PROVINCE OF PUNJAB through Chief Secretary, Punjab, Lahore and another
These petitions for leave to appeal were directed against a judgment of the Punjab Service Tribunal whereby the departmental penalty of removal from service imposed on the respondent was converted into compulsory retirement. The respondent, while posted as Deputy District Education Officer, had recruited six security guards allegedly in violation of government recruitment policy instructions. The Supreme Court considered whether the Tribunal was justified in reducing the penalty. Holding that the respondent had rendered thirty-six years of government service, was nearing superannuation, and faced no charges of corruption or gross misconduct, the Court concluded that the Tribunal acted justly and fairly in converting the penalty given the nature of the proved charge. Consequently, the petitions were dismissed and leave to appeal was refused. The key principle laid down is that service tribunals possess the discretion to adjust departmental penalties proportionate to the nature of the proved misconduct, taking into consideration the length of service and absence of corrupt motives.
- Whether the Punjab Service Tribunal is justified in converting the penalty of removal from service into compulsory retirement based on the length of service and absence of corruption?
- Does the recruitment of security guards in alleged violation of government policy constitute gross misconduct warranting removal from service?
- Can the Supreme Court interfere with the modification of a departmental penalty by a service tribunal when the tribunal's judgment is just and fair?
' FAQIR MUHAMMAD KHOKHAR, J.--- These petitions, by the Province of Punjab as well as by the respondent, for leave to appeal are directed against judgment dated 9-7-2001, passed by the Punjab Service Tribunal, Lahore (hereinafter referred to as the Tribunal), whereby, the departmental penalty of removal from service of the respondent was converted into his compulsory retirement from service.
2. The respondent while posted as Deputy District Education Officer (Male), Kasur, had made recruitment of six security guards out of which four were ex-army men and two were civilians. He was proceeded against for violation of the instructions of the Government laying down the recruitment policy. He was removed from service by the competent authority after necessary proceedings. He preferred Appeal No,859 of 1999 which was disposed of by the Tribunal, by the impugned judgment dated 9-7-2001, whereby the penalty of removal from service was converted into compulsory retirement.
3. The learned counsel for the petitioners (in C.P. No,2993-L of 2001) argued that the charge against the petitioner was duly proved through inquiry proceedings and, therefore, the Tribunal was not justified in reducing the penalty of removal into compulsory retirement from service.
4. On the other hand, the learned Advocate-on-Record for the respondent (also the petitioner in connected C.P. No,3000-L of 2001) argued that there was no misconduct on the part of the petitioner in making recruitment of the security guards in his capacity as Chairman of the Recruitment Committee.
5. We have heard the learned counsel for the parties at some length and have also perused the available record. We find that the respondent had rendered 36 years of Government service and was already nearing the age of superannuation. There was no charge of corruption or other gross misconduct against the respondent so as to entail the extreme penalty of removal from service. In the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was quite justified in converting the penalty of removal from service into compulsory retirement from service keeping in view the nature of charge which was proved against him. The impugned judgment is just and fair to which no exception can be taken.
6. For the foregoing reasons, we do not find any merit in these petitions which are dismissed and leave to appeal is refused accordingly .