{"id":136838,"date":"2005-06-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2005-06-15T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/union-of-india-others-vs-the-central-administrative-on-16-june-2005-2"},"modified":"2017-06-01T07:01:00","modified_gmt":"2017-06-01T01:31:00","slug":"union-of-india-others-vs-the-central-administrative-on-16-june-2005-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/union-of-india-others-vs-the-central-administrative-on-16-june-2005-2","title":{"rendered":"Union Of India &amp; Others vs The Central Administrative &#8230; on 16 June, 2005"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"docsource_main\">Chattisgarh High Court<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_title\">Union Of India &amp; Others vs The Central Administrative &#8230; on 16 June, 2005<\/div>\n<pre>       \n\n  \n\n  \n\n \n \n       HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE CHHATTISGARH: BILASPUR           \n                   (Division Bench)\n\n      WRIT PETITION NO. 1094 OF 2000  \n\n      Union of India &amp; Others\n                                        ...Petitioner\n                        Versus\n      The Central Administrative Tribunal, Jabalpur &amp; Another\n                                        ...Respondent\n\n!      Present   :    Mr. Vinay Harit, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Ashok\n       Swarnkar, learned counsel for the   petitioner.\n\n^      Mr. U.N.S. Deo, with Mr. Pankaj  Shrivatava, learned counsel for\n       respondent No.2.\n\n      CORAM :         Hon'ble Shri A.K. Patnaik, CJ\n                       &amp;  Hon'ble Shri S.K.Agnihotri, J.\n\n      Dated: 16\/06\/2005\n\n:      O R D E R\n<\/pre>\n<p>       ( 16th of June 2005)<\/p>\n<p>                The  following Order of the  Court  was<br \/>\npassed by<br \/>\nA.K. Patnaik, CJ:\n<\/p>\n<p>      In  this writ petition under Articles 226\/227  of<\/p>\n<p>the   Constitution  of  India,  the  petitioners   have<\/p>\n<p>challenged  the order dated 22.09.1999  passed  by  the<\/p>\n<p>Central   Administrative  Tribunal,   Jabalpur   Bench,<\/p>\n<p>Jabalpur in Original Application No.456 of 1991.<\/p>\n<p>2.   The facts briefly are that the respondent No.2 was<\/p>\n<p>working  as a Permanent Way Inspector under  the  South <\/p>\n<p>Eastern Railways.  A departmental enquiry was initiated<\/p>\n<p>against  the respondent No.2.  In the said departmental<\/p>\n<p>enquiry  two  articles of charge  were  framed  against<\/p>\n<p>respondent  No.2.  The two articles of  charge  are  as<\/p>\n<p>follows:\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>     &#8220;Article-I:  That  the  said  Sri  B.P.Singh<br \/>\n     while functioning as PWI\/MBY during 1986 had<br \/>\n     accepted   989  pcs.  Of  B.G.  Sal   wooden<br \/>\n     sleepers  \/  special from the associates  of<br \/>\n     M\/s.  M.P.  M.P. Export Corp.  Ltd.  without<br \/>\n     Booking Instructions of Dy.CE\/SLC\/GRC or any<br \/>\n     instruction from his superior officers.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>           By  the above act Sri Singh failed  to<br \/>\n     main  absolute integrity, devotion  to  duty<br \/>\n     and acted in a manner which is unbecoming of<br \/>\n     a  Rly.  servant and there by violated  rule<br \/>\n     3(i), (ii) &amp; (iii) of the RSC Rules, 1966.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>     Article-II: That during the aforesaid period<br \/>\n     and   while  functioning  in  the  aforesaid<br \/>\n     office,  the said Sri B.P. Singh has granted<br \/>\n     12\/EG-15  (Acknowledgment) for the aforesaid<br \/>\n     989  Pcs.  