STATE OF PUNJAB AND ORS.versusDHARAM SINGH
- Citation
- 1996 INSC 1493
- Decided
- 16 December 1996
- Disposal
- Appeal(s) allowed
Holding
Under Rule 16.21 of the Punjab Police Rules, a suspended police officer must continue to attend duty and roll call, and non‑payment of subsistence allowance does not excuse absence; consequently, compulsory retirement, not removal, is the appropriate sanction.
Summary
The State of Punjab initiated disciplinary action against Dharm Singh for failing to report for duty during his suspension from 21 November 1991 to 31 October 1992. An inquiry concluded that his absence was wilful, leading to his removal from service. The Punjab & Haryana High Court set aside the removal on the ground that the subsistence allowance due to him had not been paid, contending that this excused his absence. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined Punjab Police Rules, particularly Rule 16.21, which mandates that a suspended officer remains subject to the same responsibilities, including attendance at roll call. The Court held that non‑payment of subsistence allowance does not relieve the officer of his duty to be present, and therefore the finding of wilful absence was justified. However, the Court modified the punishment, directing that instead of removal, the authorities should consider compulsory retirement so that the officer may retain pensionary benefits.
Issues considered
- Whether non‑payment of subsistence allowance during suspension excuses a police officer's absence from duty.
- Whether removal from service is the appropriate punishment for wilful absence of a suspended officer under Punjab Police Rules.
Subjects
Judgment
STATE OF PUNJAB AND ORS. A
v.
DHARAM SINGH
DECEMBER 16, 1996
[K. RAMASWAMY AND G.T. NANAVATI, JJ.] B
Punjab Police Rules :
Rule 16.21-Status and treatment of officer under suspension.
Service La~Police Officer--Suspension-Absence from duty-En-
c
quiry-Absence found wilful-Removal from service-High Court setting aside
removal on the ground that subsistence allowance was not paid to him and
therefore, absence was not wilfu/---Appeal prefemd by State-Held as per
Rule 16.21 even during the period of suspension the police officer is required
to attend to roll cal/---The payment of subsistence allowance under .the D
suspension rule is one facet of it and his duty to be present is another-Non-
payment of subsistence allowance does not entitle a delinquent officer to" be
absent from duty-The conclusion reached by the disciplinary authority that
he was wilfully absence from duty is well justified-Authorities directed to
_j consider passing an order of compulsory retirement instead of removal-He E
will be eligible to pensionary benefits under the Rule.
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 16983 of
1996.
From the Judgment and Order dated 4.10.95 of the Punjab & F
Haryana High Court in W.P. No. 9718 of 1994.
R.S. Suri and Rohit Agarwal for the Appellants.
L.K. Pandey for the Respondent. G
The following Order of the Court was delivered :
Leave granted.
We have heard learned counsel on both sides. H
185
186 SUPREME COURT REPORTS(1996] SUPP.10 S.C.R.
A This appeal by special leave arises from the order of the Punjab &
Haryana High Court, made on October 4, 1995 in Writ Petition No. 9718
of 1994. Action was taken under Punjab Police Rules for taking disciplinary
action against th~ respondent for his failure to report for duty during
period from November 21, 1991 to October 31, 1992. An inquiry was
B conducted against the respondent and it was found that his absence was
wiliul. The High Court has set aside his removal from service on the ground
that subsistence allowance was not paid to him and, therefore, his absence
.was not wiliul. Rule 16.21 reads as under :
"16.21 - Status and treatment of officer under suspension - (1) A
c police officer shall not by reason of being suspended from office
cease to be a police officer. .
During the term of such suspension the powers, functions and
privileges vested in him as a police officer shall be in abeyance,
D but he shall continue subject to the same responsibilities, discipline
and penalties and to the same authorities, as if he had not been
suspended."
A reading of it would clearly indicate that even during the period of
E suspension the police officer is required to attend to roll call and be
available to the authorities. The payment of subsistence allowance, as
ordered, under the suspension rule is one facet of it and his duty to be
present is another. Non-payment of subsistence allowance does not entitle
a delinquent officer to be absent from duty. It is his duty to claim subsis-
F tence allowance, go to the office and collect subsistence allowances and if
it is not paid, necessary representation to the higher authorities and, if the
grievance is not redressed, to the appropriate forum seeking payment, may
be made. But that does not mean that the delinquent officer, in the face
of the express rule, can absent himself from duty. Under these circumstan-
ces, the conclusion reached by the disciplinary authority that he was wilfully
G absent from duty is well justified. However, on the quantum of punishment
imposed, on the facts and circumstances of the case, we are of the view
that instead of the removal, compulsorily retirement from service would be
an appropriate punishment.
H The appeal is accordingly allowed. The order of the High Court
STATE v. DHARAM SINGH 187
stands set aside. Instead of the order of removal, the authorities are A
directed to consider passing an order compulsorily retiring him from
service so that he will be eligible to the pensionary benefits and. other
benefits under the rules. No costs.
T.N.A. Appeal allowed.
1
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