Ram Vs State of Haryana and others (Punjab and Haryana High Court)
The appellant challenged the judgment of the learned Single Judge dismissing his writ petition, which had sought quashing of the departmental inquiry report, disciplinary punishment, adverse Annual Confidential Report (ACR) remarks, rejection of his representations, and the order retiring him at the age of 55 years, along with consequential service benefits including retention in service up to the age of superannuation and promotional benefits.
The appellant had joined the Haryana Police as a Constable on 25.11.1987, was promoted as Head Constable in 2004 and thereafter as Exemptee Assistant Sub Inspector in 2009. He asserted that he had received 24 Commendation Certificates. A departmental inquiry was initiated against him in relation to allegations of registering a false criminal case and failure to return Rs.1,130/- recovered during the personal search of an accused. The Inquiry Officer, however, found proved only the allegation of delay of more than three months in sending a country-made pistol recovered during investigation to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). Based on the inquiry, the disciplinary authority initially imposed the punishment of stoppage of two future annual increments with permanent effect, which was subsequently modified in appeal to stoppage of one future annual increment with permanent effect. The appellant’s revision was rejected.
