THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND OTHERSversusBHUPENDRA YADAV

                  [2023] 14 S.C.R. 438 : 2023 INSC 837



                             CASE DETAILS
        THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND OTHERS
                                       v.
                          BHUPENDRA YADAV
                      (Civil Appeal No. 5984 of 2023)
                          SEPTEMBER 20, 2023
            [HIMA KOHLI AND RAJESH BINDAL, JJ.]
                               HEADNOTES


      Issue for consideration: Whether the appellants have erred in rejecting
the candidature of the respondent to the post of Constable, despite the latter
having truthfully disclosed in his affidavit the fact that he had faced trial in
a criminal case which had resulted in his acquittal.
    Service Law – Rejection of candidature by the departmental
authorities on basis of moral turpitude – Propriety:
      Held: An employer has the discretion to terminate or condone an
omission in the disclosure made by a candidate – While doing so, the
employer must act with prudence, keep in mind the nature of the post
and the duties required to be discharged – Higher the post, more stringent
ought to be the standards to be applied – Even if a truthful disclosure has
been made, the employer is well within its right to examine the fitness of a
candidate and in a concluded criminal case, keep in mind the nature of the
offence and verify whether the acquittal is honourable or benefit has been
extended on technical reasons – If the employer arrives at a conclusion
that the incumbent is of a suspect character or unfit for the post, he may
not be appointed or continued in service – In the instant case, even though
the respondent had truthfully declared that he was involved in a criminal
case which was decided by the trial Court, on perusing the facts of the said
case, it is clear that it was not a case of clean acquittal – It is evident from
the facts narrated that after the charge-sheet was filed, the respondent had
arrived at a compromise with the complainant, based on which the offence
u/s. 341 IPC was compounded – As for the remaining offences for which
the respondent was charged i.e. s.354(D) of the IPC and s.11 (D)/12 of the
                                       438
   THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND OTHERS v.                               439
                BHUPENDRA YADAV

POCSO Act, they were non compoundable and therefore, the matter was
taken to trial – The respondent was acquitted by the trial Court primarily on
account of the fact that the complainant did not support the case set up by
the prosecution and the other prosecution witnesses had turned hostile – In
such circumstances, the respondent’s plea that he had been given a clean
acquittal in the criminal case, is found to be devoid of merits – Mere acquittal
of the respondent in the criminal case would not automatically entitle him
to being declared fit for appointment to the subject post. [Paras 10, 16, 19]
       LIST OF CITATIONS AND OTHER REFERENCES
     Avatar Singh v. Union of India and Others (2016) 8 SCC 471 : [2016]
7 SCR 445; Daya Shankar Yadav. v. Union of India and Others (2010) 14
SCC 103 : [2010] 13 SCR 1076; Rajasthan Rajya Vidhut Prasaran Nigam
Limited and Another v. Anil Kanwaria (2021) 10 SCC 136 – relied on.
      Commissioner of Police, New Delhi and Another v. Mehar Singh
(2013) 7 SCC 685 : [2013] 13 SCR 432; Union Territory, Chandigarh
Administration and Others v. Pradeep Kumar and Others (2018) 1 SCC
797 : [2018] 1 SCR 112; Pawan Kumar v. Union of India and Another 2022
SCC Online SC 532; Ashutosh Pawar v. High Court of M.P and Another
2018 SCC Online MP 72; Jainendra Singh v. State of Uttar Pradesh (2012)
8 SCC 748 : [2012] 6 SCR 1047; State of Madhya Pradesh and Others v.
Abhijit Singh Pawar (2018) 18 SCC 733: [2018] 13 SCR 1133; R.K. Kapur
v. Union of Indian and Another AIR 1964 SC 787 : [1964] SCR 431; State
of Madhya Pradesh and Others v. Parvez Khan (2015) 2 SCC 591 : [2014]
14 SCR 520 – referred to.
       OTHER CASE DETAILS INCLUDING IMPUGNED
              ORDER AND APPEARANCES
     CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 5984 of 2023.
    From the Judgment and Order dated 24.01.2018 of the High Court of
Madhya Pradesh at Gwalior in WA No.46 of 2018.
     Appearances:
     Bharat Singh, AAG, Harmeet Singh Ruprah, DAG, Abhimanyu
Singh, Sunny Choudhary, Shashank Shekhar, Sumit Arora, Advs. for the
Appellants.
440             SUPREME COURT REPORTS                               [2023] 14 S.C.R.


