The High Court
Case Details
1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI W.P.(S) No. 2903 of 2019 … … Petitioner With Lalji Mahto Vishwanath Prasad Singh Suresh Prasad Chaudhary Hari Mohan Chaudhary Amarjit Prasad Ramakant Verma Ram Bahadur Mahto Anil Kumar Anil Kumar Swarup Kumar Baski Jagdeo Mahto Arbind Kumar Kameshwar Thakur Angesh Kumar Deepak Kumar Khati Sitaram Chatomba Pawan Kumar Mishra Uday Kumar Singh Ramnandan Ram Rajendra Prasad Choudhary Shankar Prasad Doman Ram Mahto Ram Prasad Mahato Banarsi Ram Sheo Ram Krishna Tondan Md. Maqsood Hassnain Ansari Shakil Alam Ramnandan Paswan … … … … … … … … … … … … … Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner … [In W.P.(S) No. 2844 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 2880 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 2881 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 2895 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 2904 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 2906 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 2916 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 2919 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 2948 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 2956 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 2971 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 2977 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 2982 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 2992 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 2993 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 2995 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 2997 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 2998 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 2999 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 3000 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 3001 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 3002 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 3003 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 3006 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 3008 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 3010 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 3011 of 2019] Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 2 Amit Kumar Rohitas Kumar Pankaj Kumar Jaiswal Abadhesh Kumar Murli Manohar Prasad Tulsi Das Mahto Subhash Kumar Prema Narayan Swapan Kumar Sikdar Yogendra Prasad Md. Gyasuddin … … … … … Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner … [In W.P.(S) No. 3022 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 3028 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 3029 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 3031 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 3034 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 3035 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 3036 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 3042 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 3266 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 3283 of 2019] … [In W.P.(S) No. 4646 of 2019] Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner Petitioner … … … … … … Versus ----- 1. Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Limited, through its Chairman-cum- Managing Director, Ranchi 2. General Manager (Personnel & Administration), Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Limited, Ranchi 3. Deputy General Manager (Personnel & Administration), Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Limited, Ranchi 4. Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited, through its Managing Director, Ranchi [In W.P.(S) Nos. 2903, 2904, 2906, 2916, 2919, 2948, 2956, 3001, 3006, 3008, 3011 & 3266 of 2019] Respondents … … ----- 1. The Jharkhand Urja Utpadan Nigam Limited, Ranchi 2. The Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Limited, Ranchi 3. The General Manager (Ka.