{"id":21317,"date":"2002-04-02T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2002-04-01T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/sansar-chand-atri-vs-state-of-punjab-anr-on-2-april-2002"},"modified":"2015-06-15T19:50:16","modified_gmt":"2015-06-15T14:20:16","slug":"sansar-chand-atri-vs-state-of-punjab-anr-on-2-april-2002","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/sansar-chand-atri-vs-state-of-punjab-anr-on-2-april-2002","title":{"rendered":"Sansar Chand Atri vs State Of Punjab & Anr on 2 April, 2002"},"content":{"rendered":"
Supreme Court of India<\/div>\n
Sansar Chand Atri vs State Of Punjab & Anr on 2 April, 2002<\/div>\n
Author: D.P.Mohapatra<\/div>\n
Bench: D.P. Mohapatra, P. Venkatarama Reddi<\/div>\n
           CASE NO.:\nAppeal (civil) 2403  of  2002\n\n\n\nPETITIONER:\nSANSAR CHAND ATRI\n\n\tVs.\n\nRESPONDENT:\nSTATE OF PUNJAB & ANR.\n\nDATE OF JUDGMENT:\t02\/04\/2002\n\nBENCH:\nD.P. Mohapatra & P. Venkatarama Reddi\n\n\n\n\nJUDGMENT:\n<\/pre>\n
With
\nCIVIL APPEAL NOS.2404-2405 OF 2002
\n(Arising out of S.L.P.(C)  Nos.5338-39 of 2000)<\/p>\n
J U D G M E N T<\/p>\n
D.P.MOHAPATRA, J.\n<\/p>\n
\tLeave is granted in all the special leave petitions.\n<\/p>\n
\tThe question that falls for determination in these
\nappeals is whether the appellants  are ‘ex-servicemen’ for
\nthe purpose of appointment under the Punjab Recruitment
\nof Ex-servicemen Rules (for short ‘the Rules’) .  These
\nappeals are directed against the common judgment of the
\nHigh Court of Punjab and Haryana dismissing the writ
\npetitions filed by the appellants.  Since all the writ petitions
\nwere disposed of by the judgment rendered in CWP
\nNo.19084\/98 filed by  Sansar Chand Atri who is the
\nappellant in the Civil Appeal arising out of  S.L.P.\u00a9 No.3683
\nof 2000, the facts in that case are stated for sake of
\nconvenience:\n<\/p>\n
\tIn response to the advertisement dated 16.10.1998
\nissued by the Punjab Public Service Commission inviting
\napplications for certain posts of the Punjab  Civil Service
\n(Judicial) Branch, which appeared in the newspaper
\n‘Tribune’ on 16.10.98, the appellant submitted an
\napplication for appointment against one of the posts
\nreserved for ex-servicemen.  The competitive examination for
\nrecruitment to the post was to commence from 21.12.1998.
\nThe appellant was informed by the Commission that he
\ncould not be considered as an ex-serviceman as he had been
\ndischarged from the Indian Army at his own request.
\nFeeling aggrieved by the action of the Commission in
\ndeclining  consideration of his candidature as ex-serviceman
\nthe appellant filed the aforementioned writ petition.\n<\/p>\n
\t  The appellant joined the Indian Army on 8.10.1972
\nwhile he was holding the post of Hawaldar.  He was
\ndischarged from the Army on 1.11.1990 after rendering 18
\nyears and 24 days’ of total service.   The ’cause of discharge’
\ndescribed in the discharge certificate was “under Army Rule
\n13(3) II (iv) at his own request”.  He is drawing  pension as
\nan ex-serviceman.\n<\/p>\n
\tThe question whether the appellant is an ex-
\nservicemen  or not is to be determined on the basis of the
\nprovisions of the Punjab Recruitment of Ex-servicemen
\nRules 1982 as amended by the Notification dated 22.9.1992.
\nThe said Rules were framed by the Government of Punjab in
\nexercise of the power conferred by the proviso to Article 309
\nread with Articles 234 and 318 of the Constitution. In Rule
\n2(e) thereof, ‘ex-servicemen’ is defined as follows:\n<\/p>\n
“Rule 2(e)  ‘Ex-Servicemen’ means a person
\nwho joined any rank, whether as a
\ncombatant or as a non-combatant on or after
\nthe first day of November, 1962, in the
\nArmed Forces of the Union, excluding the
\nAssam Rifles, Lock Sahetak Sena, Jammu
\nand Kashmir Militia, Territorial Army,
\nDefence Security Corps and the General
\nReserve Engineering Force, and has been
\nreleased otherwise than on ground of
\nmisconduct or inefficiency.”\n<\/p>\n
\tRule 3 which makes provision regarding extent  of
\napplication provides that the rule shall apply to all the State
\nCivil Services and posts connected with the affairs of State
\nof Punjab excepting the Punjab Vidhan Sabha and the
\nSecretariat Services and the Punjab Higher Judicial Service.
