, at Madras in 0.A. No. 2587 of 1990.

        A. Mariarputham, for Arputham, Aruna & Co. for the Appellant.

        R. Venkataramani, T.L. Roy and Satya Mitra Garg, for the Respon-
dent.
                                                                                 F

        The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

      NANAVATl, J. This is an appeal by special leave against the judg-
ment and order passed by the Tamil Nadu Administrative Tribunal in 0 .A.         G
No. 2587 of 1990.

     Some complaints of corruption and other acts of misconduct by the
respondent, during the period from 5.6.85 to 15.6.86, while serving as a
Superintendent of Police, were received by the Directorate of Vigilance
and Anti-Corruption, Madras. The Directorate investigated those com- H
    388                   SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A plaints and reported its findings to the Tamil Nadu government. The
  Government after examining the records submitted to it by the Directorate
  decided to refer those cases to the Tribunal for Disciplinary proceedings
  (hereinafter referred to as 'the Disciplinary Tribunal') constituted under
  Rule 3 of Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Disciplinary Proceedings Tribunal)
B Rules, 1955 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Disciplinary proceedings
  Rules') for enquiring into those cases. The Tribunal framed three charges
  on 21.11.89 and communicated the same to the respondent. Thereupon,
  the respondent approached the Tamil Nadu Administrative Tribunal
  (hereinafter referred to as 'the Tribunal') challenging the charge memo
  framed against him on the grounds of delay, vagueness and breach of the
C requirements of Ruic 17 of the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Classification,
  Control and Appeal) Rules (hereinafter referred to as 'the Civil Service
  Rules'). The grounds of delay and vagueness were not considered as
  sufficient by the Tribunal for quashing the charges but it was of the view
  that the charges were required to be formulated by the Disciplinary
D Authority as required by Rule 17 of the Civil Service Rules after applying
  its mind to the record of the case and after recording the tentative decision
  to impose any of the penalties specified in Items (iv), (vi), (vii) and (viii)
  of the Ruic 8 of the Civil Service Rules before referring the cases to the
  Tribunal for the purpose of holding an inquiry and as this was not done,
  the charges deserved to be quashed. The reasons given by the Tribunal for
E taking this view are as under :

                "We would consider that the substantive provisions of Rule 17
             of the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Classification, Control and
             Appeal) Rules in regard to the functions and powers of the
             disciplinary authority cannot be taken away from such authority by
F
             the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Disciplinary proceedings Tribunal)
             Rules, 1955, which relate only to the enquiry which is only a
             component of the proceedings under Rule 17 of the Tamil nadu
             Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) rules as we have
             emphasised in our decision in 0.A. Nos. 712 and 713 of 1990 dated
G            26.2.1991 wherein we have held as below :

                Rule 17(b)(l) therefore requires that (1) there should be a
             decision that the facts and circumstances disclosed and the
             evidence in support thereof constituting the basis for the charge
H            would justify one of the penalties specified therein if the charges
SCRY. TO GOVT. OFT.N. v. D. SUBRAMANYANRAJADEVAN [NANAVATI,J.]389


     are·established after the enquiry into which the delinquent officer       A
     would have the opportunities as prescribed to put forward his
     defence (2) with reference to the facts and circumstances disclosed
     and the evidence, the charge or charges should be formulated to
     be communicated to the person charged with a statement of
     allegations on which these charges are based and other circumstan-        B
     ces which is proposed to be taken into consideration. (3) Con-
     sideration of the "Titten statement of defence and a decision in
     regard to oral enquiry in the light of the written statement of
     defence, the request of the delinquent officer for an oral enquiry
                                                         ' .
     or otherwise, consideration of the evidence ir1 ;upport of each
     charge to decide whether oral evidence is necessary if the dclin-         C
     quent has not asked for such enquiry. (4) The conduct of the
     enquiry am! the preparation of the report of the enquiry. The
     enquiry can be conducted by the disciplinary authority or by any
     authority designated by him. None of these can be delegated except
     the functions of the Enquiry Officer. Whether action should be            D
     initiated under Rule 17(b) (l) or under Ruic 17(a) ofTNCS (CCA)
     Rules i" a deci"ion \vhich the di.;;ciplinary authority alone can take.
     That decision cannot be taken by any lower authority empowered
     to impose the penalties specified in Rule 17 (a); if such lower
     authority initiates actions proceeds with the elaborate enquiry as
     required under Rule 17 (b) (1) and thereafter the disciplinary            E
     authority is of the view that the charges do not call for such
     proceedings, the entire proceedings would become superflous and
     the delinquent would have been put to delay and inconvenience
     which would have been avoided, if the proceedings had been
     completed under Rule 17(a). The time and effort on the part of            F
     the department could also have been saved. Therefore, at this stage
     of formulation of charges on completion of the investigation into
     the allegations 1imputations, defaults or misconduct a vic\v has to
     be taken in the light of the results of the investigation whether
     action under Rule 17(b) is called for and only thereafter procedure
     as under that rule can be invoked.                                  G

