High Court

5. Learned counsel for petitioner further submits that admittedly at the time of inspection petitioner was at Police Station and during inquiry as well as departmental proceeding he submitted a detail reply. Learned counsel refers the reply to Charge No. 6 and for reference the same is reproduced hereinafter: "आररोप नम्बर 6 कका उत्तर- आररोप नम्बर 6 कके सन्दरर मम पपूररी ईमकानदकाररी एववं ननषका कके सकाथ यह कथन हहै नक गकाम प्रधकान नपउररी शरी रकाधकेश्यकाम ममौयर पपूवर मम प्रकाथर्थी कके ऊपर अनहैनतिक एववं जबरदस्तिरी मध्यकान्ह ररोजन यरोजनका खकातिके कके सवंचकालन हकेतितु प्रकाथर्थी कके ऊपर जबरदस्तिरी दबकाव बनका रहके थके चपूवंनक प्रकाथर्थी करो इस सन्दरर मम नकसरी ररी उच्चकाधधककाररयय दकारका न तिरो आदकेनशिति नकयका ओर न हरी ननदरनशिति नकयका गयका नक गकाम प्रधकान रकाधकेश्यकाम ममौयर कके सकाथ सवंयतुक्त रूप सके मध्यकान्ह ररोजन ननधध खकातिके कका सवंचकालन सवंयतुक्त रूप सके नकयका जकायके। इसरी क्रम मम गकाम प्रधकान दकारका नदनकावंक 04.07.2024 करो मतुख्य नवककास अधधककाररी मरीरजकापतुर करो पत्र धलखका गयका तित्पश्चकाति धजलका बकेधसक नशिकका अधधककाररी महरोदय दकारका नदनकावंक 15.07.2024 करो आदकेशि जकाररी नकयका गयका। परन्तितु इसरी बरीच तित्पश्चकाति नदनकावंक 22 जतुलकाई करो रकाधकेश्यकाम ममौयर नवदकालय प्रकावंगण मके 80 सके 85 लरोगरो करो लकेकर पहहचके तिथका प्रकाथर्थी करो असवंवहैधकाननक शिब्दय कका प्रयरोग नकयका गयका। धजससके यह स्पष्ट हहै नक गकाम प्रधकान रकाधकेश्यकाम ममौयर प्रकाथर्थी सके नवदकेष रखनके कके ककारण उक्त नशिककायति ककी गयरी थरी। प्रकाथर्थी करो धजलका बकेधसक नशिकका अधधककाररी दकारका नदनकावंक 22.07.2024 करो ननलमम्बति कर नदयका गयका थका तिथका उसकके उपरकान्ति हरी प्रकाथर्थी कके धखलकाफ नवरकागरीय ककायरवकाहरी / अनतुशिकासनकात्कम ककायरवकाहरी हकेतितु जकावंच अधधककाररी ननयतुक्त नकयका जकातिका हहै परन्तितु उक्त आररोप सके यह स्पष्ट हरो रहका हहै नक प्रकाथर्थी कके धखलकाफ एक सरोचरी समकरी रणनननति कके तिहति जकावंच अधधककाररी पहलके ननयतुक्त कर नदयका गयका उसकके उपरकान्ति अनतुशिकासनकात्मक ककायरवकाहरी प्रचधलति हरो रहरी हहै जरो ननतिकान्ति असवंगति एववं खण्डनरीय हरोनके यरोग्य हहै। प्रकाथर्थी कका यह कहनका हहै नक नवदकालय मम लगकातिकार चरोररी ककी घटनकायम हरो रहरी थरी तिथका प्रकाथर्थी लगकातिकार उक्त चरोररी ककी घटनकाओवं करो अपनके उच्चकाधधककाररयय करो नदनकावंक

27.11.2018, 28.11.2018, 06.09.2019, 05.10.2019, 15.05.2024 एववं

28.05.2024 करो नदयका गयका। परन्तितु जब करोई ककायरवकाहरी उक्त चरोररी कके सन्दरर मम नहहीं ककी गयरी तिरो प्रकाथर्थी प्रबन्ध सनमनति कके प्रस्तिकाव नदनकावंक 07.02.2023 एववं