-cum-Sa. Pra.), Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Limited, Ranchi 4. The Dy. General Manager, (Maa. Sa.), Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Limited, Ranchi … … [In W.P.(S) No. 2844 of 2019] Respondents 1. Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Limited through its Chief Managing ----- Director, Ranchi 2. Chief Managing Director, Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Limited, Ranchi 3. Deputy General Manager (HR), Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Limited, Ranchi 5. Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited through its Managing Director, Ranchi [In W.P.(S) Nos. 2880, 2881, 2895, 2971, 2977, 2982, 2995 & 3010 of 2019] ----- Respondents … … 1. The Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd., through its Chairman-cum- Managing Director, Ranchi 2. The General Manager (Personnel & General Administration), Ranchi 3. The Deputy General Manager (HR), Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd., 3 Ranchi … … Respondents [In W.P.(S) Nos. 2992, 2993, 2997, 2998, 2999, 3000, 3002, 3003 & 4646 of 2019] 1. Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Limited, through Chairman-cum- Managing Director, Ranchi 2. Deputy General Manager (Human Resources), Jharkhand Urja Vikas ---- Nigam Ltd., Ranchi [In W.P.(S) Nos. 3022, 3028, 3029, 3031, 3034, 3035, 3036 & 3042 of 2019] ----- Respondents … … 1. Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Limited, through its Chairman-cum- Managing Director, Ranchi 2. The General Manager (Personnel & Administration), Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Limited, Ranchi 3. The Deputy General Manager (Personnel & Administration), Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Limitd, Ranchi 4. The Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited, through its Managing Director, Ranchi … … [In W.P.(S) No. 3283 of 2019] Respondents
Legal Reasoning
CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH SHANKAR For the Petitioners ----- : Mr. Sumeet Gadodia, Advocate Mrs. Shilpi Sandil Gadodia, Adv. Mr. Ankit Kumar Kumar, Advocate For the Respondents Mr. Anil Kumar Sinha, Advocate Mrs. Nirupama, Advocate Mr. Rajendra Krishna, Advocate Mr. Jay Shankar Tiwary, Advocate Mr. Ashish Kr Shekhar, Advocate Mr. Rajesh Kr Singh, Advocate Mr. Indrajit Sinha, Advocate Ms. Sonal Jaiswal, Advocate Mr. Shrestha Gautam, Advocate Mr. Yogendra Yadav, Advocate : Mr. Sachin Kumar, Sr. SC, JUVNL Mr. Om Prakash Tiwari, Sr. SC, JUVNL Mr. Varun Prabahkar, AC to Sr. SC Mr. Amit Kumar, SC Ms. Sugandha Khalkho, AC to SC Mr. Kaushik Sarkhel, SC Mr. Mithilesh Singh, SC Mr. J.F. Toppo, Sr. SC, JUVNL Mr. Amrit Raj Kisku, AC to Sr. SC Order No. 09 Dated: 16.05.2023 ----- The present batch of writ petitions have been filed for quashing the respective resolutions issued to the petitioners, descriptions of which have been given in Column No. 6 of the table mentioned hereunder, whereby they have been communicated that the competent authority has taken decision to cancel their appointments made under 4 the erstwhile Jharkhand State Electricity Board in the years 2007, 2008 and 2009 by way of absorption on the posts of Junior Electrical Engineer (General), Junior Electrical Engineer (G.T.O), Junior Engineer (Civil) and Assistant Electrical Engineer (General) and to revert them back to the initially appointed posts and have further been asked to file reply to the respective show cause notices. 2. The brief descriptions of the cases are as under: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Case No. Petitioner Post at the time of Promoted post with Presently the Post Impugned appointment with date held date Resolution No. with date W.P.