{"id":117423,"date":"1971-11-22T00:00:00","date_gmt":"1971-11-21T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/union-of-india-vs-s-k-rao-on-22-november-1971"},"modified":"2016-09-12T03:22:41","modified_gmt":"2016-09-11T21:52:41","slug":"union-of-india-vs-s-k-rao-on-22-november-1971","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/union-of-india-vs-s-k-rao-on-22-november-1971","title":{"rendered":"Union Of India vs S. K. Rao on 22 November, 1971"},"content":{"rendered":"
Supreme Court of India<\/div>\n
Union Of India vs S. K. Rao on 22 November, 1971<\/div>\n
Equivalent citations: 1972 AIR 1137, \t\t 1972 SCR (2) 447<\/div>\n
Author: S Sikri<\/div>\n
Bench: Sikri, S.M. (Cj)<\/div>\n
           PETITIONER:\nUNION OF INDIA\n\n\tVs.\n\nRESPONDENT:\nS. K. RAO\n\nDATE OF JUDGMENT22\/11\/1971\n\nBENCH:\nSIKRI, S.M. (CJ)\nBENCH:\nSIKRI, S.M. (CJ)\nSHELAT, J.M.\nDUA, I.D.\nMITTER, G.K.\n\nCITATION:\n 1972 AIR 1137\t\t  1972 SCR  (2) 447\n 1972 SCC  (1) 144\n\n\nACT:\nArmy Act, 1950, ss. 19, 45 and 191 (2) (a), and Army  Rules.\n1954, r.  14-Whether r. 14, ultra vires.\n\n\n\nHEADNOTE:\nThe  respondent, a commissioned officer in the Indian  Army,\nwas  found to have committed acts of gross misconduct  by  a\nCourt  of Inquiry.  The Chief of the Army Staff was  of\t the\nopinion\t that  his  trial by a\tGeneral\t Court\tMartial\t was\ninexpedient,  and  the respondent was removed  from  service\nafter following the procedure under r. 14 of the Army Rules,\n1954.\nOn  the\t question whether r. 14, which gives  power  to\t the\nCentral Government to remove an officer without being  tried\nand  convicted by Court Martial was in derogation of s.\t 45,\nArmy  Act, 1950, which specifically provides for  conviction\nby court martial and punishment for unbecoming conduct,\nHELD : The rule is not ultra vires. [451 D]\n(1)  Section  19  of the Act provides that  subject  to\t the\nprovisions  of\tthe Act and the rules  made  thereunder\t the\nCentral\t Government  may  remove from  service,\t any  person\nsubject to the Act.  Therefore, the section itself  suggests\nthat  there should be rules regarding removal from  service,\nand  s. 191 (2) (a) of the Act specifically gives  power  to\nmake  a rule providing for the removal from the\t service  of\npersons subject to the Act.\n[450 H; 451 A-B]\n(2)  Although\ts.  19\tuses  the  words  \"subject  to\t the\nprovisions  of this Act\", the section is not subject  to  s.\n45.  The power under s. 19 is independent of the power under\ns.  45, because, while s. 19 speaks of removal of a  person,\ns.  45\tprovides  that on conviction  by  Court\t Martial  an\nofficer\t is  liable to be cashiered or to suffer  such\tless\npunishment as is in the Act mentioned. [451 B-D]\n\n\n\nJUDGMENT:\n<\/pre>\n
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 1653 of 1967.
\nAppeal\tfrom the judgment and order dated February 23,\t1967
\nOf the Delhi High Court in C.W. No. 403-D of 1959.
\nB.   Sen, P. L. Juneja, R. N. Sachthey and S. P. Nayer,\t for
\nthe appellant.\n<\/p>\n
Sardar Bahadur and Yougindra Khushalani, for the respondent.
\nThe  Judgment of the Court was delivered by Sikri, C.J.\t The
\njudgment,  reproduced  below, was drafted by  the  late\t Mr.
