IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.1693 of 2002 SHUKLA MAZUMDAR (Since dead), substituted by the following heirs, namely, 1.Manoj Kumar (Son) 2.Deepikanjali (Daughter) Shantnu Kumar (Son) 4.Niveddita Kumari (Daughter, resident of village NIyamatpur, P.O. Ghoruhuan, P.S. Masaurhi, District, Patna. At present residing at Ganga Bhawan, Ranchi Road Harnaut, P.O. & P.S. Harnaut, District Nalanda. Versus 1.THE STATE OF BIHAR 2.The Secretary Department of Health, Government of Bihar, New Secretariat, Bailey Road, Patna. 3.The Additional Commissioner Cum Special Secretary Department of Health, Government of Bihar, Patna. 4.The Director Health Services, Government of Bihar Health Directorate, Patna. 5.The civil Surgeon Cum Chief Medical Officer Nalanda. 6.The Incharge Medical Officer, Referal Hospital Rajgir, P.O. & P.S. Rajgir, District Nalanda. 7.The Secretary, Welfare Department Government of Bihar, Patna. 8.The Director, Welfare Department Government of Bihar, Patna. 9.The District Magistrate Cum Collector Nalanda. 10.The Treasury Officer, Bihar Treasury District Nalanda. ----------- 18 21.7.2010 Heard counsel for the petitioner and Mr. S.K. Ghosh, learned A.A.G.2 for the State. Prayer of the original writ petitioner, Late Shukla Mazumdar substituted by her legal heirs and representative, in this writ application reads as follows:- “(i)The Respondents be directed to pay the arrears of salary together with all admissible allowances as well as current salary during the pending of this writ application to the petitioner. (ii)The Respondents be further directed to post the petitioner any where in the Welfare Department on the post of Lady Health Visitor or in the alternative in her parent Department of Health.” Counsel for the substituted petitioners would submit that the original writ petitioner had upon transfer of her services 2 from Health Department to the Welfare Department in June 1997 for one reason or another, could not report on duty till 25.5.1999 and she had submitted her joining to the Incharge Medical Officer, Referal Hospital, Rajgir only on 26.5.1999. It has been claimed that no order of acceptance of joining was passed thereon and the matter was kept pending by the Incharge Medical Officer, Referal Hospital, Rajgir. Subsequently, the petitioner had also approached the Director, Health Services by submitting her joining report on 22.12.1999, but on that also the Directorate did not take any step save and except seeking a report from the Subordinate Officers’ as with regard to the status of the petitioner including her being relieved from the Health Department for her joining in Welfare Department pursuant to the order of transfer dated 31.12.1996. Counsel therefore would submit that when the petitioner died on 25.1.2007 in the state of uncertainty on account of non acceptance of her joining, now her heirs and legal representatives cannot be deprived from payment of admissible salary at least for the period 26.5.1999 to 25.1.2007, inasmuch as, it was fault on the part of the respondents to not have passed any order on her joining report and communicated the same to the original petitioner. It has categorically been asserted that for unauthorized absence of the petitioner for the period 12.6.1997 to 25.5.1999 no departmental proceeding was also drawn in her life time and as such the presumption of continuance of the original writ petitioner in service as also entitlement of payment of her salary cannot be 3 defeated either on facts or in