03.04.2024 कके क्रम मम सतुरकका कके दृनष्टकरोण सके रकाररी मकात्रका मम प्रकाप्त खकादकान्न जरो उपरधलधखति हहै करो स्कपूल प्रबवंध सनमनति कके अध्यक कके घर रखका गयका। इसमम नकसरी तिररीकके ककी दपूनषति मकानधसकतिका यका दतुरूपयरोग कके नननमत्त नहरी रखका गयका थका। तिथका आज तिक एक दकानका गकेहह यका चकावल कका प्रकाथर्थी दकारका न तिरो दतुरुपयरोग नकयका गयका न तिरो उक्त कके सवंदरर मम नकसरी ररी नवदकाथर्थी अनररकावक यका गकामवकासरी यका नशिकका अधधककाररयय कके दकारका नशिककायति ककी गयरी। चपूवंनक गकाम प्रधकान असवंवहैधकाननक तिररीकके सके तिथका रकाजनहैनतिक प्ररकाव कके ककारण जबरदस्तिरी मध्यकान्ह ररोजन ननधरी खकातिके कका सवंचकालन करनका चकाह रहके थके परन्तितु प्रकाथर्थी करो उक्त कके सन्दरर मम करोई ररी नदशिका ननदरशि न हरोनके कके ककारण सवंयतुक्त रूप सके खकातिके कका सवंचकालन नहहीं नकयका गयका धजसकके ककारण गकाम प्रधकान नवदकेषपपूणर मकानधसकतिका कके वशिरीरपूति हरोकर नशिककायति ककी गयरी तिथका उक्त कके क्रम मम प्रकाथर्थी कके धखलकाफ गलति तिररीकके सके अनतुशिकासनकात्मक ककायरवकाहरी प्रचधलति हरो रहरी हहै जरो ननतिकान्ति गलति, मनमकानका एववं असवंगति हरोनके कके ककारण खण्डनरीय एववं अस्वरीककार हहै।"

6. Learned counsel submits that in aforesaid circumstances charge was never proved even at the anvil of preponderance of probability as well as petitioner has suffered an illegal punishment order.

7. Learned counsel appearing for respondents has supported impugned order and submits that since without permission of higher authorities foodgrains were kept outside the School premises, it was considered to be dereliction of duty. However, he is not able to dispute that there is a probable explanation for keeping the said foodgrains outside of School premises since earlier there were instances of theft. Learned counsel also submits that this Court cannot sit as an Appellate Court to interfere with findings arrived in a departmental proceeding.

8. I have considered the aforesaid submissions and perused the material available on record.

9. It is well settled that in normal circumstances a writ Court may not interfere in departmental proceedings and punishment order, except where due procedure was not followed or principles of natural justice were not adhered to or on basis of material an error of law was committed or punishment awarded was shockingly disproportionate. Reference be made of a judgment passed by Supreme Court in the case of The State of Rajasthan vs. Bhupendra Singh, 2024 INSC 592.

10. As referred above, principles of natural justice were substantially followed, therefore, there is no procedural error in inquiry.

11. I have considered the submission with regard to explanation submitted by petitioner to relevant Charge No. 6 that there was a reason to keep foodgrains outside the School premises at the second house of Manager of Committee of Management of concerned School, who has never raised any objection to it though he denied that no room was given to petitioner on rent.

12. Aforesaid act may be considered to be an act contrary to procedure prescribed for keeping foodgrains in the store of School, however, concerned respondent has failed to notice that earlier there were various instances of theft at School premises, therefore, to avoid such incident and to keep foodgrains safe, petitioner has taken steps to keep it outside the premises of School at a safe place. In entire proceeding there is no allegation that foodgrains were stolen or misused or it was used other than the purpose of mid-day meal.

13. In aforesaid circumstances, this Court is of the view that it is a case where there is an error of law since probable explanation given by petitioner was not considered. Accordingly a case of interference is made out.

14. In view of above, impugned order dated 16.12.2024 it set aside to the extent of punishment of stoppage of one annual increment. However, Court finds that petitioner was not careful so much as that he has never informed concerned respondent that foodgrains were kept outside School premises since it can be used for otherwise purposes. Therefore, Court is not interfering with impugned order to the extent of order of transfer. However, it is relaxed to the extent that it would be only for one year.

