State Of Tamil Nadu Rep. By Secretary To Govt. (Home) vs Promod Kumar Ips & Anr.

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION Civil Appeal No.8427-8428 of 2018 (Arising out of S.L.P. (Civil) No.12112-12113 of 2017)

STATE OF TAMIL NADU REP. BY SECRETARY TO GOVT. (HOME) .... Appellant Versus

PROMOD KUMAR IPS & ANR. ….Respondents

JUDGMENT

L. NAGESWARA RAO, J.

Leave granted.

1. The first Respondent filed O.A. No.165 of 2016 in the

Central Administrative Tribunal, Madras Bench challenging

his suspension and the charge memo dated 29.10.2013.

The Tribunal allowed O.A. No.165 of 2016 filed by the first

Respondent by revoking his suspension. The Tribunal

refused to set aside the charge memo. The first

Respondent filed Writ Petition No.39989 of 2016 in the High

Court of Madras challenging the judgment of the Tribunal in

O.A. No.165 of 2016 in respect of the refusal to quash the Signature Not Verified Digitally signed by SANJAY KUMAR Date: 2018.08.21 17:25:50 IST Reason:

charges framed against him. The Appellant - State of

Tamil Nadu filed Writ Petition No.38696 of 2016

1 assailing the judgment of the Tribunal regarding the

direction to reinstate the first Respondent by revoking his

suspension. The High Court by its judgment dated

12.01.2017 upheld the judgment of the Tribunal revoking

the suspension of the first Respondent. The High Court

further quashed the disciplinary proceedings initiated by

the Appellant against the first Respondent by declaring the

charge memo dated 29.10.2013 as non est in law.

Aggrieved by the said judgment of the High Court, the

Appellant has approached this Court by filing the above

appeal.

2. The first Respondent is a member of the Indian Police

Service and was allotted to the State of Tamil Nadu. He

was posted as Inspector General of Police, West Zone,

Coimbatore from 10.09.2008 to 19.02.2010. During his

tenure in the said post, an FIR was registered against

K.Mohanraj, K. Kathiravan and Kamalavalli Arumugam who

were the Directors of M/s Paazee Forex Trading India Private

Limited (hereinafter referred to as “M/s Paazee Forex”) by

the Central Crime Branch, Tirupur under Section 3 and 4 of

the Prize Chits and Money Circulation Scheme (Banning)

Act, 1978 and Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860

2 (IPC). M/s Paazee Forex was alleged to have cheated a

large number of depositors to the tune of Rs.1,210 crores.

The Directors of the company were granted anticipatory

bail on 08.10.2009. Crime No.3068 of 2009 was registered

under Section 365 IPC on 09.12.2009 pursuant to a written

complaint that one of the Directors of M/s Paazee Forex, Ms.

Kamalavalli Arumugam, was missing since 08.12.2009. The

missing Director Kamalavalli Arumugam submitted a

complaint to the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Tirupur

that she was kidnapped on 08.12.2009. She stated in the

complaint that three police officials and a private individual

extorted Rs. 3 Crores approximately for her release. The

investigation of Crime No.26 of 2009 registered against M/s

Paazee Forex on 24.09.2009 was transferred to the CB-CID,

Vellore on 23.03.2010. Crime No.3068 of 2009 pertaining to

the kidnapping of Kamalavalli Arumugam was also

transferred to the CB-CID, Vellore.

3. An association of investors of M/s Paazee Forex filed

Criminal O.P. No.5356 of 2011 under Section 482 Cr.P.C. for

a direction to transfer the investigation to the CBI. Mr.K.

Loganathan, an investor in M/s Paazee Forex filed Criminal

O.P. No.2691 of 2011 seeking transfer of investigation of

3 Crime No.26 of 2009 from the State police to the CBI since

he apprehended that the State police was protecting the

Directors of M/s Paazee Forex and delaying the disbursal of

money payable to the depositors.

4. In the meanwhile, the first Respondent was

interrogated in connection with Crime No.3068 of 2009 on

06.04.2011. On investigation, it was found that Respondent

No.1 abused his official position as Inspector General of

Police and inter alia, was involved in extorting money from

the Directors of M/s Paazee Forex and the delay in the

repayment of money to the depositors of M/s Paazee Forex.