law. Mr. Ghosh, however, would submit that the whole matter was reviewed by the Director, Social Welfare Department (Directorate of I.C.D.S.) in order dated 2.7.2010 wherein the conclusion recorded are as follows:- “fcgkj ljdkj Lkekt dY;k.k foHkkx (vkbzZ0 lh0 Mh0 ,l0 funs”kky;) funs”d LokLFk; lsok,a dk vkns” Kkikad& 1013 @6@ fnukad& 31&12&1996 }kjk dqy 57 efgyk LokLF; ifjnf”Zdk dh lsok dY;k.k foHkkx dks lkSih xbZ Fkh A ftlesa ”qDyk etqenkj dk uke dzekad 49 ij vafdr gS A LokLF; foHkkx ds mDr vkns” esa lacaf/kr dfeZ;ksa dks 15 fnuksa ds vanj izHkkj lkSidk uo inLFkkfir LFkku ij ;ksxnku djus dk funs” Fkk A mDrvkns” ds vuqikyu esa vlSfud ”Y; fpfdRld lg eq[; fpfdRlk inkf/kdkjh ukyUnk us vius Kkikad 383 fnukad 18&2&97 }kjk izHkkjh fpfdRlk inkf/kdkjh] izkFkfed LokLF; dsUnz jktxhj dks Jherh ”qDyk etqenkj] efgyk LokLF; ifjnf”Zdk dks ,d lIrkg ds vUnj funs”d] lekt dY;k.k ds ;gkW ;ksxnku djus gsrq funs” fn;k x;k Fkk A izHkkjh fpfdRlk inkf/kdkjh] jsQjy vLirky jktxhj] ukyUnk }kjk Jherh ”qDyk etqenkj] efgyk LokLF; ifjnf”Zdk dks vius i=kad 337 fnukad 11&06&97 }kjk fofjfer fd;k x;k A Jherh ”qDyk etqenkj] efgyk LokLF; ifjnf”Zdk }kjk dkQh fnuksa ds ckn fnukad 22&12&99 dks iwokZgu esa funs”d] dY;k.k foHkkx ds dk;kZy; esa ,d i= lefiZr fd;k x;k ftlesa mUgksaus viuk ;ksxnku ns dj Lihd`r djus dk vuqjks/k fd;k x;k A ;ksxnku ds lR;kiu gsrq lekt dY;k.k funs”kky; ds i=kad 1635 fnukad 27&09&2000 }kjk vlSfud ”Y; fpfdRld lg eq[; fpfdR;k inkf/kdkjh] ukyank dks mus vkns” la[;k 383 fnukad 18&12&97 ds dze esa Jherh ”qDyk etqenkj] efgyk LokLF; ifjnf”Zdk ds laca/k esa izfrosnu dh ekax dh x;h fd Jherh ”qDyk etqenkj efgyk LokLF; ifjnf”Zdk dks fdl frfFk ls fojfer fd;k x;k gS A Lkekt dY;k.k funs”kky; }kjk ekaxh xbz lwpuk ds vkyksd esa izHkkjh fpfdRlk inkf/kdkjh] jsQjy vLirky] jktxhj ds i=kad 988 fnukad 23&11&2000 }kjk lwpuk nh x;h fd& 4 1&Jherh ”qDyk etqenkj] efgyk LokLF; ifjnf”Zdk dks dY;k.k foHkkx esa ;ksxnku nsus gsrq fnukad 11&06&97 ls fojfer fd;k x;k A 2&Jh ds0 ,u0 flag funs”d] LokLF; lsok, fcgkj] iVuk ds i=kad 1013 @6@ fnukad 31&12&96 ds vkns” ds vuqikyu esa rRdkyhu izHkkjh fp0 ink0 jsQjy vLirky jktxhk Mk0 ch0 fo’okl }kjk i=kad 337 fnukad 11&06&97 ls fojfer fd;k x;k gS A ;gkW mYys[kuh; gS fd Jherh ”qDyk etqenkj us ,d ;kfpdk lh0MCyw0ts0lh0 1693@2002 ekuuh; mPp U;k;ky; esa nk;j fd;k A ;g ekeyk yafcr iM+k jgk D;kasfd lafpdk la[;k 9@ vkbZ0lh0Mh0,l0& 1005@2000] rFkk va”@va”&1 tks fd funs”d] lekt dY;k.k esa la/kfjr Fkk] ,oa vkbzZ0lh0Mh0,l0 funs”kky; 2003 esa xBu gqvk A ml le; Hkh ;g lafpdk miyC/k ugha gks ik;h Fkh] blh chp fofHkUu inkf/kdkfj;ksa ,oa deZpkfj;ksa dk funs”kky; esa LFkkukUr.k gksrk jgk A mDr lafpdk ds vuqiyC/krk ds dkj.k dksbZ dkjzZokbZ ugh gks ikbZ A vij egkf/koDrk la0&2 ds i=kad 5291 fnukad 05&11&09 }kjk orZeku iz/kku lfpo ds laKku esa ;g ekeyk vk;k mUgksaus v?kru fLFkfr dks ns[krs gq, i=kad 382 fnukad 10&11&09 dks rRdkyhu funs”d dks bl laca/k esa ;Fkskfpr izfr”iFk i= nk;j djus dk funs” fn;k A mDr i= ds vkyksd esa Rrdkyhu funs”d] vkbZ0lh0Mh0,l0 funs”kky; }kjk izfr”iFk i= nk;j fd;k x;k ,oa mlesa ;g mYysf[kr fd;k x;k fd mijksDr lafpdk miyC/k ugha gks ik;k gS] ,oa ;g ekeyk yafcr jgk A tc v/kksgLrk{kjh ds le{k lkjs rF; lkeus vk;s rks funs”kky; ds vkns” Kkikad 1533 fnukad 10&05&2010 }kjk ,d dfefV dk xBu dj iqjkuh lafpdkvksa dks o"kZokj@dzeokj jftLVj esa iathd`r djus gsrq funs” fn;k x;k rFkk blh chp lafpdk miyC/k ugha gksus ds dkj.k ,d izkFkfedh lacaf/kr Fkus esa i=kad 1612 fnukad 15&05&2010 ls nk;j fd;k x;k A mDr frfFk ls xfBr dfefV }kj vkbZ0lh0Mh0,l0 funs”kky; esa lafpdkvksa@vfHkys[kksa dh