(S) Lalji Mahto Switchboard Junior Electrical Assistant Electrical 537 dated No.2903 of Operator Grade-II Engineer (General Engineer w.e.f 03.06.2019 2019 on 01.04.1991 Cadre) on 31.05.2017 vide 21.06.2007 notification dated 19.06.2017 W.P.(S) Vishwanath Unskilled Khalasi on Junior Engineer No.2844 of Pd. Singh 03.02.1996 vide (Civil) on 2019 office order dated 24.10.2008 16.03.1996 W.P.(S) Suresh Switchboard Junior Electrical No.2880 of Prasad Operator Grade-II Engineer on 565 dated 03.06.2019 527 dated 03.06.2019 2019 W.P.(S) Choudhary on 01.04.1991 24.10.2008 Hari Mohan Switchboard Junior Electrical Assistant Electrical 575 dated No.2881 of Choudhary Operator Grade-II Engineer (General Engineer w.e.f 03.06.2019 2019 on 01.04.1991 Cadre) on 31.05.2017 vide 24.10.2008 notification dated 19.06.2017 W.P.(S) Amarjit Assistant Operator Junior Electrical Assistant Electrical 547 dated No.2895 of Prasad (Transmission) on Engineer on Engineer w.e.f 03.06.2019 2019 09.05.1988 24.10.2008 31.05.2017 vide notification dated 19.06.2017 W.P.(S) Ramakant Switchboard Junior Electrical Assistant Electrical 499 dated No.2904 of Verma Operator Grade-II Engineer (General Engineer w.e.f 03.06.2019 2019 on 01.04.1991 Cadre) on 31.05.2017 vide 21.06.2007 notification dated 19.06.2017 W.P.(S) Ram Switchboard Junior Electrical Assistant Electrical 545 dated No.2906 of Bahadur Operator Grade-II Engineer (General Engineer w.e.f 03.06.2019 2019 Mahto on 01.04.1991 Cadre) on 31.05.2017 vide 21.06.2007 notification dated 19.06.2017 W.P.(S) Anil Kumar Switchboard Junior Electrical Assistant Electrical 541 dated No.2916 of Operator Grade-II Engineer (General Engineer on 03.06.2019 2019 on 01.04.1991 Cadre) on 18.02.2016 W.P.(S) Anil Kumar Unskilled Khalasi on Junior Electrical No.2919 of 11.04.1994 Engineer (General 2019 Cadre) on 21.06.2007 517 dated 03.06.2019 5 21.06.2007 W.P.(S) Swarup Unskilled Khalasi on Junior Electrical Assistant Electrical 519 dated No.2948 of Kumar Baski 08.07.1992 Engineer (General Engineer on 03.06.2019 2019 Cadre) on 18.02.2016 21.06.2007 W.P.(S) Jagdeo Assistant Operator Junior Electrical Assistant Electrical 521 dated No.2956 of Mahto (Transmission) on Engineer (General Engineer (General 03.06.2019 2019 09.05.1988 Cadre) on Cadre) on 21.06.2007 18.02.2016 W.P.(S) Arbind Switchboard Junior Electrical No.2971 of Kumar Operator Grade-II Engineer (General 2019 on 08.07.1988 Cadre) on 24.10.2008 555 dated 03.06.2019 W.P.(S) Kameshwar Assistant Operator Junior Electrical Assistant Electrical 497 dated No.2977 of Thakur (Thermal) on Engineer (General Engineer w.e.f 03.06.2019 2019 04.07.1989 Cadre) on 31.05.2017 vide 24.10.2008 notification dated 19.06.2017 W.P.(S) Angesh Unskilled Khalasi on Assistant Electrical Electrical 543 dated No.2982 of Kumar 04.08.2006 Engineer (General Executive 03.06.2019 2019 Cadre) on Engineer on 24.10.2008 31.12.2013 W.P.(S) Deepak Technician Junior Electrical No.2992 of Kumar Khati (Telecommunication) Engineer on 2019 W.P.(S) on 13.02.1990 24.10.2008 Sitaram Unskilled Khalasi on Junior Electrical No.2993 of Chatomba 24.07.1995 Engineer on 2019 W.P.(S) Pawan Unskilled Khalasi on Assistant Electrical Electrical 24.10.2008 No.2995 of Kumar 10.05.2008 Engineer on Executive 2019 Mishra 24.10.2008 Engineer on 31.12.2013 W.P.(S) Uday Kumar Switchboard Junior Electrical No.2997 of Singh Operator Grade-II Engineer (General 2019 on 01.04.1991 Cadre) on 24.10.2008 W.P.(S) Ramnandan Switchboard Junior Electrical No.2998 of Ram Operator Grade-II Engineer (General 2019 on 13.04.1987 Cadre) on 24.10.2008 W.P.(S) Rajendra Switchboard Junior Electrical No.2999 of Prasad Operator Grade-II Engineer on 2019 W.P.(S) Choudhary on 01.04.1991 24.10.2008 Shankar Assistant Operator Junior Electrical No.3000 of Prasad (Thermal) on Engineer (General 2019 04.07.1989 Cadre) on 24.10.2008 W.P.