Sabita Rani Panda Vs. State of Orissa and ors. - Court Judgment

HIGH COURT OF ORISSA: CUTTACK W.P.(c) Nos. 32710, & 31955 of 2011, 2441, 7344, 10216 of 2012, 33075, 32179, 32340, 32848, 33041, 33545, 33546, 33547, 33548, 33549, 33550, 33558, 33639, 33641 of 2011, 1130, 2442, 2443, 2444, 2445, 2446, 2447, 2448, 2449, 2450, 2451, 2452, 2453, 2454 and 2455 of 2012. -----------In the matter of applications under Articles 226 & 227 of the Constitution of India. Parbati Pradhan -(In WP ( c) No.32710/2011) Kabita Behera -(In WP ( c) No.31955/2011) Manjulata Nath -(In WP ( c) No.2441/2012) Kanakalata Panda -(In WP ( c) No.7344/2012) Parbati Pradhan -(In WP ( c) No.10216/2012) Gitanjali Sahoo -(In WP ( c) No.33075/2011) Sangita Parida & Ors. -(In WP ( c) No.32179/2011) Suchitra Senapati -(In WP ( c) No.32340/2011) Kanaklata Barik -(In WP ( c) No.32848/2011) Premalata Nayak -(In WP ( c) No.33041/2011) Runulata Sahoo -(In WP (C) No.33545/2011) Sarathi Sahoo -(In WP (C) No.33546/2011) Hemalata Bhanja -(In WP (C) No.33547/2011) Sabita Rani Panda -(In WP (C) No.33548/2011) Damayanti Palai -(In WP (C) No.33549/2011) Sadhabani Dalai -(In WP (C) No.33550/2011) Mamata Rani Behera -(In WP (C) No.33558/2011) Gouri Pradhan -(In WP (C) No.33639/2011) Mina Barik -(In WP (C) No.33641/2011) Anusuya Sahoo -(In WP (C) No.1130/2012) Anusuya Sahoo -(In WP (C) No.2442/2012) Pramila Muduli -(In WP (C) No.2443/2012) Jayanti Rana & others -(In WP (C) No.2444/2012) Puspanjali Lenka & others -(In WP (C) No.2445/2012) Khira Nayak -(In WP (C) No.2446/2012) Arnapurna Barik & others -(In WP (C) No.2447/2012) Srimati Kabi & others -(In WP (C) No.2448/2012) Sakuntala Sahu & others -(In WP (C) No.2449/2012) Damayani Palai -(In WP (C) No.2450/2012) Kadambani Kundu & another -(In WP (C) No.2451/2012) Sandhyarani Kuanr & others -(In WP (C) No.2452/2012) Ritarani Mahalik & another -(In WP (C) No.2453/2012) Janaki Puntia & another -(In WP (C) No.2454/2012) Minatilata Swain -(In WP (C) No.2455/2012) 2 …… Petitioners. -VersusState of Orissa & others For Petitioners …… Opp. Parties : Mr. J.K. Mishra-2 (In W.P.(C) Nos.32710/2011, 20216/2012, 33545, 33546, 33547, 33548, 33549, 33550, 33558, 33639 and 33641 of 2011) For Petitioners : M/s. S.S. Das, R. Sahoo, K.C. Mohapatra, J.K. Swain. (In W.P.(C) Nos.31955/2011, 2441, 2442, 2443, 2444, 2445, 2446, 2447, 2448, 2449, 2450, 2451, 2452, 2453, 2454 & 2455 of 2012) For Petitioners : M/s.MD. G. Madani & P.S. Nayak (In W.P.(C) Nos.7344 of 2012 & 32179 of 2011) For Petitioners : M/s. A.P. Bose, R.K. Mahanta, M.R. Nayak, N. Hota & M. Pradhan (In W.P.(C) No.33075 of 2011) For Petitioners : Mr. Debasis Samal (In W.P.(C) No.32340/2011) For Petitioners : M/s.A.K. Acharya & S. Mishra (In W.P.(C) No.32848 of 2011) For Petitioners : M/s.B.C. Ghadei & S.K. Sahoo (In W.P.(C) No.33041 of 2011) For Petitioners : M/s.R.K. Kar and S.K. Perai (In W.P.(C) No.1130 of 2012) For Opp. Parties : Addl. Government Advocate (In all the cases) ---------- P R E S E N T: THE HONOURABLE SHRI JUSTICE B.N.MAHAPATRA Date of Judgment:

23. 11”

3. B.N.MAHAPATRA,J.In all these writ petitions a common prayer is made for quashing the order No.2092 dated 7.12.2011 passed under Annexure-3 by the Collector, Bhadrak wherein he has instructed the C.D.P.O., Dhamnagar to issue disengagement order to 61 Anganwadi Helpers already engaged and further to go for fresh selection strictly by adhering to the guidelines issued by the Women and Child Development Department, Odisha giving liberty to said 61 Anganwadi helpers to participate.