yxkrkj lwfpo) djus dk dk;Z fd;k tkrk jgk] blh dze esa dfefV }kjk dk;kZy; ds lkQ lQkbZ ds dze esa jn~nh dkxtkrksa ds chp lafpdk la[lk 9@vkbZ0 lh0Mh0,l0 1005@2000 rFkk va”@va”&1 fnukad 28&06&2010 dks izkIr gksus dh lwpuk nh x;h A bl lafpdk ds voyksdu ls ;g Li"V gksrk gS fd& d&Jherh ”qDyk etqenkj dks funs”d] LokLF; lsok,W dk vkns” Kkikad 1013 5 @6@fnukad 31&12&1996 }kjk dqy 57 efgyk LikLF; ifjnf”Zdk dh lsok dY;k.k foHkkx dks lkSih x;h Fkh mDr vkns” esa dfeZ;ksa dks 15 fnuksa ds vUnj izHkkj lkSi dj uo inLFkkfir LFkku ij ;ksxnku djus dk funs” lfUufgr Fkk A izHkkjh fpfdRlk inkf/kdkjh] jsQjy gkWfLiVy] jktxhj @ukyank@ }kjk Jherh ”qDyk etqenkj] efgyk LokLF; ifjnf”Zdk dks i=kad 337 fnukad 11&06&97 }kjk fojfer fd;k x;k A [k&Jherh ”qDyk etqenkj us 22&12&1999 dks ,d i= }kjk ;ksxnku ns dj ;ksxnku Lihd`r djus dk vuqjks/k fd;k Fkk ,oa inLFkkiu dk Hkh vuqjks/k fd;k Fkk A Xk&;ksxnku Lihd`fr gsrq lafpdk la[;k 9@vkbZ0lh0Mh0,l0& 1005@2000] rFkk va”@ va”&1 vkns”kkFkZ izLrqr dh x;h A inkf/kdkfj;ksa@deZpkfj;ksa ds LFkkUkkkUrj.k ds dkj.k ;ksxnku Lohd`fr ij fu.kZ; ugha fy;k tk ldk A ;su dsu izdkjsu lacaf/kr lafpdk dk va” rFkk va” rFkk va”&1 Hkh ;ksxnku Lihd`fr gsrq [kksyh x;h ijUrq fu.kZ; ugh fy;k tk ldk A /k&lafpdk esa miYkC/k Nk;k izfr @i`"V&8@ ls irk pyrk gS fd Jherh ”qDyk etqenkj fnuakd 26&05&1999 dks izHkkh fpfdRlk inkf/kdkjh] jsQjy vLirky] jktxhk @ukyank@ dks viuk ;ksxnku fn;k Fkk ftlij izHkkjh fpfdRlk inkf/kdkjh] jsQjy vLirky] jktxhj @ukyank@ us ,d ik’oZ vafdr fVIi.kh nh A blh chp Jherh ”qDyk etqenkj dh e`R;q fnukad 25&01&2007 dks gks x;h A mijksDr of.kZr rF;ksa ds leh{kksijkar bl fu"d"kZ ij igqpk tk ldrk gS fd funs”d] LokLF; lsok,W dk vkns” Kkikad 1013 @6@ fnukad 31&12&1996 }kjk dfeZ;ksa dkas 15 fnuksa ds vUnj izHkkj lkSi dj uo inLFkkfir LFkku ij ;ksxnku djus dk funs” lfUufgr Fkk ijUrq Lo0 ”qDyk etqenkj us yxHkx <kbZ o"kZ ckn lekt dY;k.k funs”kky;] fcgkj iVuk esa ;ksxnku fn;k ,oa og Hkh muds e`R;q rd ;ksxnku Lohd`r ugha gqvk A vr%vc muds ;ksxnku dks Lohd`r djus dk dksbZ vkSfpR; izrhr ugh gksrk gS ,oa fcgkj lsok lafgrk ds fu;ekuqlkj mudk ;ksxnku Lohd`r ugha fd;k tk ldrk gs A vr%Jherh ”qDy etqenkj dk ;ksxnku vLohd`r fd;k tkrk gS rFkk mudh ml vof/k ds lsokvksa ds fofu;eu ds fy, muds iSr`d foHkkx gh fu.kZ; ysus esa l{ke gSa A g0 vLi"V 2@7@10 6 @Mk0 ,u0 fot;y{keh! funs”d Mr. Ghosh would therefore support the order of Director of Social Welfare Department as contained in Annexure- B and would submit that the original writ petitioner and now her heirs are not entitled for payment of any salary. This Court would fail to understand that if joining of the petitioner remained pending either before the Incharge Medical Officer, Referal Hospital, Rajgir from 26.5.1999 or before the Directorate from 22.12.1999, how she could be deprived the benefit of continuance of service. The story as propounded in Annexure-B that the file of the petitioner has been recovered after ten years from the garbage shows the manner in which government records are maintained in the Secretariat. This Court would find that despite knowledge of the Director in Chief the the original petitioner had remained unauthorizedly absent after she had been relieved on 11.6.1997 and yet no departmental proceeding for unauthorized absence for the period 12.6.1997 to 25.5.1999 was initiated in her life time. Thus the same now cannot be raised by the Respondents while passing an order of refusal of her acceptance of joining during pendency of this writ application and that too on the plea that she had already died. The fault squarely lies on the head of the Directorate, Social Welfare and therefore this Court cannot approve the impugned order dated 2.7.2002 passed by the Director, Social Welfare department. 