Of  B.G.  Sal wooden  sleepers  \/<br \/>\n     specials  quoting  6  BIs  meant  for  other<br \/>\n     consignees  and  one  for  PWI\/BMY.  On  the<br \/>\n     strength  of those 13 EG-15, the  Contractor<br \/>\n     has  claimed bill of Rs.10,09,305.20P to Dy.<br \/>\n     CE\/SLC\/GRC.  He granted 13 Nos. clear  EG-15<br \/>\n     for  989 pcs. Of sleepers \/ specials quoting<br \/>\n<span class=\"hidden_text\">     6 fake B.I. Nos. meant for some other units.<\/span><br \/>\n     The  B.I.  No.303 was meant for PWI\/BMY  and<br \/>\n     the sleepers were passed at Depot No.371  of<br \/>\n     Pendra  Road,  but  Sri  Sngh  received  the<br \/>\n     materials  from other depots of  Dhamtari  &amp;<br \/>\n     Raipur.  Thus, Sri Singh has failed to  main<br \/>\n     absolute  integrity, devotion  to  duty  and<br \/>\n     acted in a manner which is unbecoming  of  a<br \/>\n     Rly.   Servant   as  required   under   rule<br \/>\n     3(I)(i),(ii)  &amp;  (iii)  of  the  RSC  Rules,<br \/>\n     1966.&#8221;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>In  the enquiry, the Enquiry Officer given a finding in<\/p>\n<p>the enquiry report that the two articles of charge were<\/p>\n<p>proved against respondent No.2.  The enquiry report was<\/p>\n<p>accepted   by  the  Disciplinary  Authority   and   the<\/p>\n<p>respondent  No.2  was removed from service  vide  order<\/p>\n<p>dated 25.10.1989 by the disciplinary authority with the<\/p>\n<p>observation that he was a person of doubtful  integrity<\/p>\n<p>and  was  not  a fit person to be retained in  service.<\/p>\n<p>Aggrieved  by the said order of removal, the respondent<\/p>\n<p>No.2   preferred   an  appeal  before   the   appellate<\/p>\n<p>authority.    But  before  the  appeal   was   decided,<\/p>\n<p>respondent  No.2 filed Original Application  No.456  of<\/p>\n<p>1999   before  the  Central  Administrative   Tribunal,<\/p>\n<p>Jabalpur Bench, Jabalpur.   The Tribunal after  hearing<\/p>\n<p>the  parties  disposed of the Original  Application  by<\/p>\n<p>modifying  the  order  of  removal  to  an   order   of<\/p>\n<p>compulsory  retirement with effect from the  date  from<\/p>\n<p>which  the  respondent No.2 was removed  from  service.<\/p>\n<p>Paragraphs 5 &amp; 6 of the order dated 22.09.1999  of  the<\/p>\n<p>Tribunal  in the said O.A.No.456 of 1991 which  contain<\/p>\n<p>the reason for modifying the order of removal to one of<\/p>\n<p>the compulsory retirement are quoted herein below:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>     &#8220;5.   We have duly considered the submission<br \/>\n     of   both  sides  and  minutely  peruse  the<br \/>\n     records.  It is true that the applicant  was<br \/>\n     posted   as   Permanent  Way  Inspector   in<br \/>\n     Bhilliai  Marshalling Yard where he  had  to<br \/>\n     see  to  the maintenance of Railway  tracks.<br \/>\n     The  applicant  was  required  materials   \/<br \/>\n     stocks   which   were  necessary   for   the<br \/>\n     maintenance.    The  said   materials   were<br \/>\n     supplied to the Railways by the M.P.  Export<br \/>\n     Corporation Limited, Bhopal.  It is  alleged<br \/>\n     that   during   the  period   1986-87,   the<br \/>\n     applicant  had received materials  \/  stock,<br \/>\n     which  on check was found to be short.   