     Ms. Savitri Pandey, Bhoopesh Pandey, Dr. Sushil Balwada, Srilok
Nath Rath, Ms. Reena Rao, Ms. Akansha Rai, Ms. Apeksha Rai, Pramod
Kumar, Vivekanand Rana, Advs. for the Respondent.
         JUDGMENT / ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT
                                     JUDGMENT
       HIMA KOHLI, J.
       1.Leave granted.
      2. A challenge has been laid in the present appeal to the judgement
dated 24th January, 2018, passed by the Division Bench of the High Court of
Madhya Pradesh at Gwalior, dismissing the appeal1 filed by the appellant –
State Government against the order dated 17th November, 2017, passed by
the learned Single Judge in a writ petition2 and relegating the matter back
to the competent authority for passing a fresh order.
       3. We may first allude to the relevant facts of the case.
      3.1 In May, 2015, a criminal case3 was registered against the respondent
who was arrayed as an accused in a Special Sessions Case 4 in the Court
of the First Additional Sessions Judge, Ashok Nagar (MP). Charges were
framed against the respondent under Sections 341, 354(D) of the Indian
Penal Code5 and Section 11 (D)/12 of the POCSO Act. The case set up by
the prosecution against the respondent was that on 14 th February, 2015, he
along with the other co-accused had wrongfully restrained the complainant
therein (a minor) and tried to outrage her modesty. Despite the complainant
spurring the repeated efforts made by the respondent to befriend her, he had
persistently stalked her, threw a letter and flowers at her and insisted that
she speaks to him.



1     Writ Appeal No. 46 of 2018
2     Writ Petition No. 19621 of 2017
3     Vide Crime No.64/2015, registered at PS Isagarh, District Ashoknagar, under Sections
      341, 354 (D), 323, 34 IPC and under Sections 7, 8 and 11(d)/12 of the Protection of
      Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, for short ‘the POCSO Act’.
4     Special Sessions Case No. 16 of 2015 instituted on 21st May, 2015
5     For short ‘IPC’
    THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND OTHERS v.                             441
          BHUPENDRA YADAV [HIMA KOHLI, J.]

      3.2 Records reveal that during the course of the trial, the complainant
had turned hostile. On a perusal of the judgement6 passed by the First
Additional Sessions Judge, Ashok Nagar, MP in the Sessions Case 4, it
transpires that the parties arrived at a settlement. As a result, not only the
complainant but even her friends who had witnessed the incident, went into
a denial mode and refused to support the case set up by the prosecution.
The trial Court recorded the fact that a compromise was arrived at between
the complainant and the respondent (accused therein) and based on the
compromise application preferred by the parties, the charges framed
against him under Section 341 of the IPC, were compounded. As the other
offences for which the respondent was charged, were non-compoundable,
the case continued but because the prosecutrix and the witnesses cited by
the prosecution turned hostile, the trial Court passed an order, acquitting
the respondent of the charges framed under Section 354(D) of the IPC and
Section 11 (D)/12 of the POCSO Act.
      3.3 In the very next year, i.e., 2016, the appellant – State Government
conducted an entrance examination for filling up vacancies of the post of
constables. The respondent participated in the said examination and qualified
the same under the OBC category. Thereafter, a physical test was conducted
which was also cleared by the respondent. Finally, based on his performance,
the respondent was selected and posted at Ujjain. Vide letter dated 22nd
July, 2017, the appellant No.3 – Superintendent of Police, Ujjain directed
the respondent to furnish requisite information in terms of the prescribed
form. In the verification form, the respondent disclosed information about
his involvement in the aforesaid criminal case and the order of acquittal
passed by the trial Court.
      3.4 On scrutinizing his verification form, the appellant No. 3 –
Superintendent of Police, Ujjain addressed a communication dated 24 th
August, 20177 to the respondent informing him that he was found to be
unfit for being recruited. For ready reference, the contents of the said letter
are extracted hereinbelow : –


6   Dated 26th October, 2015
7   No./SP/Ujjain/Est./P3756A/17 dated: 24.08.17
442          SUPREME COURT REPORTS                        [2023] 14 S.C.R.


