C.W.P. No.7588 of 2009 -1-
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA
AT CHANDIGARH
C.W.P. No.7588 of 2009
DATE OF DECISION: MAY 20, 2009
Raj Pal Singal
.....PETITIONER
Versus
State Bank of India and others
....RESPONDENTS
CORAM: HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SATISH KUMAR MITTAL
---
Present: Mr.Ashwani Gaur, Advocate,
for the petitioner.
..
SATISH KUMAR MITTAL, J.
The petitioner, who was working as Officer, Junior
Management Grade Scale-I in the respondent-bank and has been removed
from service as a penalty in terms of Rule 67(i) of State Bank of India
Officers Service Rules (hereinafter referred to as `the Service Rules’), has
filed the instant petition for issuing direction to the respondent-bank to
grant him the pensionary benefits in view of the provisions of Rule 22 of the
State Bank of India Employees’ Pension Fund Rules (hereinafter referred to
as `the Pension Fund Rules’) ; and further also to grant him the subsistence
allowance admissible to the petitioner during his suspension period in view
of the provisions of Rule 68A(7)(i) of the Service Rules.
In the present case, in the year 1981, a charge-sheet was issued
to the petitioner for commission of various acts of irregularities and lapses.
During the pendency of the disciplinary departmental proceedings, the
C.W.P. No.7588 of 2009 -2-
petitioner was placed under suspension. The Inquiry Officer found that
some of the charges levelled against the petitioner were fully proved,
whereas some of the charges were held to be partly proved. On considering
the said enquiry report, the Disciplinary Authority (respondent No.2 herein)
passed the order of dismissal of the petitioner from service on 2.4.1983 in
terms of Rule 67(h) of the Service Rules. The petitioner filed an appeal
against the dismissal order, which was dismissed on 10.5.1983. The review
application filed by the petitioner was also dismissed on 23.5.1984.
Feeling aggrieved against those orders, the petitioner
challenged the same by filing CWP No.3350 of 1987. This Court vide order
dated 3.7.2003 allowed the said writ petition and quashed the order of
dismissal dated 2.4.1983 as well as the orders of the Appellate Authority
and the Reviewing Authority, and remanded the matter to the Disciplinary
Authority to take the fresh decision from the stage at which the enquiry
report had been submitted by the Inquiry officer, and to pass a fresh order.
In pursuance of the said judgment, the petitioner was ordered to
be reinstated. However, the issue regarding back wages and subsistence
allowance was left to be considered and decided by the Disciplinary
Authority while taking the final decision on the enquiry report. Thereafter,
the Disciplinary Authority, while holding the petitioner guilty of the charges
proved against him in the enquiry, passed the order dated 13.2.2004 in terms
of Rule 67(i) of the Service Rules, whereby the petitioner was ordered to be
removed from service. Regarding back wages and subsistence allowance, it
has been ordered that no such benefits shall be paid to the petitioner for the
suspension period. Against the said order, the petitioner preferred an appeal.
The same was dismissed on 23.11.2004. The petitioner again challenged the
C.W.P. No.7588 of 2009 -3-
order of removal as well as the order of the Appellate Authority by filing
CWP No.8508 of 2005, which the petitioner withdrew with liberty to
approach the Civil Court or the departmental authorities.
Thereafter, the petitioner neither filed the civil suit nor filed
any review petition against the above-said order of penalty. However, the
petitioner served a legal notice for setting aside the order of removal and the
order of the Appellate Authority. In the said notice, he had also claimed that
he was entitled to subsistence allowance in view of the provisions of Rule
68A(7)(i) of the Service Rules and pensionary benefits in view of the
provisions contained in Rule 22 of the Pension Fund Rules. When the said
claim was not accepted by the respondent-bank, the petitioner filed the
instant petition.
In this petition, the petitioner is making two-fold claim. Firstly,
that even after the order of removal from service, the petitioner is entitled
for pension under Rule 22 of the Pension Fund Rules. Secondly, he is
entitled for subsistence allowance, which is admissible to him during the
period he remained under suspension, under Rule 68A(7)(i) of the Service
Rules.
After hearing the counsel for the petitioner and going through
the contents of the petition as well as various orders annexed and the Rules
reproduced in the petition, I am of the opinion that the petitioner is not
entitled for either of the claims. It is the case of the petitioner that as per the
Circular/Instructions of the respondent bank, which have been
acknowledged in Annexure P-8, even an officer, who has been removed
from service, is entitled to pension, provided he is eligible for pension in
accordance with the Pension Fund Rules. Under Rule 22(i)(d) of the
C.W.P. No.7588 of 2009 -4-
Pension Fund Rules, an officer is entitled for pension if he along with other
conditions has completed 20 years of pensionable service. Rule 21 of the
Pension Fund Rules pertains to pensionable service. As per this Rule, the
period of suspension can be counted towards the pensionable service only
if the suspension period has been so declared to be counted by the
Disciplinary Authority. Rule 68A of the Service Rules deals with the
suspension of an officer and the same is reproduced as under:-
“Suspension
68A(1) An officer may be placed under suspension by the
Disciplinary authority:
(a) Where a disciplinary proceeding against him is
contemplated or is pending; or
(b) where a case against him in respect of any criminal
offence is under investigation, inquiry or trial.