\nIn Rule 4 provision is made for reservation of 15% of the
\nvacancies  to be filled in by direct appointment in all the
\nState Civil Services and posts connected with the affairs of
\nthe State of Punjab  to be filled in by recruitment of ex-
\nservicemen.  In the proviso to the said Rule a limit of 50% is
\nprescribed for the total number of reserved vacancies.\n<\/p>\n
\tIn Rules 5 to 7 certain relaxations are made regarding
\nthe number of attempts which an ex-serviceman may make
\nin the competitive examination, age limit for appointment
\nand educational qualification and experience.  From the
\nprovisions of the Rule it is clear that its purpose is to benefit
\nthe ex-servicemen in getting appointment to Civil posts
\nunder the State.\n<\/p>\n
\tBy the notification dated 22.9.1992 issued by the
\nState Government certain provisions of the 1982 Rules were
\namended.  The definition of ex-servicemen in Rule 2\u00a9(ii) was
\nsubstituted by the provision quoted hereunder:\n<\/p>\n
“Ex-servicemen” means a person who has
\nserved in any rank, whether as a combatant
\nor a non-combatant in the Naval , Military
\nand Air Force of the Union of India
\n(hereinafter referred to as the Armed Forces
\nof the Union of India), and  who has :-\n<\/p>\n
(i)\tretired from such service after earning
\nhis pension; or<\/p>\n
(ii)\tbeen released from such service on
\nmedical grounds attributable to
\nmilitary service or circumstances
\nbeyond his control and awarded
\nmedical or other disability pension;  or<\/p>\n
(iii)\tbeen released, otherwise than on his
\nown request from such service as a
\nresult of reduction in establishment, or<\/p>\n
(iv)\tbeen  released from such service after
\ncompleting the specific period of
\nengagement otherwise than at his own
\nrequest or by way of dismissal or
\ndischarge on account of misconduct or
\ninefficiency and has been given a
\ngratuity.\n<\/p>\n
but does not include a person who has
\nserved in the defence security corps,
\nthe General Reserve Engineering Force
\nthe lok Sahayak sena  and the para
\nmilitary forces, but includes personnel
\nof the Lok Sahayak sena of the
\nfollowing categories, namely ;\n<\/p>\n
(i)\tpension holders for
\ncontinuous embodied services;\n<\/p>\n
(ii)\tpersons with disability
\nattributable to military service
\nand<\/p>\n
(iii)\tgallantry award winners.\n<\/p>\n
Explanation : The persons serving in the armed
\nForces of the Union, who on retirement from
\nservice would come under the category of ‘ex-
\nserviceman’ may be permitted to apply for re-
\nemployment and avail themselves of all
\nconcessions available to ex-servicemen but shall
\nnot be permitted to leave  the uniform until they
\ncomplete the specific terms of engagement in the
\nArmed Forces of the Union.”\n<\/p>\n
(emphasis supplied)<\/p>\n
\tThe answer to the question formulated earlier depends
\non a fair interpretation  of the  Rules particularly  the Rule
\nlaying down the definition of the term ‘ex-servicemen’.\t The
\nPublic Service Commission  was not inclined to consider the
\nappellant’s candidature\t in the posts reserved for ex-
\nservicemen because the appellant had been discharged from
\nservice at his own request and had not retired from the
\nservice.  The High Court accepted the interpretation made
\nby the Commission mainly on the ground that in the
\nprovisions of the Army Rules a distinction is maintained
\nbetween ‘discharge’, ‘retire’ and ‘release’ of army personnel
\nfrom the service. The High Court took the view that under
\nthe 1982 services  rules  as amended in 1992 a person who
\nhas been released from the service on his own request as
\nprovided in Rule 2(c)(iii) is specifically excluded from the
\npurview of the term ‘ex-servicemen’.  Relying on the said
\nprovision the High Court took the view that the appellant
\nhas neither retired from the service nor has been released
\nfrom service as contemplated under the aforementioned
\nprovision but has been ‘discharged ‘ from service on his own
\nrequest.  Because of the exclusory definition of the term ‘ex-
\nservicemen’ the High Court was not persuaded to accept the
\nclaim of the appellant that he should be considered as an
\nex-serviceman.\n<\/p>\n
It is relevant to note here that in the Certificate  issued
\nby the Ministry of Defence the appellant has been described
\nas an ex-serviceman.  The  provision for reservation in the
\nservice rules is meant for the benefit of ex-servicemen.  The
\npurpose is to provide them with suitable jobs in civil
\nservices so that they may not face difficulty in adjusting
\nthemselves in civil society after leaving the defence service.