He was arraigned as an accused in Crime No. 26 of 2009 by

the Special Judge, CBI, Coimbatore on 28.02.2012.

5. By an order dated 19.04.2011, the High Court directed

the transfer of Crime No.3 of 2010 (originally Crime No.26

of 2009) registered against M/s Paazee Forex and Crime

No.3068 of 2009 originating from the kidnapping of

Kamalavalli Arumugam to the CBI.

6. The first Respondent filed an application for bail which

was rejected by the High Court on 20.04.2012. Thereafter,

he was arrested on 02.05.2012. The Principal Secretary to

Government of Tamil Nadu by an order dated 10.05.2012

placed the first Respondent under suspension with effect

4 from 02.04.2012 in terms of Sub-Rule 2 of Rule 3 of the All

India Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969 until

further orders. It was mentioned in the said order that the

first Respondent was arrested on 02.05.2012 and was

detained in custody for a period exceeding 48 hours. It is

relevant to note that the first Respondent was released on

bail on 28.06.2012.

7. Writ Petition No.21801 of 2012 was filed by the first

Respondent in the High Court of Madras praying for a

direction “forbearing the Respondents (CBI and others)

from proceeding further with conducting enquiry or

investigating offences alleged to have been committed by

the Petitioner (first Respondent) in connection with the

case registered in FIR in RC No.

13(E)/2011/CBI/EOW/Chennai and pending on the file of the

5th Respondent (CBI)”. The Writ Petition was dismissed by

a learned Single Judge of the High Court of Madras by a

judgment dated 05.12.2012 which was upheld by a

Division Bench on 29.04.2013. In the meanwhile, the

decision to initiate a disciplinary proceeding against the

first Respondent was approved by the Disciplinary Authority

5 on 05.04.2013. Pursuant thereto, a charge memo was

issued to the first Respondent on 29.10.2013.

8. The judgment of the High Court of Madras dated

19.04.2011 in Criminal O.P. No.2691 of 2011 and Criminal

O.P. No. 5356 of 2011 by which Crime No.26 of 2009 and

Crime No.3068 of 2009 were transferred to the CBI was

challenged in this Court. The judgment dated 29.04.2013

of the Division Bench of the High Court of Madras in Writ

Appeal No.12 of 2013 pertaining to the investigation by the

CBI against the involvement of Respondent No.1 in Crime

No.3068 of 2009 was assailed by the first Respondent in

this Court. This Court by an order dated 17.03.2015

disposed of the SLPs with the following observations:

“Without getting into the intricacies of the merits of the issues canvassed, we consider it just and appropriate, to remand the matter back to the High Court, requiring the High Court to adjudicate upon Writ Petition No.21801 of 2012 afresh, by impleading the appellant(s) in Criminal Original Petition Nos.2691 and 5356 of 2011, and by affording an opportunity to the appellant before this Court. In disposing of the aforesaid writ Petition, the jurisdiction exercised by the High Court, would be under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.

In the above view of the matter, the order dated 5.12.2012 passed by the High Court while disposing of the above writ Petition is hereby set aside. Parties are directed to appear before the High Court on 13.04.2015. We hope and trust, that the High Court shall dispose of the

6 controversy at the earliest. Since, the appellant herein was not heard when the order dated 19.4.2011 was passed by the High Court while disposing of Criminal Original Petition Nos.2691 and 5356 of 2011, we consider it just and appropriate to further clarify, that the above order dated 19.4.2011, will not stand in the way of the appellant herein, when the High Court disposes of the matter afresh.”

9. A Petition filed by one of the accused for the return of

certain seized documents was dismissed by a Special

Judge, CBI on 15.07.2014. A Revision Petition was filed by

one Pratap Singh Nagar to set aside the order of the Special

Judge, CBI, Coimbatore and to direct return of the

documents. A Single Judge of the High Court disposed off

the Revision Petition on 13.08.2015 by observing that the

CBI cannot proceed with the investigation in view of the

order passed by this Court on 17.03.2015. Thereafter, the

Special Court, CBI by an order dated 19.10.2015 ordered as

follows:

“In the result in view of the orders passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in Civil Appeal No.3062/15 and by the Hon’ble Madras High Court in Crl. R.C. No.838/14 subject to the orders to be passed by the Hon’ble Madras High Court in W.P. 21801/12 and Crl. O.P.2691 and 5356/11 for the present this case in CC 2/13 is closed.”