2. Since the issues involved in all the above writ petitions are identical in nature, they are disposed of by this common judgment at the admission stage.

3. Petitioners’ case in a nutshell is that a decision was taken at the Government level sanctioning one Helper post to each Anganwadi centre. In the year 2010 the C.D.P.O., Dhamnagar published an advertisement for the post of Anganwadi Helper as per guideline/instruction of the Government. Accordingly, the candidates had applied for the post of Anganwadi Helper at different Anganwadi Centres. After following due process of selection, the petitioners were issued with the order of appointment pursuant to which they joined in different centres as Anganwadi Helpers. The petitioners were paid their salary regularly. While the matter stood thus, the Collector, Bhadrak vide his order dated 07.12.2011 (Annexure-3) instructed the C.D.P.O.,Dhamnagar to disengage the petitioners and to go for fresh selection. Hence the present writ petitions”

4. The grounds of challenge advanced by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners in different writ petitions are almost similar. They are as follows: The impugned order of disengagement dated 7.12.2011 is per se illegal, arbitrary, mala fide and without jurisdiction and liable to be quashed. From the date of joining of Anganwadi Helpers till the impugned order of disengagement is passed, there is no complaint against the petitioners. As per sub-clause (iv) of clause (I) of the guideline dated 24.11.1997, the C.D.P.O. is the appointing as well as the terminating authority. Therefore, the Collector has no power to direct the C.D.P.O. to pass order for disengagement of the petitioners. The Collector passed the order of disengagement on the basis of a joint inquiry report submitted by Additional Sub-Collector and D.S.W.O., Bhadrak without confronting the same to the petitioners. According to the petitioners, law is well settled that no material can be utilized to the detriment of any person unless he/she is confronted with the adverse material. All the petitioners have completed more than one year continuous service and there has been no adverse remark against the performance of the petitioners. Therefore, without giving an opportunity of hearing, the petitioners should not be disengaged unilaterally by Opp. Party-authorities. It is not at all a fact that selection of the petitioners has been made in absence of A.N.M. without due process of selection. The allegation in the joint inquiry report that the selection of Anganwadi Helpers was made in absence of A.N.M. is not correct. Learned 5 counsel appearing in W.P.(C) No.31955 of 2011 specifically submitted that the appointment order bearing no.678 dated 23.10.2010 indicates that in the selection process the A.N.M., namely, Smt. Sunita Rani Sahoo was present along with one Nirupama Sethi, the Supervisor and C.D.P.O. In the said selection seven Anganwadi Helpers were duly selected by a common selection test held on 21.10.2010. However, out of seven selectees only one, namely, Kabita Behera was disengaged on the ground that irregularity has been committed.

5. Mr. Biswal, learned counsel appearing on behalf of Opp. Parties referring to the counter affidavit filed by opp. Party nos. 3 and 4 submitted that the Collector, Bhadrak has passed the order of disengagement on the ground that selection of Anganwadi Helpers has not been made in accordance with the guideline. Since the petitioners were not disengaged because of any laches on the part of the petitioners no opportunity of hearing was afforded to them. Mr. Biswal further submitted that as per the guideline, the selection of Anganwadi Helper should have been made by a properly constituted Selection Committee and the A.N.M. of the project is one of the members of the Selection Committee. As the petitioners were engaged by a committee in absence of A.N.M., they were disengaged. Challenging the entire process of selection of Anganwadi Helpers some of the unsuccessful candidates who were in the fray filed a writ petition bearing W.P.(c) No.881 of 2011 in this Court which was disposed of on 9.3.2011 with a direction to opposite party no.1 to take a decision on 6 inquiry report of the Addl. Sub-Collector, Bhadrak and the D.S.W.O., Bhadrak. After engagement of Anganwadi Helpers complaints were lodged before the Collector, Bhadrak regarding the irregularities committed by the selection committee in making selection. Upon receipt of such complaints, the Collector directed the Addl. Sub-Collector, Bhadrak to cause an inquiry into the allegations and furnish a report. The Addl. Sub-Collector and D.S.W.O., Bhadrak conducted a joint inquiry and submitted a report to the Collector. It is submitted that the Collector after considering the joint inquiry report with reference to the available record relating to the selection process of 109 Anganwadi Helpers found that the selection made in respect of 61 Anganwadi centres is irregular and inconsistence with the government guideline and declared the same as void and instructed the CDPO to issue disengagement order and to go for fresh selection strictly adhering to the guidelines issued by the government. Pursuant to the said order of the Collector, the CDPO issued the disengagement order.

