IN THE HIGH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND AT NAINITAL Writ Petition No. 3948 of 2001 (S/S) (Old No. 24759 of 1991) Surendra Prakash Saxena S/o late Shri Shiv Narain Saxena R/o Mohalla Bala Ki Sarai, P.O. Jai Ganj, District Aligarh. At present residing at House No. 2, Type 4, Soyabeen and Banaspati Industries Complex, Haldoo Chaur (Haldwani), District Nainital. …………….. Petitioner Versus 1. Managing Director U.P. Co-operative Federation Ltd. 32, Station Road, Lucknow. 2. General Manager (Administration) U.P. Co-operative Federation Ltd. 32, Station Road, Lucknow. 3. The Project Manager Soyabeen and Banaspati Industries Complex, Haldoo Chaur (Haldwani), District Nainital. …………….. Respondents Mr. Rohit Tripathi and Mr. Ganesh Kandpal, Advocates for the petitioner. None for the respondents. Hon. Prafulla C. Pant, J. By means of this writ petition, moved under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner has sought writ in the nature of certiorari quashing the order dated 27.06.1991 (copy Annexure -12 to the writ petition), whereby the petitioner is dismissed from service. 2) Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and perused the counter affidavit and rejoinder affidavit exchanged between the parties. 3) Brief facts of the case are that the U.P. Co-operative Federation Limited is a body registered under the U.P. Co- operative Societies Act, 1965, and engaged in marketing business. The services of its employees are governed by the U.P. Co-operative Employees Service Regulation, 1975 and the U.P. Co-operative Federation Employees Service Rules, 1980. The petitioner was appointed as Chief Chemist by the Committee of Management of the Federation, and was posted at Soyabeen and Banaspati Industries Complex, Haldoo Chaur (Haldwani), District Nainital. On 09.10.1990, the petitioner was placed under suspension, and an enquiry was initiated against him. He was served with a charge sheet. A show cause notice dated 16.03.1991 appears to have been served on the petitioner directing him to reply as to why a sum of Rs. 43,20,044 and paise 07 be not recovered from him, and why his services be not terminated. It appears that after considering the reply of the petitioner, impugned order was passed dismissing the petitioner from the service. It is alleged in the writ petition that no opportunity of being heard was given to the petitioner and no concurrence was obtained from the Federation before passing the order dismissing the petitioner from service. 4) It is submitted by learned counsel for the petitioner that during the pendency of this writ petition, the petitioner continued in service, as there was interim order passed by the Allahabad High Court in a writ petition, when it was filed in the year 1991, before said Court. (After creation of State of Uttarakhand, this writ petition has been received by transferred to this Court, under Section 35 of the U.P. Re- organization Act, 2000, for its disposal). 