15. With aforesaid observations, this writ petition is disposed of. Order Date :- 7.5.2025 AK

5. Learned counsel for petitioner further submits that admittedly at the time of inspection petitioner was at Police Station and during inquiry as well as departmental proceeding he submitted a detail reply. Learned counsel refers the reply to Charge No. 6 and for reference the same is reproduced hereinafter: "आररोप नम्बर 6 कका उत्तर- आररोप नम्बर 6 कके सन्दरर मम पपूररी ईमकानदकाररी एववं ननषका कके सकाथ यह कथन हहै नक गकाम प्रधकान नपउररी शरी रकाधकेश्यकाम ममौयर पपूवर मम प्रकाथर्थी कके ऊपर अनहैनतिक एववं जबरदस्तिरी मध्यकान्ह ररोजन यरोजनका खकातिके कके सवंचकालन हकेतितु प्रकाथर्थी कके ऊपर जबरदस्तिरी दबकाव बनका रहके थके चपूवंनक प्रकाथर्थी करो इस सन्दरर मम नकसरी ररी उच्चकाधधककाररयय दकारका न तिरो आदकेनशिति नकयका ओर न हरी ननदरनशिति नकयका गयका नक गकाम प्रधकान रकाधकेश्यकाम ममौयर कके सकाथ सवंयतुक्त रूप सके मध्यकान्ह ररोजन ननधध खकातिके कका सवंचकालन सवंयतुक्त रूप सके नकयका जकायके। इसरी क्रम मम गकाम प्रधकान दकारका नदनकावंक 04.07.2024 करो मतुख्य नवककास अधधककाररी मरीरजकापतुर करो पत्र धलखका गयका तित्पश्चकाति धजलका बकेधसक नशिकका अधधककाररी महरोदय दकारका नदनकावंक 15.07.2024 करो आदकेशि जकाररी नकयका गयका। परन्तितु इसरी बरीच तित्पश्चकाति नदनकावंक 22 जतुलकाई करो रकाधकेश्यकाम ममौयर नवदकालय प्रकावंगण मके 80 सके 85 लरोगरो करो लकेकर पहहचके तिथका प्रकाथर्थी करो असवंवहैधकाननक शिब्दय कका प्रयरोग नकयका गयका। धजससके यह स्पष्ट हहै नक गकाम प्रधकान रकाधकेश्यकाम ममौयर प्रकाथर्थी सके नवदकेष रखनके कके ककारण उक्त नशिककायति ककी गयरी थरी। प्रकाथर्थी करो धजलका बकेधसक नशिकका अधधककाररी दकारका नदनकावंक 22.07.2024 करो ननलमम्बति कर नदयका गयका थका तिथका उसकके उपरकान्ति हरी प्रकाथर्थी कके धखलकाफ नवरकागरीय ककायरवकाहरी / अनतुशिकासनकात्कम ककायरवकाहरी हकेतितु जकावंच अधधककाररी ननयतुक्त नकयका जकातिका हहै परन्तितु उक्त आररोप सके यह स्पष्ट हरो रहका हहै नक प्रकाथर्थी कके धखलकाफ एक सरोचरी समकरी रणनननति कके तिहति जकावंच अधधककाररी पहलके ननयतुक्त कर नदयका गयका उसकके उपरकान्ति अनतुशिकासनकात्मक ककायरवकाहरी प्रचधलति हरो रहरी हहै जरो ननतिकान्ति असवंगति एववं खण्डनरीय हरोनके यरोग्य हहै। प्रकाथर्थी कका यह कहनका हहै नक नवदकालय मम लगकातिकार चरोररी ककी घटनकायम हरो रहरी थरी तिथका प्रकाथर्थी लगकातिकार उक्त चरोररी ककी घटनकाओवं करो अपनके उच्चकाधधककाररयय करो नदनकावंक

27.11.2018, 28.11.2018, 06.09.2019, 05.10.2019, 15.05.2024 एववं

28.05.2024 करो नदयका गयका। परन्तितु जब करोई ककायरवकाहरी उक्त चरोररी कके सन्दरर मम नहहीं ककी गयरी तिरो प्रकाथर्थी प्रबन्ध सनमनति कके प्रस्तिकाव नदनकावंक 07.02.2023 एववं