6. On the rival contentions of the parties, the following questions fall for consideration by this Court: (i) Whether the petitioners, who were engaged as Anganwadi Helpers in different Anganwadi Centres after following process of selection can be disengaged without giving opportunity of hearing to them?. (ii) Whether the petitioners, who were engaged as Anganwadi Helpers can be disengaged on the basis of the joint inquiry report submitted by the Sub-Collector 7 & D.S.W.O., Bhadrak without confronting the said adverse material to the petitioners?. (iii) 7. What order?. Since question Nos. (i) and (ii) are interlinked, they are dealt with together. The undisputed facts are that pursuant to the advertisement for filling up the post of Anganwadi Helpers in different Anganwadi Centres the petitioners along with others applied for the same. The selection committee after due consideration of all the applications issued the order of engagement in favour of the petitioners to join as Anganwadi Helpers and pursuant to such order of engagement, the petitioners joined in different Anganwadi Centres as Anganwadi Helpers. There is no allegation against the petitioners with regard to their functioning as Anganwadi Helpers.

8. Further, complaints were lodged before the Collector, Bhadarak alleging irregularity committed by the selection committee in making the selection. Upon receipt of the said complaint the Collector directed the Addl. Sub-Collector, Bhadrak to cause a joint inquiry into the allegation and furnish report. Pursuant to such direction of the Collector, the Addl. SubCollector and D.S.W.O., Bhadrak conducted a joint inquiry and submitted a report to the Collector. Some of the unsuccessful candidates challenging the process of selection also approached this Court vide W.P.(c) No.881 of 2011 and this Court vide order dated 9.3.2011 dispose of the writ petition with a direction to opp. Party no.1 to take a decision on the inquiry report of 8 Addl. Sub-Collector and D.S.W.O., Bhadrak. Collector dated 7.12.2011 reveals that The impugned order of the the Collector after careful consideration of the joint inquiry report with reference to the record available relating to selection process of 109 Anganwadi Helpers under Dhamnagar ICDS Project found that the selection made in respect of 61 Anganwadi Centres is irregular and inconsistent with the guideline of the Government. Accordingly, the Collector, Bhadrak passed the impugned order.

9. On the above backdrop, the question arises whether the Collector can utilize the joint inquiry report of Addl. Sub-Collector and D.S.W.O., Bhadrak against 61 Anganwadi Helpers and disengage them without confronting the said joint inquiry report to the affected 61 Anganwadi Helpers.

10. Needless to say that the impugned order of the Collector directing disengagement of the Anganwadi Helpers has civil consequence as right accrues in favour of the petitioners to work as Anganwadi Helpers pursuant to the order of the engagement issued in their favour after following due process of selection. Therefore, before disengagement, they are entitled to get an opportunity of hearing.

11. In Maneka Gandhi vs. Union of India, (1978) 1 SCC 248.the Hon’ble Supreme Court held that the decision rendered in violation of audi alteram partem is null and void. In S.L. Kapoor vs. Jagmohan, (1980) 4 SCC 379.it was extended to orders passed by quasi judicial authorities. In Mercury Energy Ltd. vs. Electricity Corporation, Newzealand, (1994”

9. WLR 521.the court declared an order of the Minister to be a nullity, if it was passed without hearing. [Also See Bhagawan vs. Ramchand, AIR 196.SC 1767.State of Orissa vs. Binapani Dei, AIR 196.SC 1269.SDO vs. Gopal Chandra, AIR 197.SC 1190.State of Kerala & Ors. Vs. K.G.Madhavan Pillai & Ors. (1988) 4 SCC 669]..

12. In Sahara India (Firm) Lucknot Vs. Commissioner of Income Tax, Central-I and another, (2008) 14 SCC 15.at page 157 and Rajesh Kumar vs. Dy. C.I.T., (2007) 2 SCC 181.the Hon’ble Supreme Court held that giving an opportunity of hearing is a must, where the Assessing Officer asks for special audit having regard to the nature and complexity of the accounts of the assessee and the interest of the revenue. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in catena of cases held that administrative order, if it operates to the prejudice of assessee and entails civil consequences, opportunity of hearing should be given to the assessee. The Court further held that natural justice implies a duty to act fairly, i.e., fairplay in action.

13. The expression ‘civil consequence’ encompasses infraction of not merely property of personal rights but of civil liberties, material deprivations and non-pecuniary damages. Under its wide umbrella comes everything that affects a citizen in his civil life. Unless a statutory provision either specifically or by necessary implication excludes the application of principles of natural justice, because in that event the Court would not ignore the legislative mandate, the requirement of giving reasonable 10 opportunity of being heard before an order is made, is generally read into the provisions of a statute, particularly when the order has adverse civil consequences for the party affected. The two fundamental maxims of natural justice are (i) audi alteram partem and (ii) nemo judex in causa sua. Thus, the observance of principles of natural justice is the pragmatic requirement of fair play in action.

