State of Maharashtra v. M.H. Mazumdar

The fodgment of the Court was delivered by SINGH, J. Special leave granted. This appeal raises an important question of law whether a Government servant after ~is retirement on attaining the age of superannuation is liable to be dealt with departmentally for any mis­ conduct, negligence or financial irregularities committed by him during the period of his service. Necessary facts giving rise to this appeal are that M.H. Mazumdar, the Respondent was in the service of the State of Maharashtra as Supply Inspector and he retired from service on attain- ing the age of superannuation 'on September 1, 1977. After h.is retire­ ment the respondent was served with a charge-liheet on October 16, D 1978 containing allegations of misconduct and negligence against him for the period he was in service. Enquiry into those charges was held and the respondent was afforded full opportunity to defend himself. On the conclusion of the enquiry the State Government issued orders on December 4, 1982 reducing the amount of pension payable to the respondent by 50 per cent permanently under Rule 188 of the Bombay · E Civil Services Rules. The respondent challenged the validity of the Government's order by means of a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution before the High Court of Bombay. A Division Bench of that Court allowed tlie writ petition and quashed the State Govern­ me.nt's order dated December 4, 1982 on the ground that the State Government had no authority in law to take any disciplinary proceed- F ings against the respondent as he had already retired from service. Placing reliance on a decision of this Court in B.J. She/et v. State of Gujarat & Ors., [1978] 2 SCC 202 the High Court held that the initia­ tion of disciplinary enquiry and the order of punishment was un­ authorised and illegal. The State ·of Maharashtra has preferred this appeal against the judgment of the High Court. G There is no dispute that the respondent had retired from service on attaining the age of superannuation on September 1, 1977 and charges were served on him on October 16, 1978 after about a year of his retirement. Undisputably the proceedings against the respondent were initiated after the respondent ceased to be in service of the State H Government. The proceedings culminated into an order of the State Government reducing the respondent's pension by 50 per cent. The question is whether the State Government was competent to take action against the respondent by reducing his pension. Conditions for grant of pension to a Government servant of the State of Maharashtra are regulated by the Bombay Civil Services Rules (hereinafter referred to as the Rules). Rule 184 provides for grant of pension admissible under the rules to Government servant who is -borne on its establish­ ment. Rules 188 and 189 relevant for our purpose are as under: "188. Government may make such reduction as it may think fit in the amount of the pension of a Government servant whose service has not been thoroughly satisfac­ tory." "189. Good conduct is an implied condition of every grant of pension. Government may withhold or withdraw a pension or any part of it if the pensioner be convicted of serious crime or be found to have been guilty of grave misconduct either during or after the completion of his service, provided that before any order to this effect is issued, the procedure referred to in Note I to Rule 33 of Bombay Civil Services Conduct, Discipline and Appeal Rules shall be followed." The aforesaid two Rules empower Government to reduce or withdraw a pension. Rule 189 contemplates withholding or withdraw­ ing of a pension or any part of it if the pensioner is found guilty of grave misconduct while he was in service or after the completion of his service. Grant of pension and its continuance to a Government servant F depend upon the good coridJlct of the Government servant. Rendering satisfactory service maintaining good conduct is a necessary condition for the grant and continuance of pension. Rule 189 expressly confers power on the Government to withhold or withdraw any part of the pension payable to a Government servant for misconduct which he may have committed while in service. This Rule further provides that G before any order reducing or withdrawing any part of the pension is made by the competent authority the pensioner must be given opportunity of defence in accordance to the procedure specified in Note I to Rule 33 of the Bombay Civil Services Conduct, Discipline and Appeal Rules. The State Government's power to reduce or with­ hold pension by taking proceedings against a Government servant H_ even after his retirement is expressly preserved by the aforesaid Rules. -". - +--' . • STATE OF MAHARASHTRA v. M.H. MAZUMDAR. [SINGH, J.I 35 The validity of the Rules was not challenged either before the High A Court or before this Court. In this view, the Government has power to reduce the amount of pension payable to the respondent. In M. Narasimhachar v. The State of1Mysore, [1960] 1 SCR 981 and State of Uttar Pradesh v. Brahm Dati Sharma & Anr., [1987] 2 SCC 179 similar Rules authorising the Government to withhold or reduce the pension granted to the Government servant were interpreted' and this Court held that merely because a Government servant retired from service on attaining the age of superannuation he could not escape the liability for misconduct and negligence or financial irregularities which he may have committed during the period of his service and the Government was entitled to withhold or reduce the pension granted to a Govern­ ment servant. The High Court in our view committed serious error in holding that the State Government had no authority to initiate any proceed- ings against the respondent. In B.J. She/at v. State of Gujarat & Ors. disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against the Government Servant for purpose of awarding punishment to !iiiµ after he had re- D tired from service. The ratio of that decision is not applicable to the instant case as in the present case the purpose of the enquiry was not to inflict any punishment; instead the proceedings were initiated for de­ tehnining the respondent's pension. The proceedings were taken in accordance with Rules 188 and 189 of the Rules. It appears that the attention of the High Court was not drawn to these Rules. E The State Government had power to reduce the pension payable to respondent but having regard to the facts and circumstances, of the case we are of the opinion that the reduction of pension by 50 per cent was disproportionate to the charges proved against the respondent. Two charges were framed against the respondent which are as under: F "Charge No. I. He has made a farce of an enquiry, collected 6 permits from the Kolhapur Central Co-operative Consumers Stores including the permit No. 007314 issued to Shri K.P . Khatavane with malafide intention after passing a receipt G thereof to the Godown Keep et, ·-0f the said stores on 12.6.1974 and thereby tried to shield Shri K.P. Khatavane and his sons Baban Khatavane from criminal prosecution. Charge No. 2. He has deliberately and intentionally denied to have made H any enquiry regarding unauthorisedly lifting of 10 bags of · ·y- Sugar on bogus or forged permit by Shri Baban Khatavane even though he was deputed for such enquiry by Shri A.R. Mane District Supply Officer, Kolhapur and he had actu- ally recorded the statement of Shri S.L. More, Godown B Keeper of the said stores and Shri Hari Santu Pande, Cart driver and also collected above mentioned 6 permits from Shri More after passing a receipt thereof. By denying the ~4.. above fact he has helped Shri A.R. Mane, District Supply Officer, Kolhapur for suppressing the case. His failure in r this regard leads to belief that he has conspired with Shri K.P. Khatavane and his son Shri Baban Khatavane with c some ulterior motive and abatted them in the disposal of ! sugar in black market." i On conclusion of the enquiry charge No. 1 was found to have been established while charge. No. 2 was partially proved. In his report D to the State Government the Collector of Kolhapur held that the respondent's action was helpful to Shri Khatavane to sell the sugar in the black market, and it amounted to a serious default on his part as a Government servant. He recommended that since the respondent had already retired from service a lenient view should be taken and reduc- tion in pension to the extent of Re.1 per month be made. The State Government accepted the findings and passed the impugned order >-reducing the pension by 50 per cent. In our view the reduction of I pension 50 per cent was too harsh and disproportionate to the mis- conduct proved against the respondent. The State Government should -have taken into consideration the fact that the respondent had retired from service and the reduction of pension by 50 per cent would -k F seriously affect his living. ' Accordingly, we allow the appeal partly, and set aside the order \ of the High Court dated February 13, 1987, and the State Government's order dated December 4, 1982 and direct the State Government to reconsider the question of reduction of respondent's pension. There will be no order regarding costs. Appeal allowed.