            “OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE,
             DISTRICT UJJAIN, MP
      No./SP/Ujjain/Est./P3756A/17, Dated: 24.08.17
      To,
      Bhupendra Yadav
      Son of Shri Kalyan Singh Yadav
      R/o village Post Parsaul
      District Ashok Nagar, MP
      Sub: About finding to be unfit in the character verification
      Ref.: Letter No. Visha/21/Vaihar/2016-17 (F 515/17) dated 09.08.17
            It is to intimate in reference to the subject above that you were
      selected in the Constable Selection Examination 2016 and the District
      Ujjain has been allotted to you. You have been found to be acquitted
      in Crime No. 64/15 Sections 341, 354-D, 323, 34 IPC and 7/8 POCSO
      Act, Section 354 (D) IPC and Section 11 (D)/12 Protection of Children
      from Sexual Offences, 2012 registered in the police station Isagarh
      District Ashok Nagar because the offence was not proved ‘beyond
      doubt In your character verification.
      You have been found to be unfit for the Government Service because
      Sections 7 /8, Section 354 IPC and 11 (D) 12 Protection of Children
      from Sexual Offences are related to the moral degradation.
                                                                       Sd/-
                                                   Superintendent of Police
                                                             District Ujjain
      Copy to:
      01. Reserved Inspector Police Line Ujjain with two copies that one
      copy be given to the concerned person and the acknowledgement of
      the receiving be sent to the office .
                                                                       Sci/-
                                                   Superintendent of Police
                                                            District Ujjain”
   THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND OTHERS v.                              443
         BHUPENDRA YADAV [HIMA KOHLI, J.]

      3.5 Aggrieved by the aforesaid decision taken by the appellant No. 3
– Superintendent of Police, Ujjain, the respondent preferred a writ petition2
before the High Court praying inter alia that the order dated 24th August,
2017, passed by the appellant No.3 be quashed and directions be issued to
reinstate him in service with all consequential benefits. Vide judgement dated
17th November, 2017, the learned Single Judge dismissed the writ petition 2
filed by the respondent with the following observations:
     “From perusal of the impugned order dated 24.08.2017 (Annexure P/1)
     it appears that in the light of the judgment rendered by the Hon’ble
     Apex Court in the case of Avtar Singh Vs. Union of India and Ors.
     2016 (4) MPLJ 332 case of the petitioner has been considered and
     after considering the same impugned order has been passed treating
     the case of the petitioner is of moral turpitude. Once the departmental
     authorities have arrived to a conclusion then no interference can be
     made by this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India
     because this Court is not sitting as a appellate authority. Even otherwise
     the matter pertains to Section 354(d) of IPC and Section 7, 8, 11(D)
     and 12 of the POCSO Act which amounts to moral turpitude, therefore,
     no case is made out”
      3.6. The aforesaid order was challenged by the respondent in an appeal1
filed under Section 2(1) of the Madhya Pradesh Uchcha Nyayalaya (Khand
Nyayapeeth Ko Appeal) Adhiniyam, 2005 which resulted in passing of the
impugned judgment whereby the Division Bench quashed and set aside the
order dated 24th August, 20178, passed by the Competent Authority and the
order dated 17th November, 2017, passed by the learned Single Judge and
remanded the matter back to the Competent Authority to pass a fresh order
in the facts of the instant case. The two factors that weighed with the High
Court for allowing the appeal1 were that the respondent had fairly disclosed
his involvement in the criminal case wherein he had been acquitted and
except for the said case, there was no other criminal case pending against
him. Aggrieved by the said decision, the present appeal has been filed.
      4. Mr. Bharat Singh, learned counsel for the appellants submitted
that the Division Bench of the High Court has erred in interfering with
the judgment passed by the learned Single Judge and overlooked the
fact that a candidate who seeks recruitment in police service, must be of
444            SUPREME COURT REPORTS                      [2023] 14 S.C.R.