The<br \/>\n     respondents in their reply themselves  admit<br \/>\n     that the responsibility was not that of  the<br \/>\n     applicant who was the P.W.I. but the  Senior<br \/>\n     D.E.N,  D.E.N. and the A.E.N.  were  equally<br \/>\n     responsible  and  they  were  aware  of  the<br \/>\n     problems  of  the Bhillai Marshalling  Yard.<br \/>\n     If  it be so, the materials supplied to  the<br \/>\n     Railways ought to have been checked  by  the<br \/>\n     superior  officers  \/  authorities  as  well<br \/>\n     because  the  bills  are  to  be  ultimately<br \/>\n     passed   through  them.     No   doubt   the<br \/>\n     misappropriation  of  materials  might  have<br \/>\n     been due to lack of devotion of duty on  the<br \/>\n     part  of  the applicant as alleged, however,<br \/>\n     the  fact  remains that there was negligence<br \/>\n     on  the  part of the superior officers  like<br \/>\n     the  Sr.  DEN and AEN who were not taken  to<br \/>\n     task by the respondent &#8211; department for  the<br \/>\n     reasons  best  known  to  them.   Only   the<br \/>\n     applicant   was   circled   out   and   held<br \/>\n     responsible for the government loss.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>     6.    In  view  of  what has been  discussed<br \/>\n     above and after hearing the counsel for both<br \/>\n     parties  and having perused the  records  on<br \/>\n     file, we find that the applicant was not the<br \/>\n     sole  person whose negligence attributed  to<br \/>\n     the  acceptance of sub standard material but<br \/>\n     some  senior  officers were also responsible<br \/>\n     and  they  were spared for the reasons  best<br \/>\n     known to the official respondents.  We  also<br \/>\n     find  that  for  shortage of  251  sleepers,<br \/>\n     utilized in track repairs, four junior  PWIs<br \/>\n     who  were also responsible for accounting  &amp;<br \/>\n     transaction   were  also   spared   by   the<br \/>\n     official.    In   the   circumstances,   the<br \/>\n     punishment  imposed upon  the  applicant  is<br \/>\n     considered  too  harsh and  we  are  of  the<br \/>\n     opinion  that  the same should be  modified.<br \/>\n     In  this  connection we  also  rely  on  the<br \/>\n     decision of the Hon&#8217;ble Supreme Court in the<br \/>\n     case  of <a href=\"\/doc\/1508554\/\">B.C. Chaturvedi vs. Union of India,<\/a><br \/>\n     (1995) 6 SCC 749.  We accordingly dispose of<br \/>\n     this  application  and modify  the  impugned<br \/>\n     punishment of removal from service  to  that<br \/>\n     of  compulsory  retirement w.e.f.  the  date<br \/>\n     from which he was removed from service.  The<br \/>\n     respondents   shall   take   all   necessary<br \/>\n     measures  as  required under the  Rules  for<br \/>\n     making payment of pensionary benefits to the<br \/>\n     applicant  to which he will be  entitled  to<br \/>\n     within six months from today.&#8221;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>3.    Mr.  Vinay Harit, Sr. Advocate appearing for  the<\/p>\n<p>petitioners submitted that the two charges against  the<\/p>\n<p>respondent  No.2 were serious in nature  and  had  been<\/p>\n<p>proved  in  the  departmental enquiry.   He  vehemently<\/p>\n<p>argued  that  since  it  has been  established  in  the<\/p>\n<p>departmental  enquiry  that  the  respondent  No.2  had<\/p>\n<p>failed  to maintain absolute integrity in the discharge<\/p>\n<p>of  his duty and has also misappropriate 251 numbers of<\/p>\n<p>New  Wooden  Crossings Sleepers  and  thereby  put  the <\/p>\n<p>Railway  in heavy financial loss, the order of  removal<\/p>\n<p>passed  by the disciplinary authority was proportionate<\/p>\n<p>to  the gravity of misconduct and should not have  been<\/p>\n<p>interfered with by the Tribunal in the impugned  order.