STATE OF PUNJAB Vs. AMRIK SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) SHRI Amrik Singh, respondent, joined the service as a Clerk,on December 20, 1966. On April 26, 1971, a criminal case was registered against him under Section 302 Indian Penal Code. He was convicted by the Sessions Judge on August 31, 1977, for murder. In View of this conviction by the criminal Court, he was dismissed from service vide order dated August 31, 1978. In appeal against the judgment of the Sessions Judge, his conviction was converted under Section 304 (1) Indian Penal Code and was sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment vide order dated August 22, 1979. Later on, on October 17, 1981, he was prematurely released on account of his good conduct. Later on, he made a representation dated November 13, 1981, and reminder dated November 21, 1982 was also received by the department. According to the return, he was given personal hearing by the Chief Secretary on October 22, 1983, and after considering the matter, it was decided to reject the representation and the petitioner was informed accordingly on March 11, 1985. He then filed the civil writ petition challenging the said, order of dismissal dated August 31, 1978 as well as the order dated March 11, 1985, whereby his representation was dismissed Therein, the learned Single Judge gave a categorical finding that the offence under which the petitioner was convicted squarely fell within the purview of moral turpitude and he could not escape his liability. However, in spite of this finding, the learned Single Judge was of the view that the punishment of dismissal from service was not called for due to changed circumstances and, therefore, the respondents were directed to review his case and to award punishment proportionate to the offence with which he had been charged in view of his conduct which had led to his premature release from jail and taking back in service the similarly situated employees.

(2.) THE learned counsel for the State of Punjab (the appellant) submitted that after recording the finding that the offence under which the petitioner was convicted squarely fell within the purview of moral turpitude, there was nothing to be reviewed. Moreover, argued the learned counsel, the petitioner was already given personal hearing by the Chief Secretary and it was found that the petitioner was not entitled to reinstatement because of his conviction under Section 304 (1) Indian Penal Code, in appeal. In any case, argued the learned counsel, the dismissal order passed on August 31, 1978. was never challenged as such and. therefore, the writ petition filed in the year 1985 was highly belated to challenge the said order. According to the learned counsel, the subsequent order dismissing his representation dated March 11, 1985, did not give him a fresh cause of action He also produced in this Court the original record to show that there was due application of mind while passing the dismissal order dated August 31, 1978 as well as subsequently when his representation was dismissed on March 11, 1985.

(3.) ON the other hand, the learned counsel for the respondent (the writ petitioner) submitted that while passing the dismissal order, his conduct was never taken into consideration The dismissal order was passed simply on the ground of his conviction under Section 202, Indian Penal Code Thus, argued the learned counsel, since later on the said conviction was altered to Section 304 (1), Indian Penal Code and he was also released prematurely on account of his good conduct in the jail, he was entitled to be reinstated and for re consideration of his case afresh. In support of the contention, the learned counsel relied upon the Divl Personnel Officer v. T. R. Challappan, A. I R. 1975 S. C. 2216 and Union of India v. Tulsiram Patel, A. I. R. 1985 S. C. 1416.