impeccable character, integrity and clean antecedents; that mere acquittal
in the criminal case did not entitle the respondent for appointment in police
service; that it is always open to an employer to consider the antecedents of
a candidate and examine as to whether he would be suitable for appointment
and such a discretion exercised by the Competent Authority ought not
to be interfered with unless the decision is arbitrary or mala fide. Lastly,
learned counsel submitted that even though a compromise was entered
into between the respondent and the complainant in the criminal case 3 and
he was acquitted on being extended benefit of doubt, it still lies within the
domain of the employer to decide as to whether the respondent would be
a suitable candidate for appointment to the post, considering the fact that
the offence for which he was charged involved moral turpitude. In support
of the aforesaid submission, learned counsel has cited Commissioner of
Police, New Delhi and Another v. Mehar Singh 8; Avatar Singh v. Union
of India and Others9; Union Territory, Chandigarh Administration and
Others v. Pradeep Kumar and Others10 and Pawan Kumar v. Union of
India and Another11.
       5. Per contra, Ms. Savitri Pandey, learned counsel for the respondent,
submitted that the learned Single Judge of the High Court has committed
an error in dismissing the writ petition2 filed by the respondent in view of
the fact that while filling up the verification form, he had furnished all the
requisite information and duly disclosed the criminal case3 in which he was
involved and its final outcome. Although, the respondent was acquitted of
all the charges levelled against him, the learned Single Judge had dismissed
the writ petition2 which order was rightly overturned by the Division Bench
of the High Court. Referring to the order dated 26th October, 2015, passed
by the learned Sessions Judge, learned counsel for the respondent described
it as a case of clean acquittal and argued that the appellant No. 3 ought not
to have declared the respondent unfit for being recruited as a Constable.
      6. We have heard the arguments advanced by learned counsel for the
parties, perused the records and the relevant judgements cited before us.


8     (2013) 7 SCC 685
9     (2016 8 SCC 471
10    (2018) 1 SCC 797
11    2022 SCC Online SC 532
    THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND OTHERS v.                             445
          BHUPENDRA YADAV [HIMA KOHLI, J.]

The question that is required to be answered is whether the appellants have
erred in rejecting the candidature of the respondent to the post of Constable,
despite the latter having truthfully disclosed in his affidavit the fact that he
had faced trial in a criminal case3 which had resulted in his acquittal.
      7. It is not in dispute that in the verification form required to be filled
up by the respondent, he had made a disclosure of the case registered
against him in the year 2015 and the fact that he had faced a trial in the
said case that ended in his acquittal vide judgement dated 26th October,
2015. In the above circumstances, it cannot be said that the respondent
had withheld material information from the appellants while participating
in the selection process for the subject post or at the time of filling up
the affidavit/verification form. The point on which there is a diversion of
opinion between the Division Bench and the learned Single Judge is that
while the latter had relied on a decision of this Court in Avatar Singh10
(supra) and observed that the Department could not be faulted for issuing
the letter dated 24th August, 20178 declaring the respondent as unfit for
appointment in government service on the ground that it was a case of
moral turpitude, the Division Bench held to the contrary and relying on
the very same decision along with one rendered by this Court in Pradeep
Kumar11(supra) and a Full Bench decision of the High Court of Madhya
Pradesh in Ashutosh Pawar v. High Court of M.P and Another12 observed
that in a case like the present one where there was no other criminal case
pending against the respondent, except for the one in which he had been
acquitted and the Department had not undertaken a deeper look at the
respondent’s past, it was a fit case for relegating the matter to the appellants
for fresh consideration.
      8. The standard for assessing the suitability of a candidate is measured
by the employer based on various factors including the nature of the post,
nature of duties, effect of suppression over suitability, etc. However, no
hard and fast rule can be laid down in this regard [Refer, Pawan Kumar12
(supra)]. It must be emphasised that a candidate who proposes to participate
in a selection process, must furnish true and correct information in respect
of his character and antecedents in the affidavit/verification form required


12 2018 SCC Online MP 72 (Writ Petition No. 5865 of 2016)
446          SUPREME COURT REPORTS                         [2023] 14 S.C.R.


to be filled up during the selection process or after induction in the service,
as the case may be. A candidate who makes a false declaration or suppresses
material information or furnishes half–baked information which may not
be the whole truth, can be visited with adverse consequences to the point
of his exclusion even though he may have qualified in the entire selection
process, based on the said falsity/suppression.
      9. In view of the cleavage of opinion expressed in several decisions
of this Court, a Division Bench in Jainendra Singh v. State of Uttar
Pradesh13,decided to refer the issue to a larger Bench for an authoritative
pronouncement on the question of suppression of information/submitting
of false information in the verification form by an aspirant of a job when
the incumbent has faced criminal prosecution, been arrested or on account
of pendency of a criminal case. The aforesaid conflicting opinions were
finally settled by a three-Judges Bench of this Court in Avtar Singh10 (supra)
where after examining different views expressed by Benches of this Court
from time to time, broad guidelines were laid down as to the yardstick to be
applied for verification of disclosures made by a candidate to the employer
for deciding as to whether the incumbent would be fit for appointment or
not. In this context, we may usefully extract the following observations
made in Avatar Singh10 (supra) : –
      “29. The verification of antecedents is necessary to find out fitness
      of incumbent, in the process if a declarant is found to be of good
      moral character on due verification of antecedents, merely by
      suppression of involvement in trivial offence which was not
      pending on date of filling attestation form, whether he may be
      deprived of employment? There may be case of involving moral
      turpitude/serious offence in which employee has been acquitted
      but due to technical reasons or giving benefit of doubt. There may
      be situation when person has been convicted of an offence before
      filling verification form or case is pending and information regarding
      it has been suppressed, whether employer should wait till outcome of
      pending criminal case to take a decision or in case when action has
      been initiated there is already conclusion of criminal case resulting