<\/p>\n<p>He  submitted that the Supreme Court has held  in  <a href=\"\/doc\/1508554\/\">B.C.<\/p>\n<p>Chaturvedi  vs.  Union of India &amp;  Others<\/a>  reported  in<\/p>\n<p>(1995)  6 SCC 749 that is only when the Tribunal  finds<\/p>\n<p>that   the   punishment  imposed  by  the  disciplinary<\/p>\n<p>authority  is  shocking,  it will  interfere  with  the<\/p>\n<p>punishment   and   remit  the  matter   back   to   the<\/p>\n<p>disciplinary  authority or the appellate  authority  to<\/p>\n<p>reconsider  the  punishment  to  be  imposed   on   the<\/p>\n<p>delinquent  and  only  in exceptional  rare  cases  the<\/p>\n<p>Tribunal can impose lesser punishment.  He also  relied<\/p>\n<p>on the decisions of the Supreme Court in <a href=\"\/doc\/107483\/\">Union of India<\/p>\n<p>&amp;  Another  vs. G. Ganayutham<\/a> reported in AIR  1997  SC <\/p>\n<p>3387  as  well as <a href=\"\/doc\/1086058\/\">Canara Bank vs. V.K. Awasthy<\/a> reported<\/p>\n<p>in  2005  AIR  SCW  2005 for the proposition  that  the<\/p>\n<p>Tribunal   will  not  interfere  with  the   order   of<\/p>\n<p>punishment  unless  the same is  wholly  irrational  or<\/p>\n<p>illegal.   He further submitted that in this case,  the<\/p>\n<p>Tribunal  while  reducing the punishment  from  one  of<\/p>\n<p>removal  to  compulsory retirement  has  recorded  some<\/p>\n<p>findings  of negligence against some superior  officers<\/p>\n<p>namely  Sr.  D.E.N.,  D.E.N.  and  A.E.N.,  and   these<\/p>\n<p>findings  are not based on any material in the  records<\/p>\n<p>of the departmental enquiry.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>5.    Mr.  U.N.S.  Deo, learned counsel  appearing  for<\/p>\n<p>respondent No.2, on the other hand, submitted that  the<\/p>\n<p>contention of the petitioners before the Tribunal inter<\/p>\n<p>alia  was  that  the  respondent  No.2  was  posted  as<\/p>\n<p>Permanent  Way  Inspector in Bhillai  Marshalling  Yard<\/p>\n<p>where  he was to see the maintenance of railway tracks.<\/p>\n<p>But  he was not the sole person who was responsible for<\/p>\n<p>the  loss of materials \/ stocks in the railway yard and<\/p>\n<p>the   Sr.   D.E.N.,  D.E.N.  and  A.E.N.  were  equally<\/p>\n<p>responsible and yet respondent No.2 was singled out for<\/p>\n<p>the  differential treatment and proceeded  against  the<\/p>\n<p>departmental  enquiry  and  finally  removed  from  the<\/p>\n<p>service.   He  further submitted that the Tribunal  was<\/p>\n<p>therefore  right in coming to the conclusion  that  the<\/p>\n<p>respondent No.2 was not the sole person responsible for<\/p>\n<p>accepting substandard materials or for the shortage  of<\/p>\n<p>251 sleepers and in reducing the punishment from one of<\/p>\n<p>removal  from service to one of compulsory  retirement.<\/p>\n<p>He  also  relied on the aforesaid decision  of  Supreme<\/p>\n<p>Court  in  B.C. Chaturvedi (supra) wherein it has  been<\/p>\n<p>held that if the punishment imposed by the disciplinary<\/p>\n<p>authority  shocks  the  judicial  conscience   of   the<\/p>\n<p>Tribunal, the Tribunal can interfere with the same  and<\/p>\n<p>in some cases can also reduce the punishment to shorten <\/p>\n<p>the  litigation.  He also relied on the decision of the<\/p>\n<p>Supreme Court in <a href=\"\/doc\/91544221\/\">Kailash Nath Gupta vs. Enquiry Officer<\/p>\n<p>(R.K.  