JUDGEMENT
PRAMATH PATNAIK, J. -
(1.) In the instant writ application, the petitioner has inter alia, prayed for
quashing memo dated 08.09.2010, whereby the services of the petitioner has
been terminated under the provisions of Rule -55 of the Civil Services
(Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1949.
(2.) The facts, in brief, is that pursuant to an advertisement dated 14.07.1980 inviting applications for the post of Dance Teacher, amongst others, the
petitioner applied and after following due process of selection, she joined in her
post in Girls Primary Teachers Education College, Ratu on 01.07.1981. It has
been contended that on completion of ten years of continuous service, when the
petitioner did not get the benefits of Time Bound promotion, she made
representations before the respondents -authorites. But when the said request did
not evoke any response, the petitioner approached this Court by way of filing
W.P. (S) No. 6964 of 2006. It has been submitted that in July, 2006, the then
Principal, District Institute of Education and Training College, Ratu, being the
Drawing and Disbursing Officer, purported to have declined the petitioner to
mark attendance, hence, she could not get salary of 12 days in July, 2006.
However, thereafter the petitioner was getting regular salary till December,
2006. Thereafter, again salary for the months of January and February, 2007 was withheld without communicating any reason. Again the petitioner started getting
salary since March, 2007. Thereafter, all of a sudden, the salary of the petitioner
was stopped in the month of April, 2007 by the then Principal, District Institute
of Education and Training College, Ratu. Thereafter, the petitioner submitted
representation before the Principal vide letter dated 28.05.2007, which was
rejected vide letter dated 04.06.2007 by the Principal. Being aggrieved, the
petitioner preferred a writ application, being W.P. (S) No. 4148 of 2007, to
release and pay arrears of salary, which was disposed of vide order dated
28.04.2010 with a direction to the concerned authorities to release and pay forthwith the arrears of salary. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that
thereafter, vide letter dated 07.06.2010, the respondent no. 3 while forwarding
the copy of enquiry report submitted by the Regional Deputy Director of
Education, Ranchi dated 10.02.2010 asked the petitioner to submit her 2nd
Show Cause. The petitioner on 19.07.2010 requested the respondents to provide
her the copies of the entire documents relating to the proceeding as well as
evidences collected therein in order to enable her to file an effective show cause.
Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that though the alleged enquiry has
been shown to have been held but on bare perusal of the enquiry report, it would
be evident that the same was held ex -parte and even the department failed to
produce any evidence, much less any oral or documentary evidence in support
of the alleged charges. Ultimately by impugned order dated 08.09.2010 the
services of the petitioner has been terminated.
(3.) Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has been terminated on the basis of report of the C.B.I, who has given its finding of 28
years stale charge, which is bad in law, as per law laid down by Hon'ble Apex
Court in the case of P.V. Mahadevan Vs. MD, T.N. Housing Board as reported
in (2005) 6 SCC 636. Drawing the attention of the Court towards enquiry report,
learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that it is based on the C.B.I enquiry
report wherein it has been stated that non -issuance of appointment letter from
the issue register itself shows that the appointment of the petitioner is forged and
fake, which is bad in law, as only non -issuance of appointment letter from issue
register would not make the appointment of the petitioner fake and forged.
Learned counsel for the petitioner further submitted that from the enquiry report
it would reveal that the enquiry was taken -up ex -parte and even the department
failed to produce any evidence, much less any oral or documentary evidence in
support of the alleged charges. It is well -settled principles of law that non -
supply of foundational documents and non -examination of witnesses, vitiates
the enquiry. In support of his contention, learned counsel for the petitioner
referred to a judgment rendered in the case of State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors Vs.
Saroj Kumar Sinha as reported in (2010) 2 SCC 772.;