14. In Delhi Transport Corporation v. D.T.C. Mazdoor Congress, [1991]. Supp 1 SCC 600.the Hon’ble Supreme Court held as follows:“… It is not well-settled that the ‘audi alteram partem’ rule which in essence, enforces the equality clause in article 14 of the Constitution is applicable not only to quasi-judicial orders but to administrative orders affecting prejudicially the party-in-question unless the application of the rule has been expressly excluded by the Act or Regulation or Rule which is not the case here. Rules of natural justice do not supplant but supplement the Rules and Regulations. Moreover, the rule of law which permeates our Constitution demands that it has to be observed both substantially and procedurally….”

15. In Basudeo Tiwary v. Sido Kanhu University, [1998]. 8 SCC 194.the Hon’ble Supreme Court held that in order to impose procedural safeguards, the Court has read the requirement of natural justice in many situations when the statute is silent on this point. The approach of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in this regard is that omission to impose the hearing requirement in the statute under which the impugned action is being taken does not exclude hearing – it may be implied from the nature of 11 the – particularly when the right of a party is affected adversely. The justification for reading such a requirement is that the Court merely supplies omission of the Legislature.

16. Law is well settled that no material can be utilized to the detriment of any person unless it is confronted to him/her and the persons to be affected is given an opportunity to rebut the allegation raised against him.

17. In Kishinchand Chellaram V. Commissioner of Income-tax, Bombay City-II, (125) 1980 ITR 71.(SC), the Hon’ble Supreme Court held that it was true that proceedings under the income-tax law were not governed by the strict rules of evidence, and, therefore, it might be said that even without calling the Manager of the bank in evidence to prove the letter dated February 18, 1955, it could be taken into account as evidence. But before the income-tax authorities could rely upon it, they were bound to produce it before the assessee so that the assessee could controvert the statements contained in it by asking for an opportunity to cross-examine the Manager of the bank with reference to the statements made by him.

18. In Kanak Cement Pvt. Ltd. V. Sales Tax Officer, Assessment Unit, Rajgangpur, (1997) 105 STC 11.(Ori), it has been held that it is a fundamental requirement of the principles of natural justice that if any person is likely to be affected by the use of any material collected by the Revenue those are to be brought to his notice, and disclosed to him. The requirement of natural justice is to disclose by way of confrontation the materials collected and 12 proposed to be used against a dealer. The strict principles or rules of evidence under the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 do not apply to proceedings under the Orissa Sales Tax Act, 1947. Authorities under the Act can collect materials behind the back of an assessee. But they are not required to disclose the source. However, any materials sought to be utilized against the assessee are to be brought to his notice.

19. In the instant case, admittedly the Collector has not confronted the joint inquiry report submitted by Addl. Sub-Collector and DSWO to the petitioners before directing disengagement of the petitioners from their posts on the basis of the said joint inquiry report. It may be noted that in W.P.(c ) No.31955 of 2011 it is stated that though in the selection process of the petitioners, the ANM, namely Smt. Sunita Rani Sahoo was present along with one Nirupama Sethi, the Supervisor and the CDPO, she was terminated on the ground that ANM was not present. In the said writ petition, it is further stated that in a common selection test held on 21.10.2010 though 7 Anganwadi Helpers were selected, the petitioner, namely, Kabita Behera was disengaged on the ground that in the selection process ANM was not present.

20. In view of the above, this Court is of the opinion that the order of disengagement dated 07.12.2011 passed by the Collector, Bhadrak on the basis of the joint inquiry report submitted by Addl. Sub-Collector and D.S.W.O., Bhadrak without confronting the same to the petitioners vis-à-vis without affording an opportunity of hearing to the petitioners is No.13 sustainable in law. Consequentially, the further direction of the Collector, Bhadrak vide impugned order dated 07.12.2011 to the CDPO, Dhamnagar to go for fresh selection is also illegal.

21. In the fact situation, this Court directs the Opp. Party- authority, who is competent as per the guideline to disengage the Anganwadi Helpers, to confront the adverse material to each of the Anganwadi Helpers individually and give them opportunity of hearing and thereafter pass appropriate order in accordance with law within a period of two months from the date of this judgment.

22. In the result, the writ petitions are allowed to the extent indicated above. No costs. ……………………........ B.N.Mahapatra, J.Orissa High Court, Cuttack Dated 23rd November, 2012/ssd