5) A counter affidavit has been filed on behalf of the respondents in which it is stated that the U.P. Co-operative Institutional Service Board Service Regulations are not applicable to the employees of the U.P. Co-operative Federation Limited. It is also stated that the petitioner’s work was not satisfactory. It is further stated that on inspection certain irregularities were found to have been committed by the petitioner on the basis of which enquiry was initiated against him. It is also stated that it is wrong to say that the Managing Director of the Federation has no power to pass the impugned order, as vide resolution No. 9 dated 26.07.1986, the Managing Director is authorized to pass the order. Lastly, it is stated in the counter affidavit that the petitioner was given full opportunity of being heard before the impugned order is passed against him. 6) Before further discussion, it is pertinent to mention here, the charges which were leveled against the petitioner, which are mentioned in the impugned order, copy of which is annexed as Annexure-12 to the writ petition: “vkjksi la[;k & 1 Jh ,l0 ih0 lDlsuk us in dk ykHk mBkdj mudh iRuh Jherh chuk LkDlsuk] }kjk ifj;kstuk ls lEcfU/kr O;kikfj;ksa] Bsdsnkjksa] iznk;drkZvksa] deZpkfj;ksa rFkk muls lEcfU/kr thou chek djds deh’ku dh /kujkf’k vftZr djus ,oa bl ij Jh lDlsuk }kjk vkifRr u djus ls Jh lDlsuk dh lgHkkfxrk fl) gksrh gSA ftlds dkj.k Jh lDlsuk }kjk deZpkjh lsok fu;ekoyh 1980 ds fu;e 77¼2½ ds fo#) vkpj.k djus dk nks"k fl) gksrk gSA vkjksi la[;k & 2 fnukad 26&4&88 dks Jh lDlsuk dh ekax ij ,l0 Vh0 lh0 fnYyh dks vk;kfrr rsy dks mBk;s tkus gsrq fn;s x;s vfxze eq0 4725000&00 esa ls vlkek;sftr /kujkf’k eq0 24]26]250&00 ds lek;kstu ds lEcU/k esa rRle; Jh lDlsuk }kjk RkRdky vko’;d dk;Zokgh ugha dh x;h rFkk vius drZO;ksa ds ikyu esa pwd djrs gq, ?kksj ykijokgh cjrh x;h ftlds QYkLo:i laLFkk dks C;kt ds :i esa eq0 3]66]970&00 dh gkfu gqbZ ;g vkjksi Jh lDlsuk ij fl) ik;k x;k] vo,o bl {kfr dh iwfrZ dk nkf;Ro Jh lDlsuk dk gSA vkjksi la[;k& 3 ifj;kstuk izcU/kd ds Hkze.k ij jgus ds dkj.k Jh lDlsuk fnukad 18&11&89 ls 25&11&89 rd ifj;kstuk izHkkjh ds :i esa dk;Zjr jgsA fnukad 18&11&89 dks j{kk ea=ky; ds vkehZ ijpst vkxZukbts’ku ls 9000 eS0 Vu ouLifr dh vkiwfrZ gsrq izkIr fufonk] ftldh vfUre frfFk 27&11&89 dks vijkUg 3 cts Fkh] Jh lDlsuk dh ?kksj ykijokgh ds dkj.k Hkjh ugha tk ldh ftlls ifj;kstuk dks O;kikfjd {kfr igqaphA ;gh ugha Jh lDlsuk ifj;ktuk ds deZpkfj;ksa loZ{kh Mh0ds0 gtsyk] izcU/kd ¼rd0½ ,oa Jh euhjke] lg;ksxh dks Mjk /kedkdj vius i{k esa tcjnLrh c;ku fy[kok;k tks muds ve;kZfnr vkpj.k dk izrhd gSA ;g vkjkis Jh lDlsuk ij fl) gSZA vkjksi la[;k & 4 Jh lDlsuk