03.04.2024 कके क्रम मम सतुरकका कके दृनष्टकरोण सके रकाररी मकात्रका मम प्रकाप्त खकादकान्न जरो उपरधलधखति हहै करो स्कपूल प्रबवंध सनमनति कके अध्यक कके घर रखका गयका। इसमम नकसरी तिररीकके ककी दपूनषति मकानधसकतिका यका दतुरूपयरोग कके नननमत्त नहरी रखका गयका थका। तिथका आज तिक एक दकानका गकेहह यका चकावल कका प्रकाथर्थी दकारका न तिरो दतुरुपयरोग नकयका गयका न तिरो उक्त कके सवंदरर मम नकसरी ररी नवदकाथर्थी अनररकावक यका गकामवकासरी यका नशिकका अधधककाररयय कके दकारका नशिककायति ककी गयरी। चपूवंनक गकाम प्रधकान असवंवहैधकाननक तिररीकके सके तिथका रकाजनहैनतिक प्ररकाव कके ककारण जबरदस्तिरी मध्यकान्ह ररोजन ननधरी खकातिके कका सवंचकालन करनका चकाह रहके थके परन्तितु प्रकाथर्थी करो उक्त कके सन्दरर मम करोई ररी नदशिका ननदरशि न हरोनके कके ककारण सवंयतुक्त रूप सके खकातिके कका सवंचकालन नहहीं नकयका गयका धजसकके ककारण गकाम प्रधकान नवदकेषपपूणर मकानधसकतिका कके वशिरीरपूति हरोकर नशिककायति ककी गयरी तिथका उक्त कके क्रम मम प्रकाथर्थी कके धखलकाफ गलति तिररीकके सके अनतुशिकासनकात्मक ककायरवकाहरी प्रचधलति हरो रहरी हहै जरो ननतिकान्ति गलति, मनमकानका एववं असवंगति हरोनके कके ककारण खण्डनरीय एववं अस्वरीककार हहै।"

6. Learned counsel submits that in aforesaid circumstances charge was never proved even at the anvil of preponderance of probability as well as petitioner has suffered an illegal punishment order.

7. Learned counsel appearing for respondents has supported impugned order and submits that since without permission of higher authorities foodgrains were kept outside the School premises, it was considered to be dereliction of duty. However, he is not able to dispute that there is a probable explanation for keeping the said foodgrains outside of School premises since earlier there were instances of theft. Learned counsel also submits that this Court cannot sit as an Appellate Court to interfere with findings arrived in a departmental proceeding.

8. I have considered the aforesaid submissions and perused the material available on record.

9. It is well settled that in normal circumstances a writ Court may not interfere in departmental proceedings and punishment order, except where due procedure was not followed or principles of natural justice were not adhered to or on basis of material an error of law was committed or punishment awarded was shockingly disproportionate. Reference be made of a judgment passed by Supreme Court in the case of The State of Rajasthan vs. Bhupendra Singh, 2024 INSC 592.

10. As referred above, principles of natural justice were substantially followed, therefore, there is no procedural error in inquiry.

11. I have considered the submission with regard to explanation submitted by petitioner to relevant Charge No. 6 that there was a reason to keep foodgrains outside the School premises at the second house of Manager of Committee of Management of concerned School, who has never raised any objection to it though he denied that no room was given to petitioner on rent.

12. Aforesaid act may be considered to be an act contrary to procedure prescribed for keeping foodgrains in the store of School, however, concerned respondent has failed to notice that earlier there were various instances of theft at School premises, therefore, to avoid such incident and to keep foodgrains safe, petitioner has taken steps to keep it outside the premises of School at a safe place. In entire proceeding there is no allegation that foodgrains were stolen or misused or it was used other than the purpose of mid-day meal.

13. In aforesaid circumstances, this Court is of the view that it is a case where there is an error of law since probable explanation given by petitioner was not considered. Accordingly a case of interference is made out.

14. In view of above, impugned order dated 16.12.2024 it set aside to the extent of punishment of stoppage of one annual increment. However, Court finds that petitioner was not careful so much as that he has never informed concerned respondent that foodgrains were kept outside School premises since it can be used for otherwise purposes. Therefore, Court is not interfering with impugned order to the extent of order of transfer. However, it is relaxed to the extent that it would be only for one year.

15. With aforesaid observations, this writ petition is disposed of. Order Date :- 7.5.2025 AK