13 (2012) 8 SCC 748
THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND OTHERS v.                              447
      BHUPENDRA YADAV [HIMA KOHLI, J.]

 in conviction/acquittal as the case may be. The situation may arise
 for consideration of various aspects in a case where disclosure has
 been made truthfully of required information, then also authority is
 required to consider and verify fitness for appointment. Similarly in
 case of suppression also, if in the process of verification of information,
 certain information comes to notice then also employer is required to
 take a decision considering various aspects before holding incumbent
 as unfit. If on verification of antecedents a person is found fit at the
 same time authority has to consider effect of suppression of a fact that
 he was tried for trivial offence which does not render him unfit, what
 importance to be attached to such non-disclosure. Can there be single
 yardstick to deal with all kinds of cases?
         ×××                          ×××                        ×××
 36. What yardstick is to be applied has to depend upon the nature
 of post, higher post would involve more rigorous criteria for all
 services, not only to uniformed service. For lower posts which are
 not sensitive, nature of duties, impact of suppression on suitability
 has to be considered by authorities concerned considering post/
 nature of duties/services and power has to be exercised on due
 consideration of various aspects.
         ×××                          ×××                        ×××
 38. We have noticed various decisions and tried to explain and
 reconcile them as far as possible. In view of the aforesaid discussion,
 we summarise our conclusion thus:
 38.1. Information given to the employer by a candidate as to conviction,
 acquittal or arrest, or pendency of a criminal case, whether before
 or after entering into service must be true and there should be no
 suppression or false mention of required information.
 38.2. While passing order of termination of services or cancellation
 of candidature for giving false information, the employer may take
 notice of special circumstances of the case, if any, while giving such
 information.
448           SUPREME COURT REPORTS                          [2023] 14 S.C.R.


      38.3. The employer shall take into consideration the government
      orders/instructions/rules, applicable to the employee, at the time of
      taking the decision.
      38.4. In case there is suppression or false information of involvement
      in a criminal case where conviction or acquittal had already been
      recorded before filling of the application/verification form and such fact
      later comes to knowledge of employer, any of the following recourses
      appropriate to the case may be adopted:
      38.4.1. In a case trivial in nature in which conviction had been recorded,
      such as shouting slogans at young age or for a petty offence which
      if disclosed would not have rendered an incumbent unfit for post in
      question, the employer may, in its discretion, ignore such suppression
      of fact or false information by condoning the lapse.
      38.4.2. Where conviction has been recorded in case which is not trivial
      in nature, employer may cancel candidature or terminate services of
      the employee.
      38.4.3. If acquittal had already been recorded in a case involving
      moral turpitude or offence of heinous/serious nature, on technical
      ground and it is not a case of clean acquittal, or benefit of reasonable
      doubt has been given, the employer may consider all relevant facts
      available as to antecedents, and may take appropriate decision as
      to the continuance of the employee.
      38.5. In a case where the employee has made declaration truthfully
      of a concluded criminal case, the employer still has the right to
      consider antecedents, and cannot be compelled to appoint the
      candidate.
      38.6. In case when fact has been truthfully declared in character
      verification form regarding pendency of a criminal case of trivial
      nature, employer, in facts and circumstances of the case, in its
      discretion, may appoint the candidate subject to decision of such
      case.
      38.7. In a case of deliberate suppression of fact with respect to multiple
      pending cases such false information by itself will assume significance
   THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND OTHERS v.                            449
         BHUPENDRA YADAV [HIMA KOHLI, J.]