\nJustice\t Roy and we all had subscribed to it.  We beard\t the
\nmatter\tformally again on November 19, 1971.  We  adopt\t the
\njudgment as our own.\n<\/p>\n
448<\/span><\/p>\n
This is an appeal by the Union of India by way of special
\nleave.\n<\/p>\n
On  April 9, 1959, the Central Government  directed  removal
\nfrom  service  of Capt.\t S. K. Rao under r. 14 of  the\tArmy
\nRules,\t1954.\tThe  facts leading to  his  removal  are  as
\nfollows :\n<\/p>\n
Rao  was a commissioned officer in the Indian Army  and\t was
\nattached  to  the  Army\t Ordnance  Corps  Training   Centre,
\nSecundrabad.   It  was\talleged that on April  4,  1958,  he
\ncommitted  acts of .gross misconduct.  The allegations\twere
\nas follows :\n<\/p>\n
\t      “Knowing\tKumari Prakash as the daughter of  a
\n\t      brother  Officer,\t Rao assisted her  in  going
\n\t      away from her parents protection and  planning
\n\t      to run away with a sepoy.\t “<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\t      “Rao,  by threatening to cause harm to  Kumari
\n\t\t\t    Prakash’s  parents, intimidated her\t t
\no  visit
\n\t      his house where he took her in his scooter  to
\n\t      the  unit lines of 51 1 1 Gurkha Rifles  where
\n\t      he  arranged her meeting with a sepoy  of\t the
\n\t      unit.”\n<\/p>\n
\t      “He  (i.e. Rao) acquiesced in the\t girl  being
\n\t      met  by the sepoy later at a tea\tshop  nearby
\n\t      where  she  received a present of a  sari\t and
\n\t      blouse from the sepoy in his presence.”
\n\t      “Rao  thus actively abetted in the attempt  of
\n\t      brother\tofficer’s  daughter  elope  with   a
\n\t      sepoy.”\n<\/p>\n
\t      “Rao  then  took\tKumari Prakash\tto  a  hotel
\n\t      “Saidya Lodge’ in Hyderabad and got a room  to
\n\t      themselves by impersonating and giving a false
\n\t      identity as “Mr. & Mrs. Prakash”.\n<\/p>\n
An  inquiry  into the matter was made by Court\tof  Inquiry.
\nThe  Chief  of\tthe  Army Staff,  after\t going\tthrough\t the
\nproceedings  of\t the Court of Inquiry, considered  that\t the
\nconduct of Capt.  Rao was most unbecoming of an officer.  As
\nhe  was\t of opinion that trial of the officer by  a  General
\nCourt  Martial\twas inexpedient, he  ordered  administrative
\naction to be taken under r. 14 of the Army Rules, 1954.\t  By
\nmemorandum  dated September 4, 1958, Rao was called upon  to
\nsubmit\this  explanation  by way of  defence  regarding\t the
\nallegations against him.  The explanation of Rao was  placed
\nbefore the Central Government.\tThe Central Government found
\nit to be unsatisfactory, and on April 9, 1959, an order\t was
\npassed removing the respondent from service.
\nCapt.  Rao thereupon filed a petition under Art. 226 of\t the
\nConstitution for quashing the order of removal from  service
\non the
\n449<\/span>
\nground, inter alia, that r. 14 of the Army Rules, 1954,\t was
\nultra  vires the Army Act, 1950, and that the  action  taken
\nthereunder was without any authority.
\nIn  the\t petition Rao gave a somewhat different\t version  of
\nwhat  had  happened.   According to him he  did\t not  assist
\nKumari Prakash to go away from her parents’ house.
\nAt  the\t hearing of the petition the only  point  which\t was
\nurged was the validity of r. 14 of the Army Rules, 1954.  If
\nthis rule was intra vires the Army Act, Rao has no case.
