DISTRICT BASIC EDUCATION OFFICER v. DHANANJAI KUMAR SHUKLA AND ANR

Citation: [2007] 13 S.C.R. 972

Court: Supreme Court of India

Bench: S.B. SINHA, G.S. SINGHVI

Case summary

DISTRICT BASIC EDUCATION OFFICER v. DHANANJAI KUMAR SHUKLA AND ANR.pdf

Judgment text

DISTRICT BASIC EDUCATION OFFICER v. DHANANJAI KUMAR SHUKLA AND ANR. DECEMBER 7, 2007 [S. B. SINHA AND G. S. SINGHVI, JJ. ] SERVi'CE LAW: UITAR. PRADESHRECOGNISED BASIC SCHOOLS (JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS) (RECRUITMENT AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF TEACHERS) RULES, 1978: r. 6-Appointment ofHeadmaster-Disqualification-Being son ofManager ofthe School-HELD: Manager being on leave for a temporaryperioddid not cease to be Manager ofthe School- He went on leave only to defeat the statutory provision-Such an act amounts fraud on the administration-Whether in law or in equity it would be wholly improper to continue the appointment-Equity. CODEOFCIVILPROCEDURE, 1908: Or. 8 r. 5-Non-filing of written statement-Effect of-HELD: Rules ofpleading contained in the Code do not cover question oflaw -Under Or. 8r.

5, despite non-filing ofthe written statement, a court oflaw may call upon the plaintiffto prove his case-No reliefcontrary to law can be granted by High Court in exercise ofits jurisdiction underArticle 226 ofthe Constitution-Uttar Pradesh RecognisedBasic Schools (Junior High Schools) (Recruitment andConditions a/Service a/Teachers) Rules, 1978-r. 6-Constitution ofIndia-Article 226- Evidence Ac1, 1872-s. 56. In response to an advertisement issued by arecognized School for the post of its Headmaster, respondent no. 1 submitted an application. Recruitment to the post ofHeadmaster was governed by the Uttar Pradesh Recognised Basic Schools (Junior High DISTRICTBASICEDUCATIONOFFICERSv. DHANANJAI 973 KUMAR SHUKLA Schools)(Recruitment and Conditions ofService ofTeachers) Rules, 1978, Rule 6 whereof provided, inter alia, that no person related to any member of the Management of a recognized school would be appointed as Headmaster or Assistant Teacher thereof. Father of respondent no.

1, who was the Manager of the School, after seeking leave of the President of the Managing Committee on medical ground, handed over charge to the Deputy Manager stating that he ' would resume the charge and responsibility ofthe post ofManager approximately after two months. Meanwhile respondent no. 1was appointed on ad hoc basis. He filed a writ petition in the High Court seeking reliefofcontinuation ofhis services and claiming his salary. Since the appellant-authorities did not file any cQuntcr affidavit in the writ petition, itwas ultimately allowed and the special appeal filed by the authorities was dismissed by the Division Bench ofthe High Court holding that as the appellant did not file any counter affidavit in the writ petition, the principles ofOrder8, Ruic 5CPC would apply and, thus, all the statements made in the writ petition would be deemed to have been admitted. Aggrieved, the Education Department filed the instant appeal. Allowing the appeal, the Court HELD: 1. 1.

Principles underlying Order 8 rule 5 of the Code ofCivil Procedure, 1908 (assuming that the provisions of the CPC arc applicable in terms of the High Court rules framed by the High Court of Allahabad despite section 141 of the CPC) make it clear that not only despite non-filing of the written statement a Court of law may call upon the plaintiffto prove his case but also there cannot be any doubt whatsoever, that no relief contrary to law can be granted by the High Court in exercise ofits jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution oflndia. [Para 12] [977-C-D] 1. 2. Respondent's father was on leave for a temporary period. He thereby did not cease to be the Manager of the school. It is apparent that he went on leave only to defeat the statutory provisions. Such an act amounts to fraud on the administration. The appointment of respondent no.

1 being contrary to the mandatory provisions as contained in rule 6 of the Rules was a nullity and, therefore, could not have been directed to be legalized only because the appellants did not file their counter affidavit. The authorities did not admit respondent's claim. [Para 13and14] [977-E-F-H; 978-A] 1. 3. The question involved in the writ petition was a legal question. Rules ofpleading contained in the Code ofCivil Procedure do not cover question of law. In the instant case, the basic foundational fact stands admitted. If a fact stands admitted, the same in terms ofsection 56 ofthe Evidence Act need not be proved. Only because such a question was not allegedly raised before the High Court, this Court could not shut its eyes to the legal position. Having regard to the facts and circumstances ofthe case, whether in law or in equity, it would bewholly improper to permit respondent no. 1 to continue to act as a Headmaster.

[Para 13and15) (977-F-G; 978-A-B] CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION :Civil Appeal No. 5773 of 2007. From the final Judgment and Order dated 5. 12. 2005 of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad in S. A. No. 1426/2005. Shrish Kr. Misra, Garvesh Kabra and Niranjana Singh for the Appellants Dr. J. :'11. Dubey, Anurag Dubey, Meenesh Dubey and Mohan Pandey for the Respondents. The Judgment ofthe Court was delivered by S. B. SINHA, J. l. Leave granted. 2. Respondent No. 1 was appointed as aHeadmaster in a recognised school. Recruitment to the post ofHeadmaster concededly is governed by the sta1Utory rules framed under Uttar Pradesh Recognised Basic Schools (Junior High Schools) (Recruitment and Conditions of Services of Teachers) Rules, 1978. Rule 6 ofthe said Rules reads: "6. Disqualification. - (1) No person who is related to any member ofthe Management shall be appointed as Headmaster or Assistant Te2'. cher of a recognised school.

