KANSHI RAM PRADHAN Vs. STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is Pradhan of the Gram Panchavat. Sandhu (Theog) to which office he was elected in September, 1962. It appears that on August 17, 1970, a case was registered against him for the commission of an offence under Section 379 of the Indian Penal Code. That case is pending. On September 16, 1971 the second respondent issued a notice under Rule 77 of the Himachal Pradesh, Gram Panchayat Rules, 1971 requiring the petitioner to show cause why he should not be Placed under suspension under Section '54 of the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Rai Act. 1968. The petitioner submitted a reply dated September 30, 1971 purporting to show that he was not liable to be suspended- It seems that subsequently the second respondent issued a fresh notice dated December 16, 1971, and thereafter on February 11, 1972 hie second respondent made an order placing the petitioner under suspension under Section 54 of the Act. Aggrieved by the order of suspension, the petitioner now prays for relief under article 226 of the Constitution.

(2.) The petitioner urges that no notice dated December 16. 1971 was ever served on him and consequently he had no opportunity to show cause pursuant to that notice. There is a clear averment to that effect in paragraph 8 of the writ petition. In reply, the respondents do not say that the notice dated December 16, 1971 was actually served on the petitioner. All that is said in paragraph 8 of the return is that the notice was sent by registered Post to the petitioner and it has not vet been returned by the postal authorities. On the clear averment made by the petitioner, and in the absence of any material to controvert it, it must be taken that the notice dated December 16. 1971 was not served on the petitioner.

(3.) It is urged by the learned Advocate-General, who appears for the respondents, that the petitioner in fact made a representation in reply to that show cause notice and also wrote to the Chief Minister protesting against the proceedings for suspension. The representation Is dated September 30, 1971, and specifically refers to the show cause notice dated September 16, 1971. The letter addressed to the Chief Minister, although dated March 19. 1972. also refers to that show cause notice. Neither document discloses that the petitioner had received the show cause notice dated December 16, 1971. Now. the impugned order dated February 11, 1972 proceeds on the basis that the notice dated December 16, 1971 was served on the petitioner and that he had failed to reply to that notice. Clearly, therefore, the impugned order cannot be sustained when no such notice was received by the petitioner.