Rai), Allahabad Bank &amp; Others<\/a> reported in (2003)<\/p>\n<p>9  SCC  480 wherein it has been held that the  relevant<\/p>\n<p>factors  are  not  taken note of while determining  the<\/p>\n<p>quantum   of   punishment,   the   Court   can   direct<\/p>\n<p>reconsideration or in an appropriate case  for  shorten<\/p>\n<p>the  litigation indicate the punishment to be  awarded.<\/p>\n<p>He  also cited the decision of Supreme Court in  <a href=\"\/doc\/1453682\/\">Pritam<\/p>\n<p>Singh vs. Union of India &amp; Others<\/a> reported in 2004  AIR<\/p>\n<p>SCW 5391, wherein the Supreme Court interfered with the <\/p>\n<p>order  of  punishment of compulsory retirement  as  the<\/p>\n<p>railway  employee had put in 31 years of  long  service<\/p>\n<p>without  any blemish.  He submitted that in the present<\/p>\n<p>case,  the  respondent No.2 had  put  in  29  years  of<\/p>\n<p>unblemished service and he should not have been removed <\/p>\n<p>from  service and therefore, the order of the  Tribunal<\/p>\n<p>reducing the punishment of removal to one of compulsory<\/p>\n<p>retirement  was justified.  Finally, he submitted  that<\/p>\n<p>before the Tribunal, respondent No.2 had raised various<\/p>\n<p>other  grounds  such  as; violation  of  principles  of<\/p>\n<p>natural justice; and procedural irregularities  in  the<\/p>\n<p>enquiry, but all these grounds have not been taken note<\/p>\n<p>of  by  the Tribunal in the impugned order.  To a query<\/p>\n<p>made by the Court as to why the respondent No.2 has not <\/p>\n<p>challenged the order of the Tribunal, Mr. Deo,  learned<\/p>\n<p>counsel  appearing for respondent No.2  submitted  that<\/p>\n<p>since  the  Tribunal by the impugned order reduced  the<\/p>\n<p>punishment  from  one of removal to one  of  compulsory<\/p>\n<p>retirement  and the respondent No.2 on such  compulsory <\/p>\n<p>retirement  would  be  entitled  to  his  pension,  the<\/p>\n<p>respondent  No.2  did not challenge the  order  of  the<\/p>\n<p>Tribunal.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>6.    The  law in what cases, the Tribunal or the  High<\/p>\n<p>Court  can  interfere  with the quantum  of  punishment<\/p>\n<p>imposed  on a delinquent by the disciplinary  authority<\/p>\n<p>is now fairly well settled in India.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>7.    In B.C. Chaturvedi (supra) the Supreme Court  has<\/p>\n<p>been  held  that  the  disciplinary  authority  or  the<\/p>\n<p>appellate   authority,   being   the   facts    finding<\/p>\n<p>authorities  have  exclusive  power  to  consider   the<\/p>\n<p>evidence  with a view to maintain discipline  and  they<\/p>\n<p>are  invested with the discretion to impose appropriate<\/p>\n<p>punishment keeping in view the magnitude or gravity  of<\/p>\n<p>the  misconduct.   In  the said decision,  the  Supreme<\/p>\n<p>Court  has however held that the High Court \/ Tribunal,<\/p>\n<p>while  exercising the power of judicial review,  cannot<\/p>\n<p>normally substitute their own conclusion on penalty and<\/p>\n<p>impose  some  other  penalty.  But  if  the  punishment<\/p>\n<p>imposed  by the disciplinary authority or the appellate<\/p>\n<p>authority  shocks  to conscience of the  High  Court  \/<\/p>\n<p>Tribunal,  it  would appropriately  mould  the  relief,<\/p>\n<p>either directing the disciplinary \/ appellate authority<\/p>\n<p>to  reconsider the penalty imposed, or to  shorten  the<\/p>\n<p>litigation,  it  may  itself, in exceptional  and  rare<\/p>\n<p>cases,   impose  appropriate  punishment  with   cogent<\/p>\n<p>reasons in support thereof.