Anjani Kumar Jha v. The State Of Bihar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA

Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.14100 of 2023 ====================================================== 1.

Anjani Kumar Jha Son of Andrik Jha, Resident of Ward No. 03, Madhupur Ram, P.O.-Imadpur, P.s.-Sarai, District-Vaishali, presently posted in U.M.S. Bijaul, Block-Balrampur, District-Katihar.

2.

Shiv Shankar Prasad Singh, Son of Ram Sewak Singh, Resident of Village and P.O.-Arniyan, P.S.-Jandaha, District-Vaishali, presently posted in U.M.S. Husaina, Block-Barari, District-Katihar.

3.

Prabhash Chandra Sinha, Son of Late Nagina Prasad Sinha, Resident of Lane 103, Mukundpur Bhath, P.S. -Jandaha, District-Vaishali, presently posted in U.M.S. Bedanda, Block-Barari, District-Katihar. 4.

Jaleshwar Prasad Sah, Son of Jaga Sah, Resident of Vilalge-Mataiya, P.O.- Madhopur Ram, P.S. and District-Vaishali, presently posted in M.S. Kamathan, Block-Alauli, District-Khagaria.

... ... Petitioner/s

Versus

1.

The State of Bihar through the Additional Chief Secretary, Education Department, Govt. of Bihar, New Secretariat, Patna. 2.

The Director, Primary Education, Govt. of Bihar, New Secretariat, Patna. 3.

The District Education Officer, Katihar.

4.

The District Programme Officer (Establishment), Katihar. 5.

The District Education Officer, Khagaria.

6.

The District Programme Officer (Establishment), Khagaria. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s :

Mr. Bipin Bihari Singh, Advocate For the Respondent/s :

Mr. Prabhakar Jha (Gp27) ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANJANI KUMAR SHARAN ORAL JUDGMENT Date : 22-03-2024 Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned counsel for the State.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners' case is squarely covered by a recent judgment dated 28.08.2023 delivered by the Division Bench of this Court

2/4 in L.P.A. No. 1254 of 2016 arising out of C.W.J.C. No. 24355 of 2018 and other analogous cases.

3. Mr. Bipin Bihari Singh, learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners also figured in the list of 34,540 elementary teachers approved by the Hon'ble Mr. Justice S.K. Chattopadhyay (Retd.) Committee. He further submits that the Hon'ble Supreme Court has in it's judgment in SLP (Civil) No. 26824 of 2012 directed inter-alia as under:- "We make it clear that none of the persons appointed out of the 34,540 vacancies should be disturbed in any way, but the question of filling up the balance vacancies may be taken into consideration, while disposing of the applications in question."

4. It is, in view of the aforementioned clarity given by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in it's judgment, the Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court has held in L.P.A. No.1254 of 2016 and other analogous matters that there could be no termination on the basis of a further verification. The views expressed by the Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court may be found in paragraph '16'as under:- "16. We are of the definite opinion that in the present case where all the party- respondents were appointed as per the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, under the supervision of Justice Chattopadhyay, cannot be terminated on grounds of

3/4 qualifications not having been properly verified; unless otherwise permitted by the Hon'ble Supreme Court. The party respondents were appointed after their eligibility being settled by Justice Chattopadhyay, appointed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, to oversee the selection and appointment of teachers to the vacant posts, identified as available, as per the undertaking made by the State before the Hon'ble Supreme Court. Though the verification of credentials and qualifications of the candidates were directed to be done, there could be no such verification at this late stage. As noticed by the learned Single Judge in the impugned judgment the State ought to have been more vigilant when the appointments were carried out."

5. Mr. Prabhakar Jha, learned G.P. 27 for the State is present. It is submitted that if the petitioners are appointees from the list of 34,540 candidates which was approved by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, then the Hon'ble Division Bench judgment would be applicable in their cases as well.

6. Having regard to the submissions noted hereinabove, in view of the developments in the form of Hon'ble Division Bench judgment in L.P.A. No.1254 of 2016 and other analogous cases, this Court sets aside the Annexure-2(series) of the writ application and directs the respondents to consider the case of the petitioners keeping in view the Bihar Litigation Policy, 2011 in the light of the judgments of this Court rendered

4/4 in L.P.A. No.1254 of 2016 and other analogous matters, L.P.A. No.1309 of 2017 and L.P.A. No. 1310 of 2017 and grants similar benefits to the petitioners as have been given to the other terminated teachers of the said list.

7. Let the entire exercise be completed within a period of three months from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order.

8. This writ petition is allowed to the extent indicated hereinabove.

(Anjani Kumar Sharan, J) anand/- AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE NA Uploading Date 28.03.2024 Transmission Date NA