CHANDRA KANTI DAS Vs. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal by special leave is directed against the judgment of the Allahabad High Court allowing a writ petition filed by the fifth respondent against an order of the District Inspector of Schools, Mathura.

(2.) The appellant Chandra Kanti Das was appointed a daftari in the Shri Krishna Chaityana Intermediate College, Nand Gaon in the district of Mathura in June 1971. He was confirmed in the post on 24th June, 1972. It appears that he took leave and proceeded home, apparently because his father was seriously ill. It is said that the father subsequently died and the appellant, who himself fell ill, could not rejoin duty within time. When he returned to his post, he was not permitted to join and was served with an order terminating his services. Thereafter, the fifth respondent, Krishna Shakhya Kachhi was appointed in his place and, it seems later confirmed. Meanwhile, the appellant, it is claimed, appealed to the Managing Committee against the order terminating his services. There is some dispute whether he actually did so. A few days later, he preferred an appeal to the District Inspector of Schools complaining of the order terminating his services. The District Inspector issued a notice dated 19th August, 1976 of the appeal to the Principal and appointed 25th August, 1976 at 10.00 O'clock of the morning for hearing the appeal. The case of the Principal is that he did not receive the notice but what he did receive in fact was a subsequent letter dated 23rd August, 1976. According to the Principal, he received that letter on 25th August, 1976 but late in the afternoon so that he was unable to appear before the District Inspector for the hearing of the appeal. On 13th September, 1976, the District Inspector made an order in which after holding that the termination of the appellant's services was contrary to law he directed his reinstatement with immediate effect with a further direction that he should be treated as on leave without pay from 25th April, 1975. He also directed that the person appointed in his place be dismissed. It may be noted that besides preferring an appeal against the order terminating his services, the appellant had also instituted a civil suit in the Court of the learned Munsif, but the suit was dismissed. The appellant declares that he had applied for withdrawing the suit and it was disposed of as withdrawn. The fifth respondent urges that it was not withdrawn but was dismissed. This controversy need not detain us.

(3.) On coming to know of the order of the District Inspector on the appeal filed by the appellant, the fifth respondent filed a writ petition before the Allahabad High Court. On 1st January, 1979, the High Court allowed the writ petition on the finding that the appeal had been disposed of by the District Inspector without a proper opportunity to the Principal of being heard in support of the order terminating the appellant's services. The High Court set aside the order of the District Inspector dated 13th September, 1976. It also quashed a consequential order passed by the Principal on 25th September, 1976. The High Court also directed the District Inspector to reconsider the appeal after giving a reasonable opportunity to the Committee of Management of participating in its hearing. Various auxiliary directions were also given to the District Inspector in regard to the scope of the appeal. The writ petition was allowed with costs to the fifth respondent against the appellant.