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>8.    <a href=\"\/doc\/107483\/\">In  Union  of India &amp; Another vs.  G.  Ganayutham<\/a><\/p>\n<p>(supra)  the  Supreme  Court considered  the  law  with<\/p>\n<p>regard  to  proportionality of punishment both  in  the<\/p>\n<p>U.S.  and  in  England as well as in India and  finally<\/p>\n<p>came to conclusion that the position in our country  in<\/p>\n<p>Administrative Law is that the Courts \/ Tribunals  will<\/p>\n<p>only  play a secondary role while the primary  judgment<\/p>\n<p>as  to resonableness will remain with the executive  or<\/p>\n<p>the administrative authority and the secondary judgment<\/p>\n<p>of  the  Court  is  to  be based  Wednesbury  and  CCSU<\/p>\n<p>principles  to  find if the executive or administrative<\/p>\n<p>authority has reasonably arrived at his decision as the<\/p>\n<p>primary  authority.  Para 31 of this  judgment  of  the<\/p>\n<p>Supreme  Court,  which  is relevant  is  quoted  herein<\/p>\n<p>below:\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>     &#8220;31. In such a situation, unless the Court \/<br \/>\n     Tribunal opines in its secondary role,  that<br \/>\n     the   administrator  was,  on  the  material<br \/>\n     before   him,   irrational   according    to<br \/>\n     Wednesbury  or  CCSU norms,  the  punishment<br \/>\n     cannot  be  quashed.  Even then, the  matter<br \/>\n     has  to  be remitted back to the appropriate<br \/>\n     authority for reconsideration.  It  is  only<br \/>\n     in  very  rare cases as pointed out in  B.C.<br \/>\n     Chaturvedi&#8217;s case (1995 AIR SCW  4374)  that<br \/>\n     the  Court might, &#8211; to shorten litigation  &#8211;<br \/>\n     think of substituting it own view as to  the<br \/>\n     Quantum  of punishment in the place  of  the<br \/>\n     punishment   awarded   by   the    competent<br \/>\n     authority.&#8221;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>In  the aforesaid judgment therefore, the Supreme Court<\/p>\n<p>has  taken a view that when the Court \/ Tribunal opines<\/p>\n<p>in  its secondary role, that the administrator was,  on<\/p>\n<p>the  material  before  him,  irrational  according   to<\/p>\n<p>Wednesbury  or  CCSU norms.  The punishment  cannot  be   <\/p>\n<p>quashed.   But even then the matter has to be  remitted<\/p>\n<p>back  to the disciplinary authority for reconsideration<\/p>\n<p>and  it  is only in very rare cases as pointed  out  in<\/p>\n<p>B.C.  Chaturvedi&#8217;s case that the court might to shorten<\/p>\n<p>the litigation substitute a lesser punishment than that<\/p>\n<p>awarded by the disciplinary authority.<\/p>\n<p>9.    <a href=\"\/doc\/1086058\/\">In  Canara  Bank  vs. V.K.  Awasthy<\/a>  (supra)  the<\/p>\n<p>Supreme Court has only summed up the position of law as <\/p>\n<p>laid  down in <a href=\"\/doc\/107483\/\">Union of India vs. G. Ganayutham<\/a>  (supra)<\/p>\n<p>in para 27 of the judgment.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>10.   <a href=\"\/doc\/91544221\/\">In  Kailash Nath Gupta vs. Enquiry Officer  (R.K.<\/p>\n<p>Rai)  Allahabad Bank &amp; Others<\/a> (supra) the Supreme Court <\/p>\n<p>after   discussing  the  law  as  laid  down  in   B.C.<\/p>\n<p>Chaturvedi (supra) and in other cases has held that one<\/p>\n<p>thing is clear that the power of interference with  the<\/p>\n<p>quantum  of punishment is extremely limited.  