B N SINGH Vs. STATE OF U P

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is a Dy. S. P. During his student days at Allahabad he got very friendly with a girl Kumari Kumudni who was a class fellow of the petitioner's niece. The petitioner and Kumari Kumudni were keen to marry each other. The parents of Kumari Kumudni did not agree to marrying her with the petitioner because they were Brahmins and the petitioner was a Thakur and thus belonged to two different castes. In 1940 Kumari Kumudni was, according to the petitioner, married to Sri S. K. Joshi against her will. It is alleged in the petition that Smt. Kumudni and Sri S. K. Joshi never led a happy married life and the former could not extend to the latter feelings of love and affection. Some time after Smt. Kumudni was married to Joshi, the petitioner was also married. The petitioner's case is that Smt. Kumudni told Sri Joshi on occasions more than one that she did not love him and that she loved the petitioner with the result that Sri Joshi ill-treated her. On the evening of 20-8-1955 Smt. Kumudni suddenly came with her children to the petitioner's residence at Mirzapur where he was posted as a Dy. S. P. and stayed with him for some time, after having left a letter for her husband informing him that their married life had not been happy and she had decided to leave him. While she was with the petitioner at Mirzapur some C.I.D. officers were deputed to watch his activities. This, it is said, was done at the instance of some highly placed government officers who were close relations of Sri S. K. Joshi and who had influence with the Inspector General of Police. After staying for sometime with the petitioner Smt, Kumudni left the petitioner's place and came to Allahabad where she filed a suit under Section 10 of the Hindu Marriage Act for the dissolution of her marriage with Sri S. K. Joshi. On 12-9-1955 the petitioner was transferred to Pauri Garhwal by wireless with directions to join there by 15-9-1955. Sometime after joining at Pauri Garhwal the petitioner came to his father's place at Allahabad in order to take his winter clothing where he found Smt. Kumudni staying. During the petitioner's stay at Allahabad one day Smt. Kumudni and the petitioner got burns while Smt. Kumudni was lighting a stove. The petitioner as also Smt. Kumudni were admitted in the Moti Lal Nehru Hospital. The petitioner recovered after a protracted illness but Smt. Kumudni succumbed to the injuries. On 12-4-1956 the petitioner had an interview with the Inspector General of Police, who informed the petitioner that he was being discussed in the Secretariat and either he should resign or face a dismissal. The petitioner did not agree to resign. An enquiry was got made against the petitioner through the Criminal Investigation Department (hereinafter referred to as the C. I. D.). After the petitioner got well from the burn injuries received by him he was not for a long time posted anywhere in spite of reminders. In August 1957 he was posted as a Dy. S. P. at Bareilly. He w.as also not allowed to cross the efficiency bar. According to the petitioner these steps were taken in order to make things difficult for him and make him resign from service. The petitioner however withstood all this but did not resign and ultimately his case was referred to the XI. P. Disciplinary Proceedings Administrative Tribunal (hereinafter referred to as the Tribunal). The Tribunal framed the following charges against the petitioner.

(2.) Three counter affidavits have been filed on behalf of the respondents and a rejoinder affidavit has been filed on behalf of the petitioner. It is not necessary at this stage to mention the allegations made in the counter and rejoinder affidavits. The submissions that have been made on behalf of the petitioner are mostly those of law. However, if and when necessary I will mention the allegations made in the counter and rejoinder affidavits.

(3.) Though as many as 35 grounds have been taken in the petition learned counsel for the petitioner has urged only the following four :