7 The ends of justice would be met by holding that the heirs of the original writ petitioner, now substituted, are declared entitled for payment of retirement benefits on the basis of her entire length of service specially when the period of unauthorized absence of original petitioner is less than two years and is condonable in terms of State Govt. circulars and decisions under Rule 103 of the Bihar Pension Rules. That being so this Court would direct the authorities to condone such break in service of the original writ petitioner for the purpose of calculating the amount of retirement benefits. This Court is also conscious that the original writ petitioner could not discharge his duty on account of lack of decision taken by the authorities on her two joining report dated 26.5.1999 and 22.12.1999 submitted to the Incharge Medical Officer, Referal Hospital, Rajgir and the Director in Chief, Health Services respectively. Nonetheless, position remains that she had not performed her duty for this period and therefore she will be not entitled for payment of salary on the principle of no work no pay. This however has been only held because the respondents are found liable and under obligation to pay the retirement benefits. Truly speaking non acceptance of joining report of the petitioner would mean her deemed continuance in service from 26.5.1999, the date on which her first joining was submitted and remained pending consideration till her death on 25.1.2007. There would be no difficult in holding that the original writ petitioner on account 8 of being not subjected to any departmental proceeding or any order of termination had continued in service awaiting the decision of acceptance of her joining report dated 26.5.1999 and 22.12.1999 and therefore when she had died prior to acceptance of her joining and before the date of superannuation she will be entitled for her entire retirement benefits. Thus, balancing the equity between the parties, this Court would hold that instead of being paid salary for the period 26.5.1999 to 25.1.2007 the legal heirs and representatives of the original writ petitioner will be given the retirement benefit treating that there was no break in her service till her death on 25.1.2007. Consequently, the parent department of the original writ petitioner must do the needful for computation and payment of the retirement benefit within a period of six months from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order by tendering such payment to the substituted heirs of the original writ petitioner in accordance with law. Additionally, the respondents would be also under obligation to consider the case of one of dependants’ heir of original writ petitioner for appointment on compassionate ground subject to fulfillment of terms and conditions in the policy of the State Government. This exercise also must be completed within the same period of six months by the Welfare Department and the substituted heirs are given liberty to file application directly to the Director in Chief, Health Service s for compassionate appointment 9 and thereafter the Director in Chief must do the needful by way of taking final decision on such claim of compassionate appointment. With the aforementioned observation and direction this application is disposed of. Abhay Kumar ( Mihir Kumar Jha, J.)