(2) If an officer who is detained under custody whether on a
criminal charge or otherwise for a period exceeding
forty-eight hours is placed under suspension by an order
of the Disciplinary Authority, it shall be open to the
Disciplinary Authority to give effect to such suspension
from a retrospective date not earlier than the date of such
detention or such conviction.
Explanation: The period of forty-eight hours referred to
above shall be computed from the commencement of the
imprisonment after conviction or detention and for this
purpose, intermittent periods of imprisonment or
detention, if any, shall be taken into account.
(3) Where a penalty of dismissal, removal or compulsory
retirement from service imposed upon an officer under
suspension is set aside in appeal or on review under rule
69 and the case is remitted for further inquiry or action
or with any directions, the order of his suspension shall
be deemed to have continued in force on and from the
C.W.P. No.7588 of 2009 -5-date of the original order of dismissal, removal or
compulsory retirement and shall remain in force until
further orders.
(4) Where a penalty of dismissal, removal or compulsory
retirement from service imposed upon an officer under
suspension is set aside or declared or rendered void in
consequence of, or by, a decision of court of law, and
the Disciplinary Authority on consideration of the
circumstances of the case decides to hold further inquiry
against him on the allegations on which the penalty of
dismissal, removal or compulsory retirement was
originally imposed, the officer shall be deemed to have
been placed under suspension by the Disciplinary
Authority from the date of the original order of
dismissal, removal or compulsory retirement and shall
continue to remain under suspension until further orders.
(5)(a) An order of suspension made under this rule shall
continue to remain in force until modified or removed by
the authority which made the order;
(b) An order of suspension made under this rule may at any
time be modified or revoked by the authority which
made the order.
(6) No leave shall be granted to an officer under suspension.
(7)(i) An officer who is placed under suspension shall be
entitled to receive during the period of such suspension
and subject to clauses (ii) and (iii) subsistence allowance
equal to half his substantive salary and such other
allowances as the competent authority may decide.
(ii) During the period of suspension an officer may, at the
discretion of the Bank, be allowed occupation of an
official house up to a period of four months but shall not
be entitled to free use of the Bank’s car or receipt of
conveyance or entertainment allowance or special
allowance.
C.W.P. No.7588 of 2009 -6-
(iii) No officer who is under suspension shall be entitled to
receive payment of subsistence allowance unless he
furnishes a certificate that he is not engaged in any other
employment, business, profession or vocation.
(8)(i) Where the Appointing Authority holds that the officer
has been fully exonerated or that the suspension was
unjustifiable, the officer shall be granted the full pay to
which he would have been entitled, had he not been so
suspended, together with any allowance of which he was
in receipt immediately prior to his suspension or may
have been sanctioned subsequently and made applicable
to all officers. The period of absence from duty in such a
case shall, for all purposes, be treated as period spent on
duty.
(ii) In all cases other than those referred to in clause (i)
above and where the officer has not been subjected to
the penalty of dismissal, the period spent under
suspension shall be dealt with in such a manner as the
Disciplinary Authority may decide and the pay and
allowances of the officer during the period adjusted
accordingly.”
A perusal of sub-rule(8)(i) of Rule 68A of the Service Rules
shows that if an officer is fully exonerated or his suspension was found to
be totally unjustified, then the officer shall be granted the full pay, which he
would have been entitled, had he not been so suspended. This Clause further
provides that the period of absence from duty in such a case shall, for all
purposes, be treated as period spent on duty, whereas Clause (ii) of sub-rule
(8) provides that in all other cases and where the officer has not been
subjected to the penalty of dismissal from service, the period spent under
suspension shall be dealt with in such a manner as the Disciplinary
Authority may decide and the pay and allowances of the officer during the
C.W.P. No.7588 of 2009 -7-
period adjusted accordingly. Under this Clause, the period of absence from
duty cannot be treated as the period spent on duty unless it is so expressly
and specifically ordered by the Disciplinary Authority. Admittedly, in the
instant case the pensionable service of the petitioner comes to 11 years and
7 months only after deducting the suspension period. If his pensionable
service period is taken to be 11 years and 7 months, then according to Rule
22(i)(d) of the Pension Fund Rules, the petitioner is not eligible for pension.
