IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
WP(C) No. 33790 of 2006(V)
1. G.REGHUKUMAR, EXCISE GUARD,
... Petitioner
Vs
1. STATE OF KERALA,
... Respondent
2. THE COMMISSIONER OF EXCISE,
For Petitioner :SRI.K.JAJU BABU
For Respondent : No Appearance
The Hon'ble MR. Justice K.K.DENESAN
Dated :12/01/2007
O R D E R
K.K.DENESAN, J
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W.P.(C)NO.33790 of 2006
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Dated this the 12th day of January, 2007
JUDGMENT
The petitioner is working as Excise Guard in Kollam District. He
was found guilty of certain charges and the penalty of reduction in
rank by 20 places was imposed. The appeal filed by him before the
Government has been rejected vide Ext.P6 order. One of the
contentions urged by the petitioner against Ext.P6 is that the
Government have failed to apply its mind to the gravity of the charges
and the role alleged to have been played by the petitioner and
therefore the penalty imposed is unconscionably excessive. It is
pointed out that in a case involving similar acts of delinquency
committed by the officers of the Excise department, the penalty
imposed on a Preventive Officer is barring of two increments only,
but the petitioner who is only an Excise Guard and who had worked in
the concerned range only for a very short period has been subjected to
a severe penalty without considering the extenuating circumstances he
has raised in his appeal memorandum.
W.P.(C)No. 33790/2006 2
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that if the
petitioner was afforded an opportunity of being personally heard by
the appellate authority, it would have enabled him to appraise the
concerned authorities to convince them that the penalty imposed on
him is excessive and disproportionate to the gravity of the offences
alleged to have been committed by him.
3. Invoking the power of review vested in the Government, the
petitioner has filed Ext.P9 representation. Learned counsel for the
petitioner submits that the Government has got the power to consider
the case of the petitioner either under Rule 34 of Kerala Civil Services
(Classification and Appeal) Rules 1960 or under rule 39 of the Kerala
State and Subordinate service rules, so as to deal with his case in a
just and equitable manner.
4. I am not expressing any opinion on the merits of the
contentions urged by the petitioner in support of the reliefs prayed for
by him, for, any such opinion will prejudice either of the parties. It
would suffice that the first respondent is directed to consider Ext.P9
and dispose of the same after affording an opportunity of being heard
to the petitioner. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of directing
the first respondent to issue notice to the petitioner and after hearing
W.P.(C)No. 33790/2006 3
him, pass appropriate orders on Ext.P1. The petitioner shall produce a
copy of the judgment along with a copy of the writ petition before the
first respondent for compliance. Time for compliance is three months.
K.K.DENESAN, JUDGE
css/
W.P.(C)No. 33790/2006 4