\nThe Army Rules, 1954, including r. 14, were framed in  exer-
\ncise  of  the powers conferred by s. 191 of  the  Army\tAct,
\n1950.  Rule 14 of the Army Rules, 1954, is as follows:\n<\/p>\n
\t      “(1) When after considering the reports on  an
\n\t\t\t    officer’s misconduct, the Central Gove
\nrnment is
\n\t      satisfied\t or  the C-in-C is of  the  opinion,
\n\t      that  the\t trial of the officer  by  a  court-
\n\t      martial  is inexpedient or  impracticable\t but
\n\t      considers\t the further retention of  the\tsaid
\n\t      officer in the service as undesirable, the  C-
\n\t      in-C shall communicate the view of the Central
\n\t      Government  or his views, as the case may\t be,
\n\t      to  the  officer\ttogether  with\tall  reports
\n\t      adverse to him and he shall be called upon  to
\n\t      submit his explanation and defence.\n<\/p>\n
\t      (2)   In\tthe event of the explanation of\t the
\n\t      officer being considered unsatisfactory by the
\n\t      “C-in-C,\tor when so directed by\tthe  Central
\n\t      Government, the case shall be submitted to the
\n\t      Central Government with the officer’s  defence
\n\t      and  the\trecommendation of the C-in-C  as  to
\n\t      whether the officer should be,\n<\/p>\n
\t      (a)   dismissed from the service; or\n<\/p>\n
\t      (b)   removed from the service; or\n<\/p>\n
\t      (c)   called upon to retire; or\n<\/p>\n
\t      (d)   called upon to resign.\n<\/p>\n
\t      (3)   The\t  Central  Government,\t after\t due
\n\t      consideration  of the reports,  the  officer’s
\n\t      defence, if any, and the recommendation of the
\n\t      C-in-C, may dismiss or remove the officer with
\n\t      or without pension or call upon him to  retire
\n\t      or  resign, and on his refusing to do so,\t the
\n\t      officer may be retired from or gazetted out of
\n\t      the  service  on pension or gratuity,  if\t any
\n\t      admissible to him.”\n<\/p>\n
Under  the  aforesaid  r.  14,\taction\tcan  be\t taken\t for
\nmisconduct  against  an officer whose further  retention  in
\nservice\t is  not considered desirable. without\tthe  officer
\nbeing tried by a court-martial.\n<\/p>\n
450<\/span><\/p>\n
Before\tremoval he must, under the rule, be asked to  submit
\nhis explanation and defence.  If the explanation is found to
\nbe unsatisfactory, the Central Government has been given the
\npower to dismiss or remove the officer.
\nRules are framed under S. 191 of the Army Act.\t Sub-section
\n(1) of S. 191 gives power to the Central Government to\tmake
\nrules for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions
\nof the Act.  Sub-section 2(a) provides :\n<\/p>\n
\t      “Without\tprejudice to the generality  of\t the
\n\t      power conferred by sub-section (1), the  rules
\n\t\t\t    made thereunder may provide for–\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\t      (a)   the\t removal,  retirement,\trelease\t  or
\n\t      discharge from the service of persons  subject
\n\t      to this Act.”\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\t      Sections\t18 & 19 which appear in Ch.   IV  of
\n\t      the  Army\t Act  dealing  with  “Conditions  of
\n\t      Service” provide as follows :\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\t       S.18–“Every person subject to this Act shall
\n\t      hold   office  during  the  pleasure  of\t the
\n\t      President.”\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\t      s.    19–“Subject  to the provisions of\tthis
\n\t      Act and the
\n\t      rules  and  regulations  made  thereunder\t the
\n\t      Central Government may dismiss, or remove from
\n\t      the service, any person subject to this Act.”
\n\t      Offenses\tunder the Army Act have\t been  dealt
\n\t      with  in ss. 34 to 70 in Ch.  VI, of which  S.