     and an employer may pass appropriate order cancelling candidature or
     terminating services as appointment of a person against whom multiple
     criminal cases were pending may not be proper.
     38.8. If criminal case was pending but not known to the candidate
     at the time of filling the form, still it may have adverse impact and
     the appointing authority would take decision after considering the
     seriousness of the crime.
     38.9. In case the employee is confirmed in service, holding departmental
     enquiry would be necessary before passing order of termination/
     removal or dismissal on the ground of suppression or submitting false
     information in verification form.
     38.10. For determining suppression or false information attestation/
     verification form has to be specific, not vague. Only such information
     which was required to be specifically mentioned has to be disclosed.
     If information not asked for but is relevant comes to knowledge of the
     employer the same can be considered in an objective manner while
     addressing the question of fitness. However, in such cases action cannot
     be taken on basis of suppression or submitting false information as to
     a fact which was not even asked for.
     38.11. Before a person is held guilty of suppressio veri or suggestio
     falsi, knowledge of the fact must be attributable to him.”
                                                        (emphasis added)
      10. As can be discerned from the above decision, an employer has the
discretion to terminate or condone an omission in the disclosure made by
a candidate. While doing so, the employer must act with prudence, keep in
mind the nature of the post and the duties required to be discharged. Higher
the post, more stringent ought to be the standards to be applied. Even if a
truthful disclosure has been made, the employer is well within its right to
examine the fitness of a candidate and in a concluded criminal case, keep in
mind the nature of the offence and verify whether the acquittal is honourable
or benefit has been extended on technical reasons. If the employer arrives
at a conclusion that the incumbent is of a suspect character or unfit for the
post, he may not be appointed or continued in service.
450           SUPREME COURT REPORTS                           [2023] 14 S.C.R.


      11. In Daya Shankar Yadav. v. Union of India and Others14, where
this Court was called upon to examine the purpose of seeking information
with respect to the antecedents of a candidate, it was observed that the same
were essential so as to ascertain the suitability for the post and the disclosures
made in the verification form relating to the character and antecedents of
the candidate can result in the following consequences:
      “15. When an employee or a prospective employee declares in a
      verification form, answers to the queries relating to character and
      antecedents, the verification thereof can therefore lead to any of the
      following consequences:
      (a) If the declarant has answered the questions in the affirmative
      and furnished the details of any criminal case (wherein he was
      convicted or acquitted by giving benefit of doubt for want of
      evidence), the employer may refuse to offer him employment (or
      if already employed on probation, discharge him from service), if
      he is found to be unfit having regard to the nature and gravity of
      the offence/crime in which he was involved.
      (b) On the other hand, if the employer finds that the criminal case
      disclosed by the declarant related to offences which were technical, or
      of a nature that would not affect the declarant’s fitness for employment,
      or where the declarant had been honourably acquitted and exonerated,
      the employer may ignore the fact that the declarant had been prosecuted
      in a criminal case and proceed to appoint him or continue him in
      employment.
      (c) Where the declarant has answered the questions in the negative and
      on verification it is found that the answers were false, the employer
      may refuse to employ the declarant (or discharge him, if already
      employed), even if the declarant had been cleared of the charges or is
      acquitted. This is because when there is suppression or non-disclosure
      of material information bearing on his character, that itself becomes a
      reason for not employing the declarant.



14 (2010) 14 SCC 103
     THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND OTHERS v.                         451
           BHUPENDRA YADAV [HIMA KOHLI, J.]

      (d) Where the attestation form or verification form does not contain
      proper or adequate queries requiring the declarant to disclose his
      involvement in any criminal proceedings, or where the candidate
      was unaware of initiation of criminal proceedings when he gave
      the declarations in the verification roll/attestation form, then the
      candidate cannot be found fault with, for not furnishing the relevant
      information. But if the employer by other means (say police
      verification or complaints, etc.) learns about the involvement of
      the declarant, the employer can have recourse to courses (a) or (b)
      above.”
                                                        (emphasis added)
      12. In State of Madhya Pradesh and Others v. Abhijit Singh Pawar 15
where the State Government had invited applications for filling up the
post of Subedars, Platoon Commanders and Inspectors of Police, the
respondent candidate who participated in the selection process, filed an
affidavit disclosing pendency of a criminal case against him which was
subsequently compounded on a compromise arrived at between him and
the complainant under Section 320 of the Code of Criminal Procedure16.
Though the respondent was selected on clearing the written examination
his candidature was rejected. The reasons offered for declining him an
appointment were that the candidate selected is required to maintain law
and order of the State and it was considered improper to appoint a person
having a criminal record. The said decision was overturned by the learned
Single Judge of the High Court and the view taken was affirmed by the
Division Bench. When the State Government approached this Court
in appeal, citing the decisions in Mehar Singh9(supra); R.K. Kapur v.
Union of Indian and Another 17; State of Madhya Pradesh and Others
v. Parvez Khan18; Pradeep Kumar11 (supra); and Avatar Singh10(supra),
the following observations were made :–



15   (2018) 18 SCC 733
16   For short ‘the Cr.P.C’
17   AIR 1964 SC 787
18   (2015) 2 SCC 591
452           SUPREME COURT REPORTS                         [2023] 14 S.C.R.