        Further decisions involved viz. 1 whether an oral enquiry is
     needed which has to be taken after considering the written state-
     ment of defence and the nature of the charges an<l evidence in a
     case in which the delinquent does not ask for oral enquiry, is again      H
    390                  SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A           decision which can be taken only by the disciplinary authority
            because it involves a finding whether the charges as formulated
            have to be enquired into in the light of the written statement of
            defence, and if the charges are supported by documentary evidence
            whether an oral enquiry is necessary, a decision may be possible
            at that stage and without such consideration, an oral enquiry could
B
            not be proceeded with as a normal routine without a specific
            decision.

               After referring to the observations of the Supreme Court in
            S.L.P. 2725/88 dated 11.3.1988 (AIR 1988 SC 1000) we have held
c           that "the principle enunciated here is that the decision of the
            disciplinary authority has to be his personal decision after con-
            sideration of all the relevant facts and circumstances and evidence
            on record and the representation of the delinquent officer. This
            principle should extend to the entire classes of disciplinary action
            commencing from the stale of formulation of charges. As already
D           pointed out in paragraph 4 of the decisions involved are for
            personal consideration by the disciplinary authority and cannot be
            delegated. Any decisipn in the course of the disciplinary action has
            to be that of the disciplinary authority."

E The Tribunal, therefore, quashed the charges dated 21.11.89 and directed
    the Government to re-examine the case in the light of the observations
    made by il in its order and if it thereafter considers it necessary to pursue
    the matter further than to formulate the charges, get the written statement
    of defence, to examine the case in the light of the written statement,
F   consider the documentary evidence and the nature of oral evidence avail-
    able in support of the charges and to decide whether the cases are still to
    be referred to the Disciplinary Tribunal.

        The appellant is challenging the view taken by the Tribunal as wholly
  wrong. It was submitted by the learned counsel for the appellant that the
G Tribunal has misconstrued the Civil Service Rules and the Disciplinary
  Proceedings Rules and thus misdirected itself as regards the correct legal
  position. He submitted that it is incorrect to say that Ruic 17 of the Civil
  Service Rules is a substantive provision whereas Rule 8(a) (i) of the
  Disciplinary Proceedings Rules is a procedural rule and that the Discipli-
H nary Proceedings Rules cannot affect the applicability of Rule 17 of the
  SCRY. TO GOVT. OFT.N. v. D. SUBRAMANYANRAJADEVANINANAVATI, J.]391

Civil Service Rules. He further submitted that once it is found by the         A
Government that it is a case in respect of the matters involving corruption
and it decides to proceed departmentaly against the Government servant
then the said case has to be referred to the Disciplinary Tribunal and in
such a case the procedure prescribed by the Disciplinary proceedings
Rules is required to be followed and not the procedure prescribed by the
                                                                                B
Civil Service Rules.

