Mst. SAMINA NAZEER vs DISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICER (W), KHANEWAL and others
This petition for leave to appeal is directed against the judgment of the Punjab Service Tribunal, Lahore, which dismissed the petitioner's appeal and upheld the termination of her services. The petitioner's services were terminated following disciplinary action concerning an unsigned first joining report, a doubtful relinquished report, and a fake transfer order. The core legal question was whether the termination of service without a regular departmental inquiry based on allegations of fraud, forgery, and bogus appointment documents was legally sustainable. The Supreme Court held that the competent authority had the legal discretion under the applicable rules to dispense with a regular inquiry when allegations of fraud and forgery are established through documentary evidence. The Court affirmed the concurrent findings of fact by the department and the Tribunal. The key principle laid down is that a regular departmental inquiry is not mandatory under the Punjab Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 1975, where the charges of fraud and fabrication are substantiated by documentary record.
- Whether the services of a civil servant can be terminated without holding a regular inquiry in cases of fraud and forgery?
- Can the competent authority dispense with a regular departmental inquiry under Rule 6 of the Punjab Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 1975?
- Does a question of fact regarding fake transfer orders and joining reports determined by the department and affirmed by the Service Tribunal warrant interference by the Supreme Court?
- Rule 6, Punjab Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 1975
ORDER
' JAVED IQBAL,J.---This petition for leave to appeal is directed against the judgment dated 18-10- 2001 passed by learned Punjab ServiceTribunal, Lahore, whereby the appeal preferred on behalf of petitioner has been dismissed and order dated 12-5-1999 whereby her services were terminated has been kept intact.
2. Precisely stated the facts of the case are that pursuant to disciplinary action initiated against the petitioner on account of unsigned first joining report, doubtful relinquished report and fake transfer order, her services were terminated on 12-5-1999. After exhausting the departmental remedies the petitioner approached the Punjab Service Tribunal and preferred an appeal which has been dismissed vide judgment impugned.
3. Heard Ch. M.S. Shad, learned Advocate Supreme Court on behalf of petitioner who mainly contended that no punishment could have been awarded without holding regular inquiry to prove the allegations of bogus appointment letter, fake transfer order and fake jointing report. It is also urged with vehemence that all the charges levelled against the petitioner were not only vague and ambiguous but remained unsubstantiated.
4. We have carefully examined the contentions as agitated on behalf of petitioner. The judgment impugned has been perused and record examined. The learned Service Tribunal after having gone through the entire record has concluded with cogent reasoning that thepetitioner's namewas not included in the merit list of selected candidates pertaining to Markiz Burewala and besides that her transfer order and jointing report were also fake and fabricated. The factum of fraud and forgery being question of fact has been determined by the Department on the basis of relevant record, affirmed by the learned Service Tribunal after having gone through the entire record, hardly warrants any interference. We are not persuaded to agree with the learned Advocate Supreme Court on behalf of petitioner that in absence of regular inquiry the services of petitioner could not have been terminated for the reason that the Competent Authority can dispense withholding of such inquiry under rule 6 of the Punjab Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 1975. The allegations levelled against the petitioner have been proved on the basis of documentary evidence and therefore, any regular inquiry was not necessary.
5. The conclusion as arrived at by the learned Service Tribunal being well-abased does not warrant any interference. Besides that no question of law of public importance is involved in the matter on the basis whereof leave could be granted. The petition being devoid of merit is dismissed and .
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