- (1.) THE petitioner was Presi dent of the Municipal Board. Dibai from August 18, 1957 until January 30, 1960. Daring the term of office he appointed one Mohd. Idris as a toll peon of the Municipal Board. Subsequently, it trans pired that Mohd. Idris was not qualified for appointment to that post. The Ex aminer, Local Fund Accounts, raised an objection to the payment of Rs. 703.02 to Mohd. Idris on account of salary and allowances. The petitioner was called upon to submit an explanation explain ing the circumstances in which he had appointed Mohd. Idris. The explanation was found insufficient and was rejected. On March 27, 1965, the State Govern ment directed the District Magistrate to take proceedings to recover the said sum of Rs. 703.02 from the petitioner as sur charge. The District Magistrate informed the petitioner that he was liable to deposit the said amount in the treasury of the Municipal Board. The petitioner now prays for relief under Art. 226 of the Constitution.
(2.) THE precedent's for recovery of the impugned surcharge are admittedly being taken under the Municipal Board Surcharge Rules. 1948. Rule 3(1) pro vides that in a case where the Examiner. Local Fund Accounts. U. P considers that there has been a loss of any money belonging to the Board as a direct con sequence of the misconduct of the Presi dent of the Board, he may report the matter to the Government who may call upon the President to explain in writing why he should not be surcharged with the amount which represents the loss caused to the Board. Rule 4 empowers the Government if it considers that the explanation is inadequate, to make an order of surcharge. That order, by virtue of sub-rule (2) of R. 4 has been declared final and no appeal lies affiants it. The principal contention of learned counsel for the petitioner is that the U. P. Municipal Board Surcharge Rules, 1948 are ultra vires inasmuch as there is no statutory sanction in the Municipalities Act for the enactment of those rules. Learned counsel has taken me through the provisions of the Act and it does appear that at the time when the rule was framed no such provision existed. Learned counsel for the respon dents relies upon Section 81 of the Act. Section 81 provides that the President of the Board shall be liable to surcharge for the loss of any money if such loss is a direct consequence of his neglect or mis conduct while acting as President In substance. Section 81 embodies what is provided by the U. P. Municipal Board Surcharge Rules. Section 81 was. how ever, substituted in the Municipalities Act by U. P. Act No. 27 of 1964. That amendment was not effected with re trospective effect. Inasmuch as there was no liability to surcharge upon the petitioner at the time when the loss to the Board is said to have been occasion ed recourse cannot be had to Section 81. The President becomes liable to sur charge when the loss is occasioned to the Board.
(3.) AS the U. P. Municipal Board Surcharge Rules, 1948 are ultra vires and Section 81 of the Municipalities Act can not be invoked, the proceedings against the petitioner for recovery of surcharge are without the sanction of law. A. I. K.;