10. The first Respondent filed O.A. 165 of 2016 in the

Central Administrative Tribunal, Madras Bench for quashing

of the order of suspension dated 10.05.2013 and the

7 charge memo dated 29.10.2013. He also sought for

reinstatement with all consequential benefits. It is relevant

to mention that the order of suspension dated 10.05.2012

was periodically extended after expiry of 180 days and the

last extension was on 06.07.2016.

11. The Central Administrative Tribunal, Madras Bench

refused to interfere with the charge memo by holding that

the first Respondent had not exhausted his remedies by

filing his objections or statement of defence. Liberty was

given to the first Respondent to raise all the points before

the appropriate authority. However, the Tribunal directed

revocation of suspension by holding that there was no

material to indicate that first Respondent had tampered

with the evidence or influenced the witnesses. Therefore,

the Tribunal held that a public servant cannot be continued

under suspension for a prolonged period. Aggrieved by the

direction issued by the Central Administrative Tribunal to

reinstate the first Respondent, the Appellant, State of Tamil

Nadu, filed a Writ Petition in the High Court. The judgment

of the Tribunal to the extent that charge memo was not

quashed was assailed by the first Respondent in another

Writ Petition. By a judgment dated 12.01.2017, the High

8 Court upheld the judgment of the Tribunal pertaining to

revocation of suspension. Further, the High Court quashed

the disciplinary proceedings on the ground that the charge

memo was not approved by the disciplinary authority.

Hence, this appeal by the State of Tamil Nadu.

12. We have heard Mr. V. Giri, learned Senior Counsel

appearing for the Appellant and Mr. P. Chidambaram,

learned Senior Counsel appearing for the first Respondent.

Mr.Giri contended that the first Respondent is involved in a

serious crime which is pending trial. He stated that the

initial suspension was under Rule 3(2) of the All India

Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969 for being

detained in custody for a period of more than 48 hours. He

submitted that periodical reviews were being conducted to

consider the continuance of the suspension of Respondent

No.1. He placed before us the proceedings of Review

Committees and the orders passed pursuant to the

recommendations, extending the period of suspension.

Reinstatement of the first Respondent would not be in

public interest and would also have an adverse effect on

the ongoing trial, according to Mr.Giri. He further

contended that the High Court committed an error in

9 quashing the charge memo on the ground that it was not

approved by the disciplinary authority. He submitted that a

plain reading of Rule 8 of the All India Service (Discipline

and Appeal) Rules, 1969 would indicate that initiation of

disciplinary proceedings and issuance of a charge memo

are at the same stage. In other words, the stage of

initiation is not different from the stage of issuance of the

charge memo. Mr.Giri submitted that Union of India v.

B.V.Gopinath, (2014) 1 SCC 351 was not correctly

decided. According to him, approval of the disciplinary

authority at the initial stage and the stage of initiation of

the disciplinary proceedings is sufficient and there is no

need for an approval of the charge memo by the

disciplinary authority as held in the above judgment. He

also placed before us the Tamil Nadu Government Business

Rules, 1978 in support of his submissions.

13. On behalf of Respondent No.1, Mr.P.Chidambaram

submitted that there is no need for the continuation of

suspension of Respondent No.1, especially, when no

material was brought to the notice of the Court about any

attempt made by him to tamper with the evidence. He

submitted that mere apprehension of Respondent No.1

10 influencing the witnesses, in case he is reinstated, is not a

sufficient ground to deprive him the relief of reinstatement.

He also submitted that the criminal case against him is

dormant at present in view of the order passed by the

Special Court closing the criminal case subject to further

directions of the High Court in Writ Petition No. 21801 of

2012 after hearing the first Respondent. He pointed out

that the High Court has given liberty to the Appellant to

appoint the first Respondent in a non-sensitive post.

Mr.Chidambaram relied upon the judgment of this Court in

B.V. Gopinath (supra) and submitted that the issue

pertaining to the approval of the disciplinary authority at

the stage of issuance of a charge memo is no more res

integra. He submitted that Rule 14 of the Central Civil

Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965

and Rule 8 of the All India Service (Discipline and Appeal)

Rules, 1969 are in pari materia.