\nIn the context of the scheme of the provision the provisions
\nin the rule should be interpreted in a purposive and
\nreasonable manner so that the intent and purpose of the
\nprovision is served. From the provisions in the rules it
\nappears that a distinction has been made by persons who
\nare  released from the army on ground of medical
\ndisqualification or on ground of inefficiency or misconduct.
\nSuch distinction is reasonable keeping in view the purpose
\nof reservation of posts made under the rules. All the ex-
\ndefence service personnel are to be treated as a class
\nseparate from other candidates for the purpose of offer of
\njobs and no differentiation or discrimination can be made
\namongst them unless such differences are real and
\nsubstantial.   Testing the provisions in this context we are of
\nthe view   that\t  a   person in the army who has earned
\npension after putting in the requisite period of service before
\nleaving the army whether at his own request or on being
\nreleased by the employer  on any ground should be treated
\nas an ex-serviceman who has retired from the army.  Such
\ntreatment is to be  meted out to all such persons irrespective
\nof whether the nomenclature used is  ‘relieved’ or
\n‘discharged’ or ‘retired’.  If the contention raised on behalf of
\nthe Service Commission and the State Government\t that
\nsince the appellant has been discharged from the Army at
\nhis own request, he cannot be treated as an  ex-serviceman,
\nis accepted  then it will create a class within a class without
\nrational basis\tand, therefore, becomes arbitrary and
\ndiscriminatory.\t It will also defeat the purpose for which the
\nprovision for reservation has been made.\n<\/p>\n
The High Court, in our view, is not justified in placing
\nreliance on sub-clause (iv) of the definition clause and
\nexcluding the writ petitioners from the eligible category on
\nthat basis. Sub-clause (iv) has no application in the instant
\ncase for the reason that it applies to such of those persons
\nwho are relieved from service after specific period of
\nengagement and become entitled to get gratuity.\t If a person,
\nwho served in the armed forces, is released after being
\ngranted the benefit of pension, the case is taken out of
\npurview of sub-clause (iv).  The exclusionary words
\n“otherwise than at his own request” occurring in sub-clause\n<\/p>\n
(iv) cannot, therefore, be relied upon to deny the benefit to
\nthe appellants.\t Then the question arises whether such
\nperson would fall under sub-clause (i)?\t True, according to
\nthe terminology used in the Service Rules governing the
\narmed forces there is a distinction between retirement and
\nrelease\/discharge, as pointed out by the High Court.  But,
\nin the context of definition of ex-serviceman in Rule 2(c)(ii),
\nbroader meaning has to be given to the word ‘retired’
\noccurring in sub-clause (i).  In principle and in the light of
\nthe considerations set out above, there is no rational basis
\nfor excluding those discharged or released from service after
\nearning pension.  It is only after considerable period of
\nsatisfactory service a member of armed forces becomes
\nentitled to pension.  The mere fact that after such long
\nperiod of service he voluntarily quit the service with the
\nconsent of the employer should not place him in\t a dis-
\nadvantageous position for claiming the benefit of reservation
\nfor ex-serviceman.  Therefore, the expression ‘retirement’
\nshould be given wider meaning in order to effectuate the
\nobjective behind the Rule.\n<\/p>\n
\tOn the discussions in the foregoing paragraphs the
\nappeals are allowed.  The judgment of the High Court dated
\n20.9.1999 in  CWP No.19084\/98 is set aside.  It is stated at
\nthe bar that the appellants in these appeals have appeared
\nin the competitive examination but their results have not
\nbeen declared.\tThe respondents will take steps to declare
\ntheir\t results    forthwith\t and\t consider   their  case\t for
\nappointment in terms of the service rules and in accordance
\nwith the law.  There will be no order for costs.\n<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t..J.\n<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t(D.P. MOHAPATRA)<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t..J.\n<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t(P.VENKATARAMA REDDI)
\nApril 02, 2002<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Supreme Court of India Sansar Chand Atri vs State Of Punjab & Anr on 2 April, 2002 Author: D.P.Mohapatra Bench: D.P. Mohapatra, P. Venkatarama Reddi CASE NO.: Appeal (civil) 2403 of 2002 PETITIONER: SANSAR CHAND ATRI Vs. RESPONDENT: STATE OF PUNJAB & ANR. DATE OF JUDGMENT: 02\/04\/2002 BENCH: D.P. Mohapatra & P. Venkatarama Reddi JUDGMENT: […]<\/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-21317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-supreme-court-of-india"],"yoast_head":"\nSansar Chand Atri vs State Of Punjab & Anr on 2 April, 2002 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court & 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\/sansar-chand-atri-vs-state-of-punjab-anr-on-2-april-2002\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sansar Chand Atri vs State Of Punjab & Anr on 2 April, 2002 - 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