(S) Doman Ram Technician Junior Electrical Assistant No.3001 of Mahto (Telecommunication) Engineer (G.T.O Executive 2019 on 11.11.1994 Cadre) on Engineer (G.T.O) 21.06.2007 on 31.12.2015 551 dated 03.06.2019 539 dated 03.06.2019 491 dated 03.06.2019 563 dated 03.06.2019 525 dated 03.06.2019 567 dated 03.06.2019 581 dated 03.06.2019 533 dated 03.06.2019 W.P.(S) Ram Prasad Switchboard Junior Electrical Assistant Electrical 571 dated No.3002 of Mahto Operator Grade-II Engineer on Engineer on 03.06.2019 2019 W.P.(S) on 01.04.1991 24.10.2008 19.06.2017 Banarsi Ram Switchboard Junior Electrical 523 dated 6 No.3003 of Operator Grade-II Engineer on 03.06.2019 2019 W.P.(S) on 13.04.1987 24.10.2008 Sheo Ram Unskilled Khalasi on Junior Engineer Assistant Engineer 553 dated No.3006 of Krishna 17.06.1994 (Civil) on (Civil) on 03.06.2019 2019 W.P.(S) Tondan 22.06.2007 29.12.2015 Md. Maqsood Assistant Operator Junior Electrical Assistant No.3008 of Hassnain (Thermal) on Engineer (G.T.O Executive 495 dated 03.06.2019 2019 Ansari 09.08.1988 Cadre) on Engineer (G.T.O 21.06.2007 Cadre) on 31.12.2015 W.P.(S) Shakil Alam Unskilled Khalasi on Assistant Electrical Electrical No.3010 of 07.07.1998 Engineer (General Executive 489 dated 03.06.2019 2019 Cadre) on Engineer (General 24.10.2008 Cadre) on 31.12.2013 W.P.(S) Ramnandan Switchboard Junior Electrical Assistant Electrical 535 dated No.3011 of Paswan Operator Grade-II Engineer (General Engineer (General 03.06.2019 2019 on 01.04.1991 Cadre) on Cadre) on 21.06.2007 18.02.2016 W.P.(S) Amit Kumar Unskilled Khalasi on Junior Electrical No.3022 of 12.12.2001 Engineer (General 2019 Cadre) on 24.10.2008 W.P.(S) Rohitas Unskilled Khalasi on Junior Electrical No.3028 of Kumar 30.06.1992 Engineer (General 2019 Cadre) on 24.10.2008 W.P.(S) Pankaj Switchboard Junior Electrical No.3029 of Kumar Operator (Grade II) Engineer (General 2019 Jaiswal on 01.04.1991 Cadre) on 16.01.2009 577 dated 03.06.2019 561 dated 03.06.2019 493 dated 03.06.2019 W.P.(S) Abadhesh Assistant Operator Junior Electrical Assistant Electrical 573 dated No.3031 of Kumar (Thermal) on Engineer (General Engineer w.e.f 03.06.2019 2019 04.07.1989 Cadre) on 31.05.2017 vide 24.10.2008 notification dated 19.06.2017 W.P.(S) Murli Technician Junior Electrical No.3034 of Manohar (Telecommunication) Engineer (General 2019 Prasad on 07.04.1994 Cadre) on 16.01.2009 W.P.(S) Tulsi Das Switchboard Junior Electrical No.3035 of Mahto Operator Grade-II Engineer (General 2019 on 01.04.1991 Cadre) on 24.10.2008 W.P.(S) Subhash Unskilled Khalasi on Junior Electrical No.3036 of Kumar 24.03.2008 Engineer (General 2019 Cadre) on 24.10.2008 W.P.(S) Prema Messenger on Junior Electrical No.3042 of Narayan 29.07.2006 Engineer (General 2019 Cadre) on 24.10.2008 549 dated 03.06.2019 557 dated 03.06.2019 569 dated 03.06.2019 579 dated 03.06.2019 W.P.(S) Swapan Switchboard Junior Electrical Assistant Electrical 507 dated No.3266 of Kumar Sikdar Operator Grade-II Engineer (General Engineer w.e.f 03.06.2019 2019 on 13.04.1987 Cadre) on 31.05.2017 vide 21.06.2007 notification dated 7 19.06.2017 W.P.(S) Yogendra Assistant Operator Junior Electrical No.3283 of Prasad (Thermal) on Engineer (General 2019 17.06.1989 Cadre) on 24.10.2008 W.P.(S) Md. Switchboard Junior Electrical No.4646 of Gyasuddin Operator on Engineer on 501 dated 03.06.2019 559 dated 03.06.2019 2019 3. 14.04.1987 24.10.2008 Learned counsel for the petitioners contends that the said show cause notices are mere eye wash and in utter violation of the principles of natural justice as the respondent authorities have already come to a definite conclusion that the appointment of the petitioners by way of absorption on the posts of Junior Electrical Engineer (General), Junior Electrical Engineer (G.T.O), Junior Engineer (Civil) and Assistant Electrical Engineer (General) is not in conformity with the appointment rules. It is also submitted that in fact the appointment of the petitioners on the aforesaid posts has been made after