(2) For the purposes ofthis rule, a person shall be deemed to be related if he is related to such member in any one of the following ways, namely- (i) Father or mother; (ii) Grandfather, Grandmother; (Iii) Father-in-law, mother-in-law; (iv) Uncle, aunt, maternal uncle, maternal aunt; (v) Son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law; (vi) Brother, sister; (vii) Grandson, grand-daughter; (viii) Husband, wife; (ix) Nephew, niece; (x) Cousin; (xi) Wife's brother, or wife's sister, wife's brother's wife, sister's husband; (xii) Brother's or cousin's wife. " 3. The post of Headmaster inter alia fell vacant in Janta Adarsh Madhyamic Vidyalaya, Newada Khurd, Kalan, Etawa. An advertisement therefor was issued by the manager of the said school. In purported response to the said advertisement the respondent No. I filed an application before the manager of the school praying for his appointment. The manager by a letter dated 18. 8.

1998 asked for approval thereof from the District Education Officer, Itawah. 4. It appears the father ofrespondent No. 1, who was the manager ofthe said school on the relevant date, sought for leave from the President ofthe Managing Committee ofthe said school stating: "Respectfully it is submitted that there appears to be unavoidable pain in the knee ofthe applicant due to which he is facing a lot of difficulty in moving. Unle>s applicant completely becomes healthy from the physical point ofvie till then Shri Om Narain Tiwari Deputy manager will take the charge and responsibility ofthe post of Manger. After getting alright, applicant will again assume the charge ofthe post ofthe Manager and will do the work approximately two months .. time can be taken for the applicant becoming healthy. " 5. He handed over charge to one Om Narain Tripathi on 21st August, 1998. Respondent No.

l thereafter was recommended for appointment by the Selection Committee and was appointed in tenns thereof on a. dhoc basis. 6. Inter alia on the premise that despite such appointment Responden1 No. I was not paid his salary, he filed a writ petition before the Allahabad High Court which was marked as Writ Petition N0. 24957I 1999. By an order dated 16. 6. 1999 the High Court directed the appellant to continue the respondent No. 1 on the said post as also pay his due salary. 7. A special appeal was filed thereagainst and the said interim order was vacated. 8. For the reasons best known to the authorities ofthe appellant, however, no counter affidavit was filed in the writ petition. The said writ petition was, therefore, allowed. Thereafter, an application for recalling ofthe said order was filed which was also dismissed.

A special appeal thereagainst has been dismissed by a Division Bench ofthe High Court opining that as the appellant did not file any counter affidavit, the principles of Order 8 Rule 5 ofthe CPC would apply and thus all the statements made in th<: writ petition would be deemed to have been admitted. 9. Mr. Shrish Misra, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellants would submit that in view ofthe fact that the respondent was appointed contrary to the provisions ofthe Rules, the same being a nullity, the impugn~djudgments are wholly unsustainable. 10. Dr. J. N. Dubey, learned senior counsel appearing on behalfof the respondents, on the other hand, submitted that not only the questions raised in the special leave petition were not raised before the High Court, but also in view ofthe fact that appropriate authority has granted approval to the appointment ofrespondent No. I, the impugned judgment should not be interfered with. 11.

Relationship between Anand Kand Shukla and the respondent is not in dispute being father and son. It also stands unrebutted that Anand Kand Shukla went on leave at the relevant point ohime on the ground that he was having pain in the knee. 12. We would proceed on the basis that the High Court might have beenjustified in proceeding ex-parte but then it should have kept in mind the principles underlying Order 8 rule 5 ofthe CPC, (assuming that the provisions ofthe CPC are applicable in terms ofthe High Court rules framed by the High Court ofAllahabad despite Section 141 ofthe CPC), that not on! y despite non-filing of the written statement a Court of law may call upon the plaintiffto prove his case but also there cannot be any doubt whatsoever, that no relief can be granted by the High Court in exercise ofits jurisdiction under Article 226 ofthe Constitution ofIndia which would be contrary to law. 13.

As basic foundational fact stands admitted before us, we are of the opinion that the judgment ofthe High Court cannot be sustained. The appointment of Respondent No. I being contrary to the mandatory provisions as contained in Rule 6 ofthe Rules, the same was a nullity. An appointment which was per se illegal could not have been directed to be leglised only because the appellant did not file its counter affidavit. It did not admit the respondent's claim The question involved in the writ petition was a legal question. As indicated hereinbefore, the foundational facts are undisputed. 14. Rules ofpleading contained in the Code ofCivil Procedure do not cover questions oflaw. Ifa fact stands admitted the same in tenns of Section 56 ofthe Indian Evidence Act need not be proved. Only because such a question was not allegedly raised before the High Court, this Court could not shut i. ts eyes to the legal position.

Yet again only because an illegality has been committed, this Court would not allow its perpetration. Respondent's father was on leave for a temporary period. He thereby did not cease to be the Manager of the school. It is apparent that he went on leave only for defeating the statutory provisions. Such an act amounts to fraud on the administration. 15. We, having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, are of the opinion that whether in law or in equity, it would be wholly improper to permit respondent No. l to continue to act as a Headmaster. 16. For the reasons aforementioned, this appeal is allowed and the impugned judgments are set aside. The writ petition filed by respondent No. l shall stand dismissed. However, in the facts and circumstance of the case, there shall be no order as to cots. RP. Appeal allowed