      13. In Avtar Singh [Avtar Singh v. Union of India, (2016) 8 SCC
      471 : (2016) 2 SCC (L&S) 425] , though this Court was principally
      concerned with the question as to non-disclosure or wrong disclosure
      of information, it was observed in para 38.5 that even in cases where
      a truthful disclosure about a concluded case was made, the employer
      would still have a right to consider antecedents of the candidate and
      could not be compelled to appoint such candidate.
              ×××                         ×××                        ×××
      16. We must observe at this stage that there is nothing on record to
      suggest that the decision taken by the authorities concerned in rejecting
      the candidature of the respondent was in any way actuated by mala
      fides or suffered on any other count. The decision on the question of
      suitability of the respondent, in our considered view, was absolutely
      correct and did not call for any interference. We, therefore, allow this
      appeal, set aside the decisions rendered by the Single Judge [Abhijit
      Singh Pawar v. State of M.P., WP No. 9412 of 2013, order dated 31-7-
      2014 (MP)] as well as by the Division Bench [State of M.P. v. Abhijit
      Singh Pawar, 2015 SCC OnLine MP 7517] and dismiss Writ Petition
      No. 9412 of 2013 preferred by the respondent. No costs.
       13. In Rajasthan Rajya Vidhut Prasaran Nigam Limited and Another
v. Anil Kanwaria19, where the employer had invited applications for the post
of a Technical Helper and on qualifying for the said post, the respondent
therein was appointed as a probationer trainee, in the course of his police
verification which was a pre-condition for confirming him to the post, it
had transpired that he had been convicted by the trial Court for offences
under Sections 323 and 341 of the IPC but was extended benefit under the
Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 and released on good conduct. This Court
observed that at the time of submitting an application for appointment,
the respondent had already suffered a conviction by the competent Court
which fact was withheld by him and he had filed a false declaration. These
facts emerged only after receiving the police verification report. After
distilling the law on appointments obtained by fraud or misrepresentation/
by suppression of material facts, this Court proceeded to quash and set aside


19 (2021) 10 SCC 136
   THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND OTHERS v.                             453
         BHUPENDRA YADAV [HIMA KOHLI, J.]

the order passed by the learned Single Judge and upheld the order passed
by the Division Bench of the High Court, directing reinstatement of the
respondent – employee and held that said decision was unsustainable in
view of the fact that the employee had not disclosed/suppressed material
facts and had filed a false declaration.
      14. In the captioned case, this Court expressed a view that even where
there was a subsequent acquittal, the employee having furnished false
information/indulged in suppression of material fact of a pending criminal
case, cannot claim appointment as a matter of right. Following are the
observations made regarding the credibility of such an employee from the
perspective of the employer:
     “14. The issue/question may be considered from another angle, from
     the employer’s point of view. The question is not about whether an
     employee was involved in a dispute of trivial nature and whether he
     has been subsequently acquitted or not. The question is about the
     credibility and/or trustworthiness of such an employee who at the
     initial stage of the employment i.e. while submitting the declaration/
     verification and/or applying for a post made false declaration and/or
     not disclosing and/or suppressing material fact of having involved
     in a criminal case. If the correct facts would have been disclosed,
     the employer might not have appointed him. Then the question is of
     trust. Therefore, in such a situation, where the employer feels that an
     employee who at the initial stage itself has made a false statement
     and/or not disclosed the material facts and/or suppressed the material
     facts and therefore he cannot be continued in service because such an
     employee cannot be relied upon even in future, the employer cannot
     be forced to continue such an employee. The choice/option whether
     to continue or not to continue such an employee always must be
     given to the employer. At the cost of repetition, it is observed and
     as observed hereinabove in catena of decision such an employee
     cannot claim the appointment and/or continue to be in service as a
     matter of right.”
     15. On applying the law expounded by this Court in a series of
decisions to the facts of the instant case, we find that the Division Bench of
the High Court has dismissed the appeal1 preferred by the appellant – State
454          SUPREME COURT REPORTS                        [2023] 14 S.C.R.