        We find considerable substance in the contentions raised on behalf
of the appellant. The Madras Civil Services (Classification, Control and
Appeal) Rules now known as Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Classification,
Control and Appeal) rules have been framed by the Government ir. exer-          c
cise of the powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitu-
tion of India. They came into force on and from tho 1st .January, 1955. So
also the Madras Civil Services (Disciplinary Proceedings Tribunal) Rules,
1955 now known as Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Disciplinary Proceedings
Tribunal) Rules, 1955 have been framed by the Government in exercise of D
the powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution of
India. They also came into force on the lst .January, 1955. Ruic 2 of the
Chil Service Rules prmides that they shall apply to every member of the
Civil Service of the Stale and to every person holding a civil post under the
State except to the extent othernise expressly provided : (i) by or under
any law for the time being in force or in any rule, (ii) in respect of any such E
member by contract or agreement subsisting between such member or
person and the Government. Part Ill of the Civil Service Rules makes
provision for Discipline-Penalties. The Rules contained in that part have
specified the penalties which can be imposed, the authorities which can
impose those penalties and Rule 17 provides the procedure which has to F
be followed before any of the penalties can be imposed. If it is proposed
to impose a minor penalty then the procedure prescribed in Rule 17 (a)
has to be followed, but where it is proposed to impose a major penalty,
i.e., any of the penalties specified in Items (iv), (vi), (vii) and (viii) of Rule
8, then the procedure contained in rule 17 (b) has to be followed. Like the
Civil Service Rules, the Disciplinary Proceedings Rules apply to all the G
officer under the Rule-making control of the State Government. Rule 2
thereof defines corruption by stating that it shall have the same meaning
as criminal misconduct by a public servant under Section 5(1} of the
Prevention of Corruption Act. Rule 3 provides for constitution of
"Tribunals for Disciplinary Proceedings". Each such Tribunal has to consist H
    392                   SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A of one person only who shall be a judicial officer of the rank of District
    and Sessions Judge. The Disciplinary Tribunal has to enquire into such
    cases as may be referred to the Tribunal and clause (a) of Sub-rule (1)
    thereof reads as under :

                 "Cases relating to Government servants on a monthly salary of
B            Rs. 200 and above, in respect of matters involving corruption on
             the part of such Government servants in the discharge of their
             official duties."

          Rule 5 inter aiia provides that in every case referred to in clause (a)
C of sub-rule (1) and sub-rule (2) of rule 4, on completion of investigation,
   the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption or any other Branch of
   the police or other departmental authority concerned, shall forward to the
   Government all the records of the case. It further provides that the
  .Government shall, after examining such records and after consulting the
   head of the department concerned, if necessary, decide whether the case
D shall be tried in a court of Law or by the Tribunal. It is then provided that
   if the Government decides that the case shall be tried by the Tribunal, they
   shall send the records to the Tribunal. Rule 8 which is an important rule
   for the purpose of this appeal, provides the procedure to be followed in
    conducting the enquiries soon after receiving the records of such cases
E from the Government. The material part of that rnle reads as under :
                "8(a)(i) Notwithstanding anything contained in rule 17 of the
             Madras Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) rules,
             the following procedure shall be adopted by the Tribunal in con-
             ducting enquiries in cases of corruption and also in cases of
F            corruption con1bined with other charges as soon as the records
             relating to allegations of corruption or of corruption combined
             \Vith other charges against a CJovernment servant are received, the
             Tribunal shall frame appropriate charges, communicate them to
             the person charged together with " list of \vitnesses likely to be
             examined in respect of each of the charges and with information
G
             as to the date and place of enquiry ............................. "

  Clause {cl) of the said rule provides that the pro;isions of the Madras Civil
  Services (Classification, control and Appeal) rules shall apply-(i) in regard
  to the procedure to be followed in cases other than those of corruption;
H and (ii) in regard to any other matter for which no specific provision has
  SCRY. TO GOVT. OFT.N. >". D. SUBRAMANYANRAJADEVAN !NANAVATI •.T.] 393


been made in the Disciplinary Proceedings Rules. Under Rule 9 the               A
Tribunal has to send its finding and recommendations to the Government
together with its opinion after the enquiry is completed. Rule 10 provides
the procedure to be adopted in regard to the passing of final orders in
cases enquired into by the Tribunal notwithstanding anyibing contained in
the Madras Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules. Rule
                                                                                B
11 requires that the advice of the Tribunal should ordinarily be accepted.
In a case where the Governn1cnt decides to disagree \Vith the recommen-
dations of the Tribunal, it has to refer back the case to the Tribunal and
it can take the final decision only after taking into consideration the
remarks of the Tribunal.
                                                                                c
      A comparison of the Civil Service Rules and Disciplinary Proceed-
ings Rules clearly reveals that the Civil Service Rules arc general rules
applicable in all types of cases whereas the Disciplinary Proceedings Rules
ar special rules applicable in cases of corruption by Governn1cnt servants
and in respect of all those disciplinary cases in which the Government          D
proposes to revise the original orders passed on the charges of corruption.
As both the rules have been framed in exercise of powers conferred on the
Government by Article 309 of the Constitution of India they have equal
force of law. Theref~e, the Tribunal was not right in holding that rule 8
of the Disciplinary Proceedings Rules being a procedural rule must give
way to Rule 17(b) of the Civil Service Rules which is a substantive provision   E
in regard to the functions and powers of the disciplinary authority. The
tribunal failed to appreciate that Rules 17(b) of the Civil Service Rules is
also a procedural provision and not a substantive provision as regards the
powers of the disciplinary authority. Rule 17 does not deal with the powers
to the disciplinary authority to punish a delinquent Government servant,        F
but only provides the procedure to be followed in a case where it is
proposed to impose a penalty on such Government servant. The Tribunal
has clearly misconstrued the nature and scope of Rule 17 of the Civil
Service Rules.