\n\t      45 is as follows :-\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\t       S.   45-“Any  officer,  junior\tcommissioned
\n\t      officer  or warrant officer who behaves  in  a
\n\t      manner   unbecoming  his\tposition   and\t the
\n\t      character expected of him shall, on conviction
\n\t      by  court-martial,  if he is  an\tofficer,  be
\n\t      liable to be cashiered or to suffer such\tless
\n\t      punishment  as is in this Act mentioned;\tand,
\n\t      if  he is a junior commissioned officer  or  a
\n\t      warrant officer, be liable to be dismissed  or
\n\t      to  suffer such less punishment as is in\tthis
\n\t      Act mentioned,”\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
It  was\t argued by counsel for the respondent Rao  that\t the
\nArmy  Act contained specific provisions for  punishment\t for
\nunbecoming  conduct,  viz.  s. 45.  To\tgive  power  to\t the
\nCentral Government to remove an officer without being  tried
\nand convicted by court-martial was in derogation of S. 45 of
\nthe Army Act.  Rule 14, therefore, was ultra vires the\tArmy
\nAct.  This argument is not correct.\n<\/p>\n
Section\t 19 itself suggests that there should be rules,\t and
\nsubject\t to  the provisions of the Act and such\t rules,\t the
\nCentral\t Government may dismiss or remove from\tthe  service
\nany person
\n451<\/span>
\nsubject\t to the Army Act.  Section 191 (2) (a)\tspecifically
\ngives.\tpower to make a rule providing for the removal\tfrom
\nthe service of persons subject to the Act.  It follows\tthat
\nthere may be a valid rule where under, subject to the  other
\nprovisions  of the Act, the Central Government may remove  a
\nperson\tfrom the service.  Rule 14 is such a rule :  it\t is,
\ntherefore, not ultra vires.\n<\/p>\n
It  was argued that the words “subject to the provisions  of
\nthis  Act” occurring in s. 19 makes s. 19 subject to s.\t 45,
\nand  the  Central Government has thus no power to  remove  a
\nperson\tfrom the service in derogation of the provisions  of
\ns.  45.\t But the power under s. 19 is an independent  power.
\nAlthough s. 19 uses the words “subject to the provisions  of
\nthis  Act”,  it\t speaks\t of removal of\ta  person  from\t the
\nservice.   Section 45 provides that on conviction by  court-
\nmartial\t an officer is liable to be cashiered or  to  suffer
\nsuch  less  punishment\tas is in this  Act  mentioned.\t For
\nremoval\t from service under s. 19 of the Army Act read\twith
\nr.  14\tof  the Army Rules, 1954,  a  court-martial  is\t not
\nnecessary.   The  two  sections 19 and 45 of  the  Act\tare,
\ntherefore, mutually exclusive.\n<\/p>\n
The  result  is that r. 14 of the Army Rules, 1954,  is\t not
\nultra vires the Army Act.\n<\/p>\n
The appeal is, therefore, allowed; but in the  circumstances
\nof  the case without any order as to costs.  The  case\twill
\nnow go back to the High Court for disposal on merits on\t the
\nother questions raised by the respondent herein in the\tHigh
\nCourt.\n<\/p>\n
V.P.S.\t\t\t\t   Appeal allowed.\n452<\/span>\n\n\n\n<\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Supreme Court of India Union Of India vs S. K. Rao on 22 November, 1971 Equivalent citations: 1972 AIR 1137, 1972 SCR (2) 447 Author: S Sikri Bench: Sikri, S.M. (Cj) PETITIONER: UNION OF INDIA Vs. RESPONDENT: S. K. RAO DATE OF JUDGMENT22\/11\/1971 BENCH: SIKRI, S.M. (CJ) BENCH: SIKRI, S.M. (CJ) SHELAT, J.M. DUA, I.D. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-117423","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-supreme-court-of-india"],"yoast_head":"\nUnion Of India vs S. K. 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