ouLifr IykUV ds bUpktZ Fks vr,o rsy dk Ø;] mldh xq.koRrk] lgh rkSy rFkk ouLifr ds mRiknu esa rsyksa dk mfpr iz;ksx djus dh iwjh ftEesnkjh Jh lDlsuk dh FkhA Jh lDlsuk dks vjksfir fd;k x;k Fkk fd fofHkUu ikfVZ;ksa ds Ø; fd;s x;s rsy dh rkSy dh izekf.kdrk lafnX/k gS] D;kasfd rsy fjlhfoax lsD’ku esa rsy izkfIr ds iwoZ rsy dh iqu% rkSy ugha djkbZ tkrh Fkh tcfd bl dk;Z ds fy, rkSy VSd gS] tgka rsy dk lgh otu ysdj gh LVkd&b.Vh djuh pkfg, Fkh vkSj rnuqlkj ikfVZ;ksa dks xq.koRrk vkfn ekudks dks lqfuf’pr djrs gq, Hkqxrku fd;k tkuk pkfg, FkkA Jh lDlsuk dk Li"Vhdj.k vlURkks"ktud ik;k x;k vkSj ;g fl) ik;k x;k fd ouLifr IykUV esa iz;qDr gksus okys rsyksa dks rkSy dh izekf.kdrk lafnX/k gSA vkSj bldh iqf"V gksrh gS fd rsy fjlhfoax lsD’ku eas izkIr dh x;h rsy dh ek=k okLrfod ek=k ls de gS] D;ksafd dsoy tuojh 90 ls flrEcj 90 ds nkSjku gh vKkr gkfu;ka vuqeU; lhek esa 10-525 eS0 Vu vf/kd gqbZ ftlds QyLo:i laLFkk dks yxHkx 2]63]125&00 dh gkfu gqbZA vius Li"Vhdj.k esa Jh lDlsuk us Lo;a Lohdkj fd;k gS fd yklst ¼gkfu;ka½ ouLifr IykUV esa rsy rkSy dj u fn;s tkus ds dkj.k Hkh gqbZ gSA vKkr gkfu;ksa ds c<+us ds dkj.k dh Nkuchu gsrq laLFkk }kjk ,p0oh0Vh0lh0 ds vk;y ,oa is.V VsDukyksth foHkkx ds fo’ks"kK Jh vkj0d0 [kUuk ,oa Jh vkj0ih0 flag ls v/;;u djk;k x;k] ftuds }kjk Hkh rsy dh okLrfod ek=k tks ouLifr ds mRiknu esa iz;qDr gksrh Fkh] dh rkSy dh izekf.kdrk lafnX/k ekuh x;h gS vkSj vKkr gkfu;ksa dh c<+ksrjh dk dkj.k ekuk x;k gSA Jh lDlsuk }kjk viukbZ x;h bl nks"kiw.kZ dk;Zi)fr ls rsy vkiwfrZdrkZvksa dks tgka ykHk igaqpk] ogha laLFkk dks gkfu gqbZA bl izdkj vkjksfir vKkr gkfu;ka eq0 263]125&00 ds fy, Jh lDlsuk mRrjnk;h gSaA vkjksi la[;k & 5 rsy jlk;u vkfn ds Ø; ,oa Hkqxrku dk nkf;Ro Jh lDlsuk dk FkkA Jh lDlsuk dks vkjksfir fd;k x;k Fkk fd o"kZ 87&88 ,oa 88&89 ds nkSjku mDr oLrqvksa ds Ø; ,oa Hkqxrku dh tkap djus ij Kkr gqvk fd Jh lDlsuk us ySc izHkkjh ls lkFk lkaB&xkaB dj futh LokFkZ esa fcuk jlk;fud ijh{k.k djk;s vFkok ekudksa ds vuq:i fcuk dVkSrh djk;s rFkk xq.koRrk ds izfr vk’oLr gq, fcuk QthZ fjiksVZ ds vk/kkj ij ikfVZ;ksa dks eq0 1]03]89]172&46 iSls dk Hkqxrku djk fn;kA vf/kdka’k ikfVZ;ksa us Jh lDlsuk dh iRuh ds ek/;e ls chek Hkh djk;h gSA Jh lDlsuk us futh LokFkZ flf) esa ;g /;ku ugha j[kk fd ouLifr mRiknu esa tks rsy ,oa dsfedYl iz;ksx esa yk;s tk jgs gSa mudh xq.koRrk] 'kq)rk lafnX/k gS ftldk lh/kk izHkko ouLifr dh DokfyVh ij iM+sxkA Qyr% [kjkc DokfyVh dk ouLifr mRikfnr gqvk vkSj laLFkk dh lk[k fxjhA tkap esa ik;k x;k fd eq0 1]85]454&32 dk Hkqxrku Jh lDlsuk }kjk ugha fd;k x;k gS 'ks"k eq0 1]02]03]718&14 dk Hkqxrku Jh lDlsuk }kjk ugha fd;k x;k gS] ijUrq pwafd lUnZfHkr jlk;uksa] rsyksa vkfn dk ijh{k.k@tkap lafnX/k gs vr,o mudh xq.koRrk Hkh lafnX/k gS ftlds fy, Jh lDlsuk ,oa fuyfEcr ySc izHkkjh Jh vjksM+k la;qDr :I ls ftEesnkj gSaA ?kfV;k ,oa [kjkc xq.koRrk ds rsyksa] jlk;uksa vkfn ds