14. There are two issues which arise for consideration in

this case. One pertains to the validity of the charge memo

and the other relates to the continuance of Respondent

No.1 under suspension. As the two issues are distinct and

11 not connected to each other, we proceed to deal with them

separately.

Validity of the Charge-Memo

15. Rule 8 of the All India Service (Discipline and Appeal)

Rules, 1969 prescribes a procedure for imposing major

penalties. A major penalty specified in Rule 6 cannot be

imposed except after holding an enquiry in the manner

prescribed in Rule 8. Where it is proposed to hold an

enquiry against a member of the service under Rule 8, the

disciplinary authority shall “draw up or caused to be drawn

up” the substance of the imputation of misconduct or

misbehavior into definite and distinct article of charge. The

Rule further provides for an opportunity to be given to the

delinquent to submit his explanation, the appointment of

an inquiring authority and the procedure to be followed for

imposition of a penalty with which we are not concerned in

this case. The disciplinary authority as defined in Rule 2 (b)

is the authority competent to impose on a member of the

service any of the penalties specified in Rule 6. Rule 7

provides that the authority to institute proceedings and to

impose penalty on a member of All India Service is the

State Government, if he is serving in connection with the

affairs of the State. There is no doubt that the Government

12 of Tamil Nadu is the disciplinary authority. The authority to

act on behalf of the State Government as per the Business

Rules is the Minister for Home Department. There is no

dispute that the Hon’ble Chief Minister was holding the said

department during the relevant period (2011-2016).

Matters pertaining to disciplinary action against IPS, IAS

and IFS officers had to be dealt with by the Chief Minister

as per Standing Order No.2 dated 09.01.1992 issued by the

Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu under Rule 35 (4) of the

Business Rules which reads as follows “Paragraph 18. Disciplinary Action:-

Files relating to disciplinary action against I.A.S./I.P.S./I.F.S. Officers in the senior-grade and above at the stage of issue of charge memo/show cause notice to the above officers alone should be circulated to the Chief Minister. In the case of Secretaries to Government where action is contemplated under Rule 17 (a) or 17 (b) of the Tamil Naidu Civil Services (CC &A) Rules such files should be circulated to the Chief Minister. In the case of Heads of Department files where action is contemplated under Rule 17 (b) of the T.N.C.S. (CC &A) Rules, alone should be circulated to the Chief Minister.

In the case of District Revenue Officers, the files should be circulated to the Chief Minister only at the stage of imposition of penalty after obtaining the explanation of the officers.

In the case of Joint Secretary Deputy Secretary where action is contemplated under Rule 17(b) of the T.N.C.S. (CC &A) Rules such cases should be circulated by the Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister.

In respect of all other officers files should be circulated to the Chief Minister as per Business Rules.”

16. By an order dated 19.04.2018, we directed the Chief

Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu to file an affidavit explaining

13 the position pertaining to the Business Rules and the

standing orders. The affidavit filed by the Chief Secretary,

Government of Tamil Nadu dated 14.05.2018 discloses that

the first Respondent was arrested on 02.05.2012. He was

placed under suspension on 10.05.2012 under Rule 3 (2) of

the All India Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969

after obtaining the approval of the Hon’ble Chief Minister on

the note for circulation dated 09.05.2012. It was further

stated in the affidavit that regular departmental action for a

major penalty was initiated against Respondent No.1 under

the All India Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969 on

05.04.2013 after obtaining the approval of the Hon’ble

Chief Minister.

17. It is clear that the approval of the disciplinary

authority was taken for initiation of the disciplinary

proceedings. It is also clear from the affidavit that no

approval was sought from the disciplinary authority at the

time when the charge memo was issued to the delinquent

officer. The submission made on behalf of the Appellant is

that approval of the disciplinary authority for initiation of

disciplinary proceedings was sufficient and there was no

need for another approval for issuance of charge memo.

14 The basis for such submission is that initiation of

disciplinary proceedings and issuance of charge memo are

at the same stage. We are unable to agree with the

submission in view of the judgment of this Court in B.V.

Gopinath (supra). In that case the charge memo issued to

Mr. Gopinath under Rule 14(3) of the Central Civil Service

(Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965 was

quashed by the Central Administrative Tribunal on the

ground that the Finance Minister did not approve it. The

judgment of the Tribunal was affirmed by the High Court.

