GIRISH KUMAR Vs. STATE OF BIHAR (NOW JHARKHAND)

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS writ application has been filed for quashing the order of the Director General of Police, Bihar, Patna as contained in Memo No. 750/X.P.K -14/91 dated 4.2.2000 issued under the signature of Deputy Inspector General of Police (Headquarters), Bihar, Patna whereby and whereunder authority refused to give Gallantry Award to the petitioner and consequently did not place the matter concerning out of turn promotion before the Selection Board and at the same time prayer has also been made for issuance of the writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents to give Gallantly Award to the petitioner and out of turn promotion to the post of Inspector.

(2.) THE case of the petitioner is that on 3.12.1990 while the petitioner had come to the civil court, Muzaffarpur, he saw three criminals making an attempt; to escape from the custody by making indiscriminate firing and exploding bomb all over the places, as a result of which nobody was daring to come near the criminals but it was the petitioner, who without caring for his life came to the rescue of the Police Officers who were trying to catch hold of the criminals and fired shot upon the criminals which hit one of them causing injuries, as a result of which the could be caught hold of and then again this petitioner rescued him from the fury of the crowd and then only he could be brought to the Hospital but succumbed to his injuries and the act of the petitioner found appreciation in the supervision note of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, who was supervising that case and made recommendation for awarding Gallantry Award to the petitioner. The then District Magistrate, Muzaffarpur also made recommendation for awarding the petitioner Gallantry Award and subsequently, when the matter came to the knowledge of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Tirhut Region, he asked for relevant papers and citation concerning Gallantry Award from Superintendent of Police, Muzaffarpur, who made it available to the Inspector General (Personnel) and at the same time Inspector General, Muzaffarpur also made recommendation for bestowing Gallantry Award as well as out of turn promotion to the petitioner but the matter remained pending before the Inspector General and the Director General of Police for about five years and then on 13.9.1996 Director General of Police, Bihar, Patna instead of bestowing the petitioner with Gallantry Award, awarded a petty sum of Rs. J.000/ - but no decision could be taken in terms of notification dated 4.2.1989 whereby Rule 660 -C of the Bihar Police Manual 1978 Volume 1 was made amended making provision for out of turn promotion.

(3.) THEREAFTER petitioner again made representation before the authority but the authority without considering the case in right perspective disallowed the prayer of the petitioner to bestow him with Gallantry Award though in similar situation the department gave out of turn promotion to Ram Lala Paswan and Srikant Pandey and even the case of the petitioner was not referred to the competent High -level Committee for consideration of out of turn promotion and therefore, the order impugned is fit to be set aside and the authority be directed to grant reliefs to the petitioner.