iz;ksx ls Hkh mRikfnr ouLifr dh DokfyVh [kjkc gqbZ ftldh iqf"V ifj;kstuk izcU/kd us Hkh dh gSA vo,o ;g vkjksi Jh lDlsuk ij bl lhek rd fl) gS fd buds }kjk ySc izHkkjh ds lkFk lkaB&xkaB djds [kjkc ,oa ?kfV;k lafnX/k DokfyVh ds jlk;u vkSj rsy vkfn dk Ø; fd;k x;k rFkk eq0 1]02]03]718&14 iSls dk Hkqxrku futh LokFkZ esa ikfVZ;kas dks fd;k x;kA ;g mYys[kuh; gS fd bl vkjksi esa lnafHkZr jlk;uksa ,oa rsyksa dk iz;ksx ouLifr mRiknu esa Jh lDlsuk }kjk dj fy;k x;k gS vkSj ?kfV;k DokfyVh dh ouLifr dk mRiknu fd;k x;k gS] tSlkfd vkjksi la0 9 esa n`"VO; gSA de xq.koRrk ds jk&eSVsfj;y ls iz;ksx ls mRiknu eas gkfu;ka Hkh fu/kkZfjr ekudksa ls c<+h gS tSlk fd vkjksIk la0 8 esa n`"VO; gSA pwafd jlk;uksa ,oa rsyksa dh [kir dh tk pqdh gS rFkk mRikfnr ouLifr dh fcØh Hkh dh tk pqdh gS vo,o vfu;fer Hkqxrku dh olwyh okafNr ugha gS] ijUrq ouLifr mRiknu esa gqbZ gkfu ds fy, Jh lDlsuk nks"kh gSaA vkjksi la0 & 6 Jh lDlsuk dks vkjksfir fd;k x;k Fkk fd oUkLifr ?kh ds Hkjku gsrq fcuk DokfyVh dh tkap djk;s 15 ds0th0 ds [kjkc fdLe esa [kkyh fVuksa dks futh LokFkZ esa Lohdkj fd;k x;k vkSj ikfVZ;ksa dks fcy la[;k 2287 fn0 27&10&88 eq0 72]118&90] fcy la[;k 61 fn0 8&2&88 eq0 36]925&00 fcy la[;k 116@pkyku ua0 26 eq0 22]788&00 ,oa fcy la[;k 2586 fn0 27&03&89 eq0 46]582&40 dqy eq0 1]78]414&30 dk Hkqxrku djds laLFkk dks {kfr igqapk;h x;hA Jh lDlsuk us vius Li"Vhdj.k esa dgk gS fd pkjksa fcy fu;ekuqlkj ikl fd;s x;s gSa vkSj DokfyVh lR;kfir djus dh ftEesnkjh mudh u gksdj ySc bUpktZ dh Fkh] ijUrq Jh lDlsuk us ijh{k.k vFkok vijks{k :i ls Lohdkj fd;k gS fd fVu dh DokfyVh [kjkc Fkh D;ksafd vius Li"Vhdj.k esa nks ikfVZ;ksa ls dVkSfr;ksa dk mYys[k muds )kjk fd;k x;k gSA Jh lDlsuk ds Li"Vhdj.k rFkk tkap vk[;k ds ijh{k.k ls Li"V ik;k x;k fd Jh lDlsuk dk dFku fujk/kkj gS vkSj Jh lDlsuk }kjk ;g dgk tkuk fd DokfyVh ds lR;kiu dh ftEesnkjh mudh ugha Fkh] xyr gS] D;ksafd Jh lDlsuk IykUV ds vky vksoj bUpktZ Fksa vkSj mudh iwjh ftEesnkjh Fkh fd Hkqxrku djkus ls iwoZ DokfyVh dk lR;kiu djkrs vkSj iw.kZr;% vk’oLr gksus ds ckn Hkh Hkqxrku dh dk;ZokbZ lqfuf’pr djkrsA oLrqr% ;g ik;k x;k fd DokfyVh dh tkap gh ugha djkbZ xbZ oju QthZ fjiksVZ yxokdj dqN dVkSfr;ksa ds lkFk futh LokFkZ esa eky izkIr dj fy;k xk;kA bl izdkj Jh lDlsuk }kjk futh LokFkZ esa fVu dh DokfyVh ds lkFk le>kSrk fd;k x;k vkSj [kjkc xq.koRrk ds fVu [kjhnsa x;sA ;g fVu ds duLrj tc ?kh ls Hkjs x;s vkSj lIykbZ fd;s x;s rks VªkaftV es gh detksj gksus ds dkj.k dbZ duLrj fpid x;s vFkok muds <Ddu [kqy x;saA ftldh f’kdk;rsa Mhyjksa us dhA bl izdkj Jh lDlsuk us ySc bUpktZ ds lkFk lkaB xkaB djds eq0 A]78]414&30 dh {kfr laLFkk dks igqpkabZ gS ftlds fy, os la;qDr :i ls mRrjnk;h gSaA mi;qZDr {kfr ds 50 izfr’kr vFkkZr 89]207&15 ds fy;s Jh lDlsuk mRrjnk;h gSaA vkjksi la0 & 7 oUkLifr ds lapkyu esa Jh lDlsuk us vR;ar ykijokgh ,oa vVVnf’kZrk dk ifjp; fn;kA vk;y feDl dh Iykfuax mfpr <ax