Lt. Governor Of Delhi And Ors
v.
Const. Dharampal And Ors
(Supreme Court Of India)
Civil Appeal No. 3376 Of 1988-82 Of 1988 | 04-05-1990
1. These appeals arose out of the judgment and order dated November, 26, 1987 passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Principal Bench, Delhi directing that the petitioners (respondents in these appeals) will be entitled to the same relief as was granted to the petitions by Anand., J in the Writ Petitions C.W.P. Nos. 278 of 1978 and 937 of 1978.
2. The matrix of the case, in short, is that the services of the respondents who were appointed as constables in Delhi Police in the years 1964-66 were terminated because of their participation of the agitation along with other police constables in April 1967. In view of the public controversy and in deference to the views expressed in Parliament, a large number of agitating constables were taken back in service as fresh entrants. Later, in view of the assurance given in the Parliament by the then Hone Minister, prosecutions were withdrawn and the dismissed constables were reinducted into service. Some of the dismissed constables filed Civil Writ Petition Nos. 26 of 1969 and 106 of 1970 in the High Court of Delhi and High Court by its judgment dated October 1, 1975 quashed the order of termination and the petitioners in that the case were declared to be throughout in service. The Police Administration preferred separate appeals being L.P.A. Nos. 24 and 25 of 1976. Both these appeals were dismissed as barred by time and the judgment of the High Court dated October 1, 1975 became final.
3. Subsequently, some other constables whose services were similarly terminated but were not reinstated in service even as fresh entrants, filed writ petitions in the High Court of Delhi being C.W. P. Nos. 270 and 937 of 1978. These writ petitions were heard by Anand, J. who rejected the contention raised by the respondents in the writ petitions regarding the delay and laches in moving the writ petitions, allowed the writ petitions quashing the impugned order of the termination declaring that the petitioners will be deemed to have been in service and would be treated as such subject to the certain conditions. The Police Administration filed LPA against this judgment which was dismissed on August 29, 1983. Thereafter the respondents herein filed the writ petitions in the High Court against the order of termination of their services praying for quashing of the orders of termination and for reinstating them in service with effect from the respective dates of their termination of services and to treat them as being in service throughout and to award them all consequential benefits. These writ petitions were subsequently transferred to the Central Administrative Tribunal, Delhi. The Tribunal while rejecting the plea of the respondents that the petitioners should be denied any relief because of delay and laches held that the claims of the petitioners (respondents in these appeals) was identical to the claim of the petitioners in C.W.P. Nos. 270 and 937 of 1978 whose petitions were allowed by the High Court of Delhi. The Tribunal further held that the petitioners were entitled to the same relief as was granted to the petitioners by Anand, J. in C.W.P. Nos. 270 and 937 of 1978.
4. Against this judgment and order the instant appeals on special leave have been filed before this Court.
5. We have heard learned counsel for the parties. Considering the facts and circumstances as well as the judgment rendered by Anand, J. in C.W.P. Nos. 270 and 937 of 1978, we dismiss the appeals and confirm the judgment and order dated November 26, 1987 of the Tribunal with the modification that the respondents, excepting respondent No. 24, Kanwal Singh who is dead, will file affidavits stating whether they had been gainfully employed or not during the period of the termination of service and if so employed, they will state further in the affidavits the period of such employment. The appellants may verify the same and will be at liberty to deduct the pay and allowances during the period of such gainful employment while determining the arrears of salary and allowances for the period of termination. We, however, make it clear that for the purposes of seniority, promotion and retrial benefits, the entire period between termination and reinstatement shall be taken into account.
6. It has been stated by the learned counsel for the appellants that all the respondents have already been reinstated in service and they are now working. Respondent 24, however, has expired and the back wages have already been paid to his widow. In the facts and circumstances of the case there will be no order as to costs.
Advocates List
For
For Petitioner
- Shekhar Naphade
- Mahesh Agrawal
- Tarun Dua
For Respondent
- S. Vani
- B. Sunita Rao
- Sushil Kumar Pathak
Bench List
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B. C. RAY
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE N. M. KASLIWAL
Eq Citation
(1990) 4 SCC 13
[1990] 3 SCR 93
AIR 1990 SC 2059
1990 (2) UJ 169
1993 (66) FLR 972
JT 1990 (2) SC 432
(1991) 1 LLJ 605
1990 (2) LLN 302
1991 (3) SLR 1
1990 (SUPPL.) (1) SCALE 138
(1990) SCC (LS) 568
1990 (2) CLR 144
LQ/SC/1990/308
HeadNote
A. Service Law — Reinstatement — Relief — Delay and Laches — Dismissed constables filed writ petitions in High Court against order of termination of their services praying for quashing of orders of termination and for reinstating them in service with effect from the respective dates of their termination of services and to treat them as being in service throughout and to award them all consequential benefits — Writ petitions were subsequently transferred to Central Administrative Tribunal, Delhi — Tribunal while rejecting the plea of respondents that petitioners should be denied any relief because of delay and laches held that the claims of the petitioners (respondents in these appeals) was identical to the claim of the petitioners in C.W.P. Nos. 270 and 937 of 1978 whose petitions were allowed by High Court of Delhi — Tribunal further held that petitioners were entitled to the same relief as was granted to the petitioners by Anand, J. in C.W.P. Nos. 270 and 937 of 1978 — Appeal dismissed and judgment and order dt. 26-11-1987 of Tribunal confirmed with the modification that respondents, excepting respondent No. 24, Kanwal Singh who is dead, will file affidavits stating whether they had been gainfully employed or not during the period of the termination of service and if so employed, they will state further in the affidavits the period of such employment — Appellants may verify the same and will be at liberty to deduct the pay and allowances during the period of such gainful employment while determining the arrears of salary and allowances for the period of termination — It is made clear that for the purposes of seniority, promotion and retrial benefits, the entire period between termination and reinstatement shall be taken into account — Constitution of India — Art. 226 — Delay and Laches — Limitation Act, 1963 — S. 5 — Service Law Matiers — Reinstatement — Limitation Act, 1963, S. 5 (Paras 4 to 6) B. Service Law — Reinstatement — Relief — Delay and Laches — Limitation Act, 1963 — S. 5 — Delay — Delay and Laches — Limitation Act, 1963, S. 5 (Para 5)