But  when<\/p>\n<p>relevant factors are not taken note of, which have some<\/p>\n<p>bearing  on  the quantum of punishment,  certainly  the<\/p>\n<p>Court  can  direct reconsideration or in an appropriate<\/p>\n<p>case to shorten the litigation, indicate the punishment<\/p>\n<p>to  be  awarded.  Thus, in this case also in which  the<\/p>\n<p>great  reliance  has been placed by  Mr.  Deo,  learned<\/p>\n<p>counsel  appearing for respondent No.2,  factors  which<\/p>\n<p>are  relevant  and  have  bearing  to  the  quantum  of<\/p>\n<p>punishment,  if ignored may call for interference  with<\/p>\n<p>the  order  of punishment by the Court or the  Tribunal<\/p>\n<p>and not otherwise.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>11.    Coming  to  the  facts  of  the  present   case,<\/p>\n<p>paragraphs  5  &amp;  6 of the order of the Tribunal  which<\/p>\n<p>have  been  quoted  above would show that  the  factors<\/p>\n<p>which  have  been  taken  into  consideration  by   the<\/p>\n<p>Tribunal in interfering with the order of punishment of<\/p>\n<p>removal  passed by the disciplinary authority  is  that<\/p>\n<p>besides respondents No.2, other superior officers  like<\/p>\n<p>Sr.   D.E.N.,  D.E.N.,  A.E.N.  and  4  APWI  are  also<\/p>\n<p>responsible.  But these findings that superior officers<\/p>\n<p>like  Sr. D.E.N., D.E.N., A.E.N. and 4 Junior PWIs were<\/p>\n<p>also  responsible along with respondent No.2,  are  not<\/p>\n<p>based  on any materials in the record collected in  the<\/p>\n<p>departmental  enquiry.  In exercise  of  the  power  of<\/p>\n<p>judicial  review the High Court or the Tribunal  cannot<\/p>\n<p>recall  fresh  finding  of facts  with  regard  to  the<\/p>\n<p>disciplinary  proceedings which are  not  part  of  the<\/p>\n<p>record  of the disciplinary proceedings.  The power  of<\/p>\n<p>the  High Court \/ Tribunal is to only examine the order<\/p>\n<p>passed  by  the disciplinary authority or the appellate<\/p>\n<p>authority  on the basis of materials which formed  part<\/p>\n<p>of the departmental enquiry.  If in the given case, the<\/p>\n<p>High  Court or the Tribunal is of the view that certain<\/p>\n<p>further facts need to be inquired into, the High  Court<\/p>\n<p>or  the  Tribunal  can remit the  matter  back  to  the<\/p>\n<p>disciplinary  authority for re-enquiry on  those  facts<\/p>\n<p>and  in  such  re-enquiry only fresh materials  can  be<\/p>\n<p>adduced  and  brought on record.  While exercising  the<\/p>\n<p>power of judicial review the High Court or the Tribunal<\/p>\n<p>cannot  act  as  the  disciplinary  authority  or   the<\/p>\n<p>appellate authority and record its own finding of facts<\/p>\n<p>on  the basis of materials placed before the High Court<\/p>\n<p>or  Tribunal.   This has itself been clarified  in  the<\/p>\n<p>case  of  B.C. Chaturvedi (supra) that the disciplinary<\/p>\n<p>and  on  appeal  the  appellate authority,  being  fact<\/p>\n<p>finding  authorities have exclusive power  to  consider<\/p>\n<p>the  evidence with a view to maintain discipline.  Even<\/p>\n<p>otherwise, the fact that the other officers  were  also<\/p>\n<p>responsible  along with respondent No.2 in  respect  of<\/p>\n<p>the two charges against respondent No.2 is not relevant<\/p>\n<p>or  germane to the quantum of punishment to be  imposed <\/p>\n<p>on  respondent No.2.  If the respondent No.2 was guilty<\/p>\n<p>of  the  two  charges he was liable for such punishment<\/p>\n<p>should  not  be  shocking  to  judicial  conscience  or<\/p>\n<p>strikingly disproportionate.  In the present case,  the<\/p>\n<p>respondent  No.2  has  been found  guilty  of  the  two<\/p>\n<p>charges in the departmental enquiry and the findings in<\/p>\n<p>the   enquiry   report  have  been  accepted   by   the<\/p>\n<p>disciplinary  authority.  