Himachal Pradesh High Court: A Division Bench of L. Narayana Swamy, CJ and Jyotsna Rewal Dua, J., dismissed an application which was filed by the petitioners challenging an order dated 10-05-2016 given by the H.P. Administrative Tribunal, Shimla (Tribunal) whereby the T.A. was allowed and the termination against the respondent was quashed and set aside.
The respondent had been working as daily waged Chowkidar with the petitioners- Corporation and was posted at Sehral Depot of Forest Working Unit Kunihar under Forest Working Division, where theft of 229 of resin filled tins took place on the intervening night of 17th and 18th February, 1997 after which an enquiry was initiated against the respondent. The petitioners-Corporation had issued a show-cause notice to the respondent alleging that he had been willfully absent from duty on the intervening night of 17th and 18th February, 1997 following which the services of the respondent were dispensed. Being aggrieved by the order of termination the respondent had approached the Tribunal who had decided in favor of the respondent and thus the instant writ petition was filed by the petitioner.
The Court while dismissing the petition held that a person, who was working as a daily wager or on contract basis and if his services have been discontinued or terminated on the basis of any allegation of misconduct etc., the provisions of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 are not applicable to his case, however, even then the principles of natural justice are required to be followed and if an order was passed against a person without affording him an opportunity of hearing, it is in violation of natural justice. In addition, the petition needs to be dismissed on the ground of delay and laches because the writ was filed after three years of the order. [H.P. State Forest Development Corporation Ltd. v. Ishwar Dutt, 2019 SCC OnLine HP 2199, decided on 18-12-2019]