The Union of India, the Appellant therein submitted before

this Court that the approval for initiation of the

departmental proceedings includes the approval of the

charge memo. Such submission was not accepted by this

Court on an interpretation of Rule 14(3) which provides that

the disciplinary authority shall “ draw up or cause to be

drawn up” the charge memo. It was held that if any

authority other than the disciplinary authority is permitted

to draw the charge memo, the same would result in

destroying the underlying protection guaranteed under

Article 311 (2) of the Constitution of India. 15

18. Rule 8 (4) of the All India Service (Discipline and

Appeal) Rules, 1969 also mandates that the disciplinary

authority shall “draw up or cause to be drawn up” the

charge memo. We see no reason to take a view different

from the one taken by this Court in B.V.Gopinath (supra).

We also see no substance in the submission made by the

Senior Counsel for the State that the said judgment needs

reconsideration. Assuming that Mr.Giri is right in his

submission that the initiation of disciplinary proceedings

and issuance of charge memo are at the same stage, the

mandatory requirement of Rule 8 which provides for the

charge memo to be drawn by the disciplinary authority

cannot be ignored. We reject the submission on behalf of

the Appellant that Gopinath’s case can be distinguished on

facts. We are not in agreement with the contention of the

Appellant that the business rules and standing orders of the

State of Tamil Nadu are quite different from the office

orders and circulars issued by Union of India which formed

the basis of the judgment in Gopinath’s case. A close

reading of the said judgment would disclose that reliance

on the office note was only in addition to the interpretation

of the Rule.

16

19. It is also settled law that if the rule requires something

to be done in a particular manner it should be done either

in the same manner or not at all- Taylor v. Taylor (1875) 1

Ch.D. 426, 431. In view of the mandatory requirement of

Rule 8 (4) and the charge memo being drawn up or cause

to be drawn up by the disciplinary authority is not complied

with, we are of the considered opinion that there is no

reason to interfere with the judgment of the High Court on

this issue. The only addition we would like to make is to

give liberty to the disciplinary authority to issue a charge

memo afresh after taking approval from the disciplinary

authority.

Suspension

20. The first Respondent was placed under deemed

suspension under Rule 3(2) of the All India Services Rules

for being in custody for a period of more than 48 hours.

Periodic reviews were conducted for his continuance under

suspension. The recommendations of the Review

Committees did not favour his reinstatement due to which

he is still under suspension. Mr.P. Chidambaram, learned

Senior Counsel appearing for the first Respondent fairly

submitted that we can proceed on the basis that the

criminal trial is pending. There cannot be any dispute

17 regarding the power or jurisdiction of the State Government

for continuing the first Respondent under suspension

pending criminal trial. There is no doubt that the

allegations made against the first Respondent are serious in

nature. However, the point is whether the continued

suspension of the first Respondent for a prolonged period is

justified.

21. The first Respondent has been under suspension for

more than six years. While releasing the first Respondent

on bail, liberty was given to the investigating agency to

approach the Court in case he indulged in tampering with

the evidence. Admittedly, no complaint is made by the CBI

in that regard. Even now the Appellant has no case that

there is any specific instance of any attempt by the first

Respondent to tamper with evidence.

22. In the minutes of the Review Committee meeting held

on 27.06.2016, it was mentioned that the first Respondent

is capable of exerting pressure and influencing witnesses

and there is every likelihood of the first Respondent

misusing office if he is reinstated as Inspector General of

Police. Only on the basis of the minutes of the Review

Committee meeting, the Principal Secretary, Home (SC)

Department ordered extension of the period of suspension

18 for a further period of 180 days beyond 09.07.2016 vide

order dated 06.07.2016.

23. This Court in Ajay Kumar Choudhary v. Union of

India, (2015) 7 SCC 291 has frowned upon the practice of

protracted suspension and held that suspension must

necessarily be for a short duration. On the basis of the

material on record, we are convinced that no useful

purpose would be served by continuing the first

Respondent under suspension any longer and that his

reinstatement would not be a threat to a fair trial. We

reiterate the observation of the High Court that the

Appellant State has the liberty to appoint the first

Respondent in a non sensitive post.

24. With the aforesaid observation, the appeals are

disposed of.

...................................J. [S.A. BOBDE]

..................................J. [L. NAGESWARA RAO] New Delhi, August 21, 2018.

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