The two charges quoted  above<\/p>\n<p>are   certainly   grave   charges   warranting   severe<\/p>\n<p>punishment.   Unless the findings of  the  disciplinary<\/p>\n<p>authority  with regard to the guilt of respondent  No.2<\/p>\n<p>are   disturbed  by  the  appellate  authority  or  the<\/p>\n<p>Tribunal,  we  do  not  think  that  the  Tribunal  can<\/p>\n<p>possibly reduce the quantum of punishment from  one  of<\/p>\n<p>removal to that of compulsory retirement.<\/p>\n<p>12.   But as stated above, it has been submitted by Mr.<\/p>\n<p>Deo, learned counsel appearing for respondent No.2 that<\/p>\n<p>besides the challenge to the quantum of punishment, the<\/p>\n<p>respondent  No.2  had  raised  various  other   grounds<\/p>\n<p>complaining  of  violation  of  principles  of  natural<\/p>\n<p>justice and irregularities in the departmental enquiry.<\/p>\n<p>We  have also perused the records of the Tribunal which<\/p>\n<p>have been produced before us and we find that in para 5<\/p>\n<p>of  the  Original Application the respondent  No.2  has<\/p>\n<p>detailed various grounds including violation of D  &amp;  A<\/p>\n<p>Rules and the principles of natural justice.  Since Mr.<\/p>\n<p>Deo  has  submitted that the respondent  No.2  did  not<\/p>\n<p>challenge  the  impugned order of the  Tribunal  as  by<\/p>\n<p>virtue  of the Tribunal the respondent No.2 would  have<\/p>\n<p>been  entitled to pension, we are of the view that  the<\/p>\n<p>matter  should be remanded back to the Tribunal  for  a<\/p>\n<p>fresh decision in accordance with law after hearing the<\/p>\n<p>parties.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>13.   For  the reasons stated above, we set  aside  the<\/p>\n<p>impugned   order  dated  22.09.1999  of   the   Central<\/p>\n<p>Administrative  Tribunal, Jabalpur Bench,  Jabalpur  in<\/p>\n<p>O.A.no.456  of 1991 and remit the matter  back  to  the<\/p>\n<p>Tribunal  for fresh hearing and decision in  accordance<\/p>\n<p>with law.  Since this is an old case, the Tribunal will<\/p>\n<p>do  well to complete the hearing and finally dispose of<\/p>\n<p>the  matter within four months from the date of receipt<\/p>\n<p>of certified copy of this order.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<pre>     Chief Justice                 Judge\n<\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chattisgarh High Court Union Of India &amp; Others vs The Central Administrative &#8230; on 16 June, 2005 HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE CHHATTISGARH: BILASPUR (Division Bench) WRIT PETITION NO. 1094 OF 2000 Union of India &amp; Others &#8230;Petitioner Versus The Central Administrative Tribunal, Jabalpur &amp; Another &#8230;Respondent ! Present : Mr. Vinay Harit, Sr. Advocate with [&hellip;]<\/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":[12,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-136838","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chattisgarh-high-court","category-high-court"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Union Of India &amp; Others vs The Central Administrative ... on 16 June, 2005 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; High Court | Legal India<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/union-of-india-others-vs-the-central-administrative-on-16-june-2005-2\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Union Of India &amp; 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