Government and set aside the order passed by the learned Single Judge who
had upheld the order passed by the Competent Authority8, terminating the
services of the respondent on the ground that he was candid enough to make
a disclosure in his verification form stating that he had been chargesheeted
in a criminal case3 wherein he was later on acquitted and there was no other
criminal case pending against him at the relevant time.
      16. We are, however, unable to concur with the aforesaid view. Even
though the respondent had truthfully declared that he was involved in a
criminal case which was decided by the trial Court vide judgement 26th
October, 2015, on perusing the facts of the said case as noted hereinabove
and the observations made in the judgement, quite clearly, this was not a
case of clean acquittal. It is evident from the facts narrated that after the
chargesheet was filed, the respondent had arrived at a compromise with
the complainant and filed an application under Section 320 of the CrPC,
based on which the offence under Section 341 IPC was compounded. As for
the remaining offences for which the respondent was charged i.e. Section
354(D) of the IPC and Section 11 (D)/12 of the POCSO Act, they were non
compoundable and therefore, the matter was taken to trial. The respondent
was acquitted by the trial Court primarily on account of the fact that the
complainant did not support the case set up by the prosecution and the
other prosecution witnesses had turned hostile. In such circumstances, the
respondent’s plea that he had been given a clean acquittal in the criminal
case, is found to be devoid of merits.
       17. This is a classic example of the situation contemplated in para
38.4.3 of Avatar Singh10 (supra)where the charges framed against the
respondent herein involved moral turpitude and though he was acquitted
on the prosecution witnesses having turned hostile, but given the facts
and circumstances of the case which led to his acquittal, we are of the
view that the appellant – State Government was well within its right to
exercise its discretion against the respondent and terminate his services
on the ground that he was unfit for appointment in the police department.
Here was a case where the complainant had reneged from the statement
made to the police in view of a settlement arrived at with the respondent.
It is noteworthy that the incident, subject matter of the criminal case3 had
occurred on 14th February, 2015, and judgement was pronounced by the
   THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND OTHERS v.                            455
         BHUPENDRA YADAV [HIMA KOHLI, J.]

trial Court on 26th October, 2015. In the very next year, when the appellant
– State Government invited applications for appointment to the post of
Constable, the respondent had submitted his application. Even though
this is a case of candid disclosure of the criminal case3 on the part of the
respondent, which had culminated in an acquittal, but having regard to the
fact that the prosecution could not succeed in proving the case against the
respondent for the reasons noted hereinabove and further, being mindful
of the fact that the case involved moral turpitude and the respondent was
charged with non-compoundable offences of a serious nature, we are of
the firm view that the judgment of the trial Court cannot be treated as a
clean acquittal.
      18. The aforesaid aspects were rightly factored in by the appellant
– State Government while issuing the communication dated 24th August,
20178 and declaring that the respondent was unfit for appointment to the
said post. The yardstick to be applied in cases where the appointment
sought relates to a Law Enforcement Agency, ought to be much more
stringent than those applied to a routine vacancy. One must be mindful of
the fact that once appointed to such a post, a responsibility would be cast
on the respondent of maintaining law and order in the society, enforcing the
law, dealing with arms and ammunitions, apprehending suspected criminals
and protecting the life and property of the public at large. Therefore, the
standard of rectitude to be applied to any person seeking appointment in
a Law Enforcement Agency must always be higher and more rigourous
for the simple reason that possession of a higher moral conduct is one of
the basic requirements for appointment to a post as sensitive as that in
the police service.
      19. We are, therefore, of the opinion that mere acquittal of the
respondent in the criminal case3 would not automatically entitle him to
being declared fit for appointment to the subject post. The appellant–State
Government has judiciously exercised its discretion after taking note of
all the relevant factors relating to the antecedents of the respondent. In
such a case, even one criminal case faced by the respondent in which
he was ultimately acquitted, apparently on the basis of being extended
benefit of doubt, can make him unsuitable for appointment to the post of
a Constable. The said decision taken by the appellant–State Government
456            SUPREME COURT REPORTS                    [2023] 14 S.C.R.


is not tainted by any malafides or arbitrariness for the High Court to have
interfered therewith. As a result, the judgement dated 17th November,
2017, passed by the learned Single Judge is upheld while quashing and
setting aside the impugned judgment dated 24th January, 2018, passed by
the Division Bench of the High Court. The appeal is allowed. Parties are
left to bear their own costs.


Headnotes prepared by:                                       Appeal allowed.
Ankit Gyan