       That becomes all the more apparent from the fact that the Tribunal G
has failed to consider the effect of Rule 2 of the Civil Service Rules. The
said rule provides that the Civil Service Rules shall not apply to the extent
it is otherwise expressly provided by or under any law for the time being
in force or in any rule. Therefore, if \Ve find any rule in any other rules
which excludes operation of any rule of the Civil Service Rules then the H
    394                   SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A said rule will prevail over the corresponding rule in the Civil Service Rules.
    Rule 8 of the Disciplinary Proceedings Rules, in clear terms excludes the
    operation of Rule 17 while conducting inquiries in cases of corruption and
    also in cases of corruption combined with other charges. The words
    "Notwithstanding anything contained in Ruic 17" arc categorical and very
B   clearly disclose the intention of the Rule-making authority that while
    conducting inquiries in cases of corruption and also in cases of corruption
  combined with other charges the procedure prescribed in Rule 8 has to be
  followed and not the procedure prescribed in Rule 17 of the Civil Service
  Rules. As slated earlier, the Disciplinary Proceedings Rules arc special
  rules in the matter of holding disciplinary proceedings against Government
C servants in cases of corruption. It was desired by the Government that such
  cases should be enquired into by a special Tribunal consisting of a judicial
  officer of the rank of District and Sessions Judge. The findings and
  recommendations of the Tribunal ordinarily have to be accepted by the
  Government and if it wants to take a different decision it has to comply
D with the requirements of Rule 11. Even in regard to the passing of final
  orders in cases enquired into by the Tribunal the special procedure con-
  tained in Rule 10 of the Disciplinary Rules has to be followed, not-
  withstanding anything contained in the Civil Service Rules. Clause ( d) of
  Rule 8 of the Disciplinary Proceedings Rules also makes the position clear
  when it provides that the provisions of the Civil Service Rules shall apply
E in regard to the procedure to be followed in cases other than those of
  corruption and in regard to any other matter for which no specific
  provision has been made in the Disciplinary Proceedings Rules.

          As we are of the view that this being a case of corruption Rules 17
F of the Civil Services Rules did not apply, it is not necessary to deal with
    the requirements of Rule 17 and the question whether the view of the
    Tribunal in that behalf is correct. We may, however, draw attention lo the
    decision of this Court in Inspector General of Police v. Thavasiappan, [1996]
    2 SCC 145 wherein a similar Rule in Tamil nadu Police. Subordinate Service
    (Discipline and Appeal) Rules 1955 was considered. In that case it has
G   been held that Rule 3(b) of the said Rules is a procedural provision and
    does not provide that the disciplinary authority itself should frame a charge
    and if a charge memo is prepared by any other authority then it has to be
    regarded as invalid. As regards the decision of this Court in Managing
     Direct01; Uttar Pradesh Warehousing Corporation and Another v. Vinay
H Narayan Vaipayee, (1980] 2 SCR 773, to which our attention was drawn, we
  SCRY. TO GOVT OFT.N. "· D. SUBRAMA1'l'AN RAJADEVAN (NANA VA'll, J.] 395


fail lo appreciate how the decision can be of any help to the respondent.       A
There is no such principle of natural justice that before holding a regular
departmental enquiry the disciplinary authority itself should hold a prelimi-
nary enquiry by first drawing up a charge memo and then calling for the
written statement of defence before laking a decision to hold a regular
departmental enquiry.
                                                                                B
      The view taken by the Tribunal in this case being wholly wrong, we
allow this appeal and set aside the judgment and order passed by the
Tribunal in O.A. No. 2587 of 1990, with the result that it will be open to
the appellant lo proceed further with the enquiry pursuant to the charge
memo dated 21.11.1989. No order as to costs.
                                                                                c
B.K.S.                                                      Appeal allowed.