PARAMJIT SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) CHALLENGE in the present petition is to the order dated 06.5.2010, vide which Enquiry Officer was appointed by the Director, Health & Family Welfare Department, Punjab for conducting preliminary enquiry into the allegations in a complaint filed against the petitioner by respondent No.5.

(2.) LEARNED counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner, who was serving as Superintendent Grade -II in the office of Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana superannuated on 31.12.2004. Initiation of enquiry or even preliminary enquiry more than four years after his retirement is totally illegal in the light of the Rule 2.2 (b) of the Punjab Civil Services Rules, Vol. II, Part -1. The aforesaid Rule firstly provides that no enquiry can be initiated against a retired employee without prior sanction of the Government and in respect of any event which took place more than four years before the institution of such enquiry. The submission is that even in the present case the enquiry has been instituted by the Director, Health & Family Welfare Department, Punjab, there is nothing to show that prior sanction of the Government has been taken. He further submitted that the incident, which has been referred to in the complaint by respondent No.5 pertains to the period from 28.08.1996 to 14.11.1996. He further submitted that leave for the period from 28.08.1996 to 24.09.1996 was sanctioned with full pay vide order dated 21.07.1997. Initiation of preliminary enquiry on 06.05.2010 is clearly for the incident, which is more than four years old. Learned counsel for the petitioner further submitted that the reason for filing of complaint by respondent No.5 against the petitioner was on account of embezzlement by respondent No.5. The petitioner made a complaint against respondent No.5, on the basis of which report of enquiry dated 16.02.2010 was submitted by SIT holding that there was large scale embezzlement by some officers/officials in the Health Department including respondent No.5. Immediately after submission of report on 16.02.2010, as revenge, respondent No.5 filed a complaint on 07.04.2010, on the basis of which, the impugned order dated 06.05.2010 was passed directing holding of enquiry against the petitioner. As no action was taken against the officer/official, the petitioner filed CWP No. 20047 of 2011 before this Court in public interest, in which vide order dated 12.01.2012, this Court directed for taking appropriate action against the persons held guilty and directed to register FIR against them. In fact the complaint was motivated. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State submitted that Director, Health & Family Welfare, Punjab vide order dated 06.05.2010 (Annexure P -4) merely instituted preliminary enquiry against the petitioner. A perusal thereof shows that if anything is found against the petitioner, regular enquiry will be instituted. At that stage sanction of the Government will be required. He further submitted that as there was allegation of fraud against the petitioner, the same vitiate everything which includes condition of sanction of the Government against the retired employee and the period of limitation.

(3.) THE dates which are not disputed are that an office order has been passed on 06.05.2010, appointing Ashok Kumar Bhatia as Enquiry Officer for conducting preliminary enquiry into the allegations in a complaint made against the petitioner. The petitioner retired from service as Superintendent Grade -II on 31.12.2004. The allegations in the complaint filed by respondent no.5 against the petitioner on 07.04.2010 are that the petitioner remained willfully absent from duty from 28.08.1996 to 14.11.1996. As a consequences of this, absence from duty, punishment of stoppage of one annual increment with cumulative effect was imposed. In fact the aforesaid order was not implemented, as a consequence he had drawn salary for the aforesaid period and also increment, which was stopped.