GHULAM QASIM KHAN vs PUNJAB SERVICE TRIBUNAL and 3 others
This petition for leave to appeal challenged the order of the Punjab Service Tribunal, which had upheld the dismissal of the petitioner, a police official, from service. The petitioner, a Head Constable, was dismissed following allegations of issuing bogus driving licenses while posted as a Learning Licence Clerk in the Traffic Branch. After a departmental inquiry and the issuance of show-cause notices, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police reverted and subsequently dismissed the petitioner. The petitioner's departmental appeals and his appeal before the Punjab Service Tribunal were unsuccessful. Upon review, the Supreme Court examined the findings of the lower authorities and the Tribunal. The Court held that the disciplinary action taken against the petitioner was based on a correct appreciation of the evidence presented during the inquiry. Finding no error in the lower forums' conclusions and determining that no question of law of public importance was involved, the Supreme Court dismissed the petition for leave to appeal, thereby affirming the dismissal from service.
- Is the dismissal of a police official based on an inquiry into the issuance of bogus licenses sustainable if the evidence was correctly appreciated by the disciplinary authority?
- Does a petition for leave to appeal against a Service Tribunal order require the presence of a question of law of public importance?
ORDER
' ALI HUSSAIN QAZILBASH, J.--This is a petition for leave to appeal against the order of the Punjab Service Tribunal, dated 19-8-1984.
2. The petitioner joined Police Service as Constable in February 1967 and was promoted as Head Constable in 1978. In January 1982 the petitioner was po3ted as Learning Licence Clerk, Traffic Branch, Lahore, where he was assisted by two Naib Licensing Clerks. On 24-10-1982 the petitioner was informed by the Deputy Superintendent of Police that he was guilty of issuance of seven bogus licences which had been detected by the Police Officer during checking and an enquiry was conducted and on its basis a show-cause notice was served on the petitioner on 14-10-1982 which was replied to within the stipulated period. Another show-cause notice on 14-10-1982 was also issued and on receipt of the reply the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Lahore Range, on 23-10- 1982 reverted the petitioner but on 24-10-1982 the petitioner was dismissed from service. The petitioner's appeals before the Authority and the Service Tribunal were dismissed on 28-1-1984 and 19-8-1984.
3. We have heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and have gone through the judgments of the Tribunal and the authorities and we find that the action, taken against the petitioner is based on correct appreciation of evidence. No question of law of public importance is involved in this case. The petition is, therefore, dismissed.
' Leave to .