RAM SINGH Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition by Ram Singh, son of Late Phool Singh, questions the legality of the punishment order dated 29.9.1987 Annexure-11-A as communicated through the letter of the same date (Annexure-11) as also the appellate order dated 17.11.1987 intimated through the letter dated 1.1.1988 whereby the appeal filed by the petitioner against the punishment order has been dismissed on the ground of being barred by time.

(2.) The petitioner has been punished on the charge that his real name was Gyan Singh and that in order to obtain employment as a constable in the Railway Protection Force, he impersonated himself as Ram Singh and utilized the educational Certificates and other documents of his elder brother Ram Singh surreptitiously, who was employed in the Army. This charge of deploying the documents of his elder brother for obtaining employment in the fake and impersonated name of Ram Singh was brought home by the respondents after holding an inquiry and ultimately the petitioner was removed from service with immediate effect. The petitioner preferred an Appeal which was promptly rejected as time barred without entertaining the contentions raised by the petitioner on merits.

(3.) The services of the petitioner are governed by the Railway Protection Force Act read with Railway Protection Force Rules 1959. He entered into service on 4.4.1965 at the age of 20 years. The disciplinary proceedings were initiated against the petitioner on a complaint made by one Shivpal Singh, who is a resident of the same village and is alleged to be on inimical terms with the petitioner's family. This complaint emanated after almost 20 years of service by the petitioner in the year 1986.