following due procedure of law. Moreover, neither the enquiry report nor the documents being part thereof as referred in the impugned resolutions have been served to the petitioners. It is also submitted that even if the allegation made by the respondents is assumed to be true, then also the petitioners should not be made to suffer without any fault on their part for the irregularities committed by the respondents at the time of making their appointments on the respective posts. Some of the petitioners have also been given promotion to the next higher post after following due process of law. 4. Per Contra, learned counsel for the respondents submits that the matter of irregular appointment of the petitioners came to the notice of the Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd. (JUVNL) through complaint dated 14.09.2018 and thereafter a high level enquiry committee was constituted under the Chairmanship of Sri A. Natrajan (IPS), ADGP (V&G). The Chairman of the said committee submitted enquiry report before the competent authority vide letter no. 16 dated 19.02.2019. Thereafter, the enquiry report was examined at length from which it surfaced that the petitioners‟ appointments were illegally made without following the established procedure and rules as well as without issuing advertisement mentioning internal quota, reservation roster etc. Hence, show cause notices have been issued to the petitioners providing them opportunity to explain their innocence and also to satisfy that their 8 appointments are not illegal. However, the petitioners instead of filing reply to the said show cause notices have preferred the present writ petitions. In fact, the final decision in the matter is to be taken by the Board of Directors, JUVNL after taking into consideration the reply of the petitioners. 5. Heard the learned counsel for the parties and perused the materials available on record. The petitioners have sought interference of this Court at the stage of issuance of the show cause notices and as such, before coming to the merit of the contentions of the learned counsel for the petitioners, it would be appropriate to refer some of the judgments of the Hon‟ble Supreme Court wherein the scope of interference by the writ court at the stage of issuance of show cause notice has been discussed. 6. In the case of “Union of India & Anr. Vs. VICCO Laboratories”, reported in (2007) 13 SCC 270, the Hon‟ble Supreme Court has held as under: issued. Abstinence 31. Normally, the writ court should not interfere at the stage of issuance of show-cause notice by the authorities. In such a case, the parties get ample opportunity to put forth their contentions before the authorities concerned and to satisfy the authorities concerned about the absence of case for proceeding against the person against whom the show-cause notices have been from interference at the stage of issuance of show-cause notice in order to relegate the parties to the proceedings before the authorities concerned is the normal rule. However, the said rule is not without exceptions. Where a show-cause notice is issued either without jurisdiction or in an abuse of process of law, certainly in that case, the writ court would not hesitate to interfere even at the stage of issuance of show-cause notice. The interference at the show- cause notice stage should be rare and not in a routine manner. Mere assertion by the writ petitioner that notice was without jurisdiction and/or abuse of process of law would not suffice. It should be prima facie established to be so. Where factual adjudication would be necessary, interference is ruled out. 7. In the case of “Union of India & Anr. Vs. Kunisetty Satyanarayana”, reported in (2006) 12 SCC 28, the Hon‟ble Supreme Court has held thus: 13. It is well settled by a series of decisions of this Court that ordinarily no writ lies against a charge- 9