ls buds )kjk u djds egxas rsy dk bLrseky djds mRiknu O;; c<+k;k x;k gS tcfd mRikfnr DokfyVh ij fo’ks"k /;ku ugha j[kk x;k ftlds Qy#o#i visf{kr ykHk vftZr ugha gqvkA mRiknu ds fofHkUu pj.ks esa lgh ns[k js[k ,oa rduhdh n{krk dk vHkko ns[kus dks feyk] ftlds dkj.k izksMDs’ku dkLV eas o`f) gqbZ lgh ns[k js[k u gksus ds dkj.k ,Qyq,V lsD’ku esa izkIr ouLifr ,oa rsyksa dh ek=k ekudks ls vf/kd vkbZA ifj.kke Lo#i tqykbZ 89 ls flrEcj 90 rd 270]497 eS0Vu rsy dh vf/kd gkfu gqbZ ftlds QyLo#i 249]499 eS0 Vu ekudks ls de ouLifr mRrkfnr gqvk ftlls laLFkk dks eq0 60]01]236&56 iSls dh gkfu gqbZ ftlds fy, Jh lDlsuk eq[; #i ls ftEesnkj ik;s x;sA mDr /kujkf’k esa ls 60 izfr’kr eq0 36]00]741&92 dk nkf;Ro Jh lDlsuk ij fu/kkZfjr fd;k tkuk vkSfpR;iw.kZ ik;k x;kA vkjksi la0 & 8 tUkojh 89 ls flrEcj 90 rd vizR;kf{kr #i ls 714-03 eS0 Vu ouLifr fuEu DokfyVh dk mRikfnr djus ds nks"kh Jh lDlsuk ik;s x;sA Jh lDlsuk }kjk ouLifr IykUV ds lapkyu esa vR;ar vdq’kyrk ds lkFk lkFk ?kksj ykijokgh cjrh xbZA ftlls bl ckr dh iqf"V gksrh gS fd Jh lDlsuk rduhdh n`f"V ls Hkh vdq’ky gSA rnuqlkj mDr ÑR;kas] dnkpkj ,oa muds }kjk dk;Z esa cjrh xbZ ykijokgh ,oa n{krkiwoZd IykaV lapkyu u djus ds QyLo#i laLFkk dh eq0 43]20]044&07 dh gkfu gqbZ ftlds fy;a i=kad ihlh,Q@LFkk0@c&1@278962&65 fn0 16-3-1991 }kjk ^dkj.k crkvks uksfVl* fuxZr dh xbZ ftlesa fuEufyf[kr n.M izLrkfor fd;s x;s rFkk 15 fnu ds vUnj mRrj nsus dh vis{kk dh xbZ& 1& Jh lDlsuk ls gkfu #0 43]20]044&07 iSls D;ksa u olwy fd;s tk;s-\ 2& Jh lLlsuk dks ihlh,Q dh lsok ls D;ksa u inPpqr dj fn;k tk;s\ Jh ,l0ih0 lDlsuk dks mudh ekax ds vuqlkj tkap vk[;k dh izfr Hkh miyC/k djkbZ xbZA mUgs ifj;kstukLrj ij vfHkys[k ns[kus gsrq i;kZIr volj fn;k x;k rFkk muds vuqjks/k ij dkj.k crkvks uksfVl dk mRrj nsus gsrq mnkj n`f"Vdksa.k viukrs gq;s nk ckn Øe’k% 25&4&1991 rFkk 15&5&1991 rd dk le; fn;k x;k] ijUrqa Jh lDlsuk us viuk mRrj c<kbZ xbZ vof/k esa Hkh izLrqr ugha fd;kA Jh lDlsuk us mRrj izLrqr u dj ;sudsu izdkjs.k Vky eVksy dh gh dk;Zokgh dh vkSj tku cw>dj bruk vf/kd le; chrus ds mijkUr Hkh mRrj izLrqr ugha fd;k ftlls Li"V ifjyf{kr gksrk gS fd Jh lDsluk dks dkj.k crkvks uksfVl ds mRrj esa dqN ugha dguk gSA vr,oa Jh ,l0ih0 lDlsuk] fuyfEcr phQ dSfeLV] lks;kchu izkstsDV ds ekeys esa lE;d fopkjksijkUr fu.kZ; ysrs gq;as fuEufyf[kr vkns’k ifjr fd;k tkrk gS& mi;qZDr fl) ik;s x;s vkjksiks ds ifjizs{; eas laLFkk dks gqbZ {kfr eq0 43]20]044&07 dk fnf;Ro Jh ,l0ih0 lDsluk] fuyfEcr phQ dSfeLV] ij fu/kkZj.k fd;k tkrk gS ,oa rkRdkfyd izHkko ls mDr Jh lDlsuk dks la?k dh lsok ls inP;qr fd;k tkrk gSA g0@vifBr ¼lrh’k dqekj vxzoky½ izcU/k funs’dA 7) Annexure -1 to the writ petition further shows that when the charge sheet was served, petitioner was given an opportunity for submitting his reply. Annexure-2 to the writ petition is the reply submitted by the petitioner in response to the charge sheet, mentioned above. The impugned order, copy of this is Annexure-12 to the writ petition, shows that the petitioner was given full opportunity before the impugned order is passed against him. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that no opportunity of being heard is given to the petitioner. However, the documents on record, as discussed above, which are annexed to the writ petition and the counter affidavit, disclose that sufficient opportunity was given to the petitioner before the impugned order is passed against him. 8) Learned counsel for the petitioner drew attention of this Court to Rule 86 of the U.P. Co-operative Federation Limited Employees Service Rules, 1980, which provides that no order of reduction in rank, removal or dismissal, as mentioned in Rule 83(1) of aforesaid Rules, can be passed without concurrence of the Board. Word ‘Board’ is defined in Clause (d) of Rule 2 of said Rules, which provides that ‘Board’ means the U.P. Co-operative Institutional Service Board. It is specifically pleaded by the petitioner in the writ petition that no concurrence was obtained before passing the impugned order dismissing the petitioner form service. In reply to said plea taken in Para 18 of the writ petition, in the counter affidavit it is nowhere stated that the concurrence was obtained before passing the impugned order. As such, the impugned order so far as it relates to the dismissal of the petitioner from service suffers from material illegality, as no concurrence of the Board is obtained before the impugned order is passed. The stand taken by the respondents that Rules of 1980 are not applicable to the petitoiner does not appear to be correct as copy of his appointment letter filed with counter affidavit as annexure C.A. 4, itself shows that Rules of 1980 are applicable to the services of the petitioner, as appointment is made under said rules. 9) It is also submitted on behalf of the petitioner that the authority, who has signed the impugned order, was not authorized to pass the order against the petitioner. However, Annexure C.A. 5 to the counter affidavit shows that vide resolution No. 09 dated 26th July 1986, the Managing Director was delegated power of appointing authority and as such impugned order does not suffer infirmity on that count. 10) However, for reasons as discussed in Para 8 above, that no mandatory concurrence is obtained from the Federation before dismissing the petitioner from service, as required under Rule 86 of the U.P. Co-operative Federation Employees Service Rules, 1980, the writ petition deserves to be allowed, and the same is allowed. The impugned order dated 27.06.1991 is quashed to the extent that it dismisses the services of the petitioner. No order as to costs. (Prafulla C. Pant, J.) Dt. October 05, 2007. H.Negi