It is the case of the petitioner that the suspension period of the petitioner
should be treated as duty period, and if that period is counted towards the
pensionable service, then his pensionable service comes to more than 20
years, which makes him eligible for pension. Counsel for the petitioner
argued that since in this case no specific order was passed by the
Disciplinary Authority regarding not treating the suspension period as duty
period while imposing the penalty of removal from service, therefore, it
should be presumed that the said period is to be treated as duty period. This
contention of the learned counsel cannot be accepted. Concededly, while
passing the order of penalty of removal from service, it was specifically
ordered that no subsistence allowance or back wages shall be paid to the
officer for the suspension period. In view of the said specific order, the
suspension period cannot be treated as duty period. Sub-clause (ii) of sub-
rule (8) of Rule 68A of the Service Rules clearly provides that in all other
cases and where the officer has not been subjected to the penalty of
dismissal from service, the period spent under suspension shall be dealt with
in such a manner as the Disciplinary Authority may decide and the pay and
allowances of the officer during the period adjusted accordingly. In this
case, while imposing the penalty of removal, the Disciplinary Authority has
C.W.P. No.7588 of 2009 -8-
specifically ordered that no subsistence allowance or back wages shall be
paid to the petitioner. In view of the said decision, it cannot be said that the
period of absence from duty should have been treated as period spent on
duty. The period of absence from duty can only be treated as period spent on
duty in case the officer has been fully exonerated or the suspension was
found to be totally unjustified. As per sub-clause (ii) of sub-rule (8) of Rule
68A of the Service Rules, it is entirely at the discretion of the Disciplinary
Authority to decide about the pay and allowances of the officer during the
period he remained under suspension and adjust the same accordingly,
where the officer has not been exonerated and when he has not been
subjected to the penalty of dismissal. In this case, the Disciplinary Authority
has exercised the said discretion while coming the conclusion that no
subsistence allowance or back wages shall be paid to the petitioner. Further,
the petitioner has neither been fully exonerated nor his suspension has been
found to be unjustified, therefore, the respondents have rightly excluded the
period of suspension of the petitioner from his pensionable service which
makes him dis-entitled for pensionary benefits.
Counsel for the petitioner also argued that as per Clause (i)(b)
of Rule 22, the petitioner is entitled to pension after having completed ten
years of pensionable service. The petitioner was in the service of the
respondent bank on or after 1.11.1993 and when he was removed from
service he had attained the age of 58 years. Therefore, he is fulfilling all the
conditions of the said Clause which makes him entitled for the pension. This
contention of the counsel for the petitioner also cannot be accepted. In my
opinion, the case of the petitioner falls under Clause (i)(d) of Rule 22 of the
Pension Fund Rules. Rule 22 is reproduced as under:-
C.W.P. No.7588 of 2009 -9-
“22 (i) A member shall be entitled to a pension under these
rules on retiring from the Bank’s service-
(a) After having completed twenty years’ pensionable
service provided that he has attained the age of fifty
years; or
(b) If he is in the service of the Bank or or after 1.11.93, after
having completed ten years pensionable service provided
that he has attained the age of fifty eight years; or
(c) If he is in service of the Bank on or after 22.05.1998, after
having completed 10 years’ pensionable service provided
that he has attained the age of 60 years;
(d) After having completed 20 years’ pensionable service
irrespective of the age he shall have attained, if he shall
satisfy the Authority competent to sanction his
retirement by approved medical certificate or
otherwise that he is incapacitated for further active
service.
(e) After having completed 20 years’ pensionable service,
irrespective of age he shall have attained at his request in
writing if accepted by the Competent Authority with effect
from 20th September 1986;
(f) After 25 years’ pensionable service.
ii) A member who has attained the age of 55 years or who
shall be proved to the satisfaction of the authority empowered
to sanction his retirement to be permanently incapacitated by
bodily or mental infirmity from further active service, and not
as a result of irregular or intemperate habits, may, at the
discretion of the Trustees, be granted a proportionate pension.
iii) A member who has been permitted to retire under clause
1 (c) above shall be entitled to proportionate pension.”
The case of the petitioner falls under Clause (d) as the petitioner has been
removed from service, therefore, he has become incapacitated for further
active service. In view of the said fact, irrespective of the age, such an
C.W.P. No.7588 of 2009 -10-
officer is entitled for pension after having completed 20 years of
pensionable service. Since the pensionable service of the petitioner is of 11
years and 7 months, therefore, he is not entitled for pension.
Regarding the second claim, the Disciplinary Authority has
specifically ordered that no back wages or subsistence allowance shall be
paid to the petitioner and the said order of the Disciplinary Authority was
upheld by the Appellate Authority as well as by this Court when the
petitioner withdrew aforesaid CWP No.8508 of 2005 challenging the said
orders of Disciplinary and Appellate Authorities. Therefore, those orders
have become final as the same have neither been set aside in any civil suit
nor by the reviewing authority.
In view of the aforesaid, I do not find any merit in the petition
and the same is hereby dismissed.
May 20, 2009 (SATISH KUMAR MITTAL)
vkg JUDGE
(Refer to Reporter)