Sadanand Paswan v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.2852 of 2023 ====================================================== Sadanand Paswan Son of Kapildeo Paswan Resident of Village-Telghi, TolaJairampur Police Station-Bihpur, District-Bhagalpur. ... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Home Department, Old Secretariat, Patna.

2.

The Commissioner, Bhagalpur Division, Bhagalpur. 3.

The District Magistrate, Bhagalpur Division, Bhagalpur. 4.

The Additional Collector, Bhagalpur Division, Bhagalpur. 5.

The Superintendent of Police Bhagalpur Division, Bhagalpur. 6.

The Officer-in-Charge, Bhagalpur Division, Bhagalpur. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr.Navin Prasad Singh, Adv.

Mr.Narayan Singh, Adv.

For the State :

Mr.Dhurendra Kumar, AC to GP5 ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE MADHURESH PRASAD ORAL ORDER 20-07-2023 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the State.

2. The petitioner was a Chowikidar and has been dismissed on the charge of having been found in an inebriated condition. The petitioner's order of dismissal is of 03.01.2022 (Annexure 8). He has preferred an appeal before the Commissioner, Bhagalpur, Division (respondent no. 2) in terms of Rule 24 of the Bihar Government Servants (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules,2005" (for brevity 'C.C.A, Rules, 2005). The appeal has been rejected just one day thereafter on

Patna High Court CWJC No.2852 of 2023(2) dt.20-07-2023 2/3 15.03.2022 (Annexure 9) by an order refusing to exercise the appellate jurisdiction on account of delay of 15 days in filing the appeal. The order manifests that the petitioner had placed on record some medical documents to justify the 15 days delay and claims sufficient cause for condonation of 15 days in filing the appeal. The finding of the Commissioner, on the other hand, reads as follow:

"चुँककि अपपीलकिरर्ता दद्वारद्वा कविलंब कक्षांकर हरच समकपर्पिर दस्रद्वाविहज प्रथम दष्टयद्वा हपी सलंदहहद्वास्पद प्ररपीर हहो रह हैं। अरतः कविलंब कक्षांर किरनह किद्वा किहोई ठहोस आधद्वार नहहीं हहोनह किह किद्वारण यह अपपील विद्वाद अलंगपीकिद्वार किह कबन्दच पर खद्वाकरज किपी जद्वारपी ह। आदहश किपी प्रकर सभपी सलंबलंकधर पकक किहो उपलब्ध किरद्वा दपी जद्वाय। "

3. This Court finds that under Rule 25 of the C.C.A, Rules, 2005, the appellate authority has been vested with the discretion to entertain an appeal after the expiry of 45 days being the limitation for filing of appeal, if he is satisfied that the appellant had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal in time.

4. The order, as extracted the above , shows no consideration of the petitioner's claim and, in the opinion of the Court, the order of the appellate authority, rejecting the appeal,

Patna High Court CWJC No.2852 of 2023(2) dt.20-07-2023 3/3 only on the ground of delay, is unsustainable showing no consideration and improper exercise of discretion under Rule 25 of the C.C.A., Rules, 2005. The order of the appellate authority dated 15.03.2022, is quashed. The matter is remanded to the Divisional Commissioner, Bhagalpur (respondent no. 2) for considering the petitioner's appeal on its merits.

5. The writ application is allowed.

(Madhuresh Prasad, J) uttam/- U