IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.5037 of 2007 SURESH PANDEY Versus THE STATE OF BIHAR & ORS ----------- CWJC No.1655 of 2007 SMT.RITA KUMARI Versus THE STATE OF BIHAR & ORS ----------- CWJC No.5043 of 2007 BINOD KUMAR Versus THE STATE OF BIHAR & ORS ----------- 3. 28.08.2008 Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and the State. Petitioners are aggrieved by order dated 14.5.2004 terminating their services from the post of Assistant teacher on the premise that their appointment was fake on basis of a forged letter of appointment. The writ applications have been filed in early 2007 after serving copy on the learned counsel for the State and despite grant of further opportunity on 24.6.2008, no counter affidavit has been filed. Learned counsel for the State submits that the appointment of the petitioners having been found to be forged, their services came to be terminated and that the principles of natural justice had no application in the facts of the case. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the termination order was passed without an opportunity to show cause and to demonstrate that the appointment was not forged. He also relies upon an order of this Court at Annexure-6 in CWJC No. 7656 of 2004 - 2 - to submit that in similar circumstances, noticing the objection that the appointments were forged and ab initio void, this Court held that nonetheless the principles of natural justice was required to be followed and the termination orders were set aside. The impugned order dated 14.5.2004 is, accordingly, set aside. Since the order is being set aside on a technical issue only with liberty to the Respondents to proceed afresh in accordance with law, this Court considers it proper to also observe that the question of back wages on facts simply does not arise, which shall abide by the final orders that may be passed in the enquiry. The writ application stands disposed. AKS/ (Navin Sinha, J.)