Tulsi Ram Mishra v. State of Punjab & Anr

INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoAToCHANDIGARHo o o o o o o CRM-M-11381-2016o(O&M)o o o o o o o Reservedoon:o23.08.2023.o o o o o o Pronouncedoon:o15.09.2023o o o o o TulsioRamoMishrao o o o o o ,oPetitionero o o o o o Versuso o StateoofoPunjaboandoothersoo o o o o ...oRespondentso o o CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoANUPINDERoSINGHoGREWALo o o Present:o Mr.oVaibhavoSehgal,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.o o o o Mr.oLuvinderoSofat,oDAG,oPunjab.oo o o o o Dr.oAnmoloRattanoSidhu,oSenioroAdvocateowithoo o o Mr.oAnandeshwaroGautam,oAdvocateoandoo o o Ms.oTejaswini,oAdvocateofororespondentoNo.2.o o o o o o o Mr.oSatyapaloJain,oAdditionaloSolicitoroGeneraloofoIndiaowithoo o o Mr.oDheerajoJain,oSenioroPanelocounselofororespondentoNo.3.oo o o o o o o ****o ANUPINDERoSINGHoGREWAL,oJ.oo o o o o o o o Thiso petitiono haso beeno preferredo undero Sectiono 482o ofo theo Cr.P.C.oimpugningotheoorderodatedo08.01.2015owherebyotheoSpecialoJudge,o SASoNagar,ohasodischargedorespondentoNo.2oinoaocriminalocaseoarisingooutoofo FIRoNo.9odatedo09.11.2009,oregisteredounderoSectionso7oando13(2)oofotheo PreventionoofoCorruptionoAct,o1988o(hereinafteroreferredotooaso'theoPCoAct').o I.oo o Submissionsoonobehalfoofotheopetitionero

2.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero hado submittedo thato theo allegationsoagainstorespondentoNo.2owereoseriousoinasmuchoasoheowasocaughto red-handedowhileoacceptingoillegalogratificationoofoRs.2olacsoinotheopresenceo ofo twoo witnesses.o Theo Stateo Governmento hado accordedo sanctiono ono

27.04.2010otooprosecuteorespondentoNo.2oasoheowasoservingoinotheoStateoofo Punjab.oTheochallanohadobeenofiledoono29.04.2010oalongowithotheosanctionotoo

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prosecuteoaccordedobyotheoStateoGovernment.oRespondentoNo.2owasoservingo ino theo Stateo Governmento aso theo Director,o Departmento ofo Industrieso &o Commerceoand,otherefore,oitocouldonotobeosaidotoobeoanoinvalidosanction.oHeo hadofurtherosubmittedothatoevenoifoitoisoconsideredotoobeoanoinvalidosanction,o respondentoNo.2ocouldonotohaveobeenodischargedoandoonlyoatotheoconclusiono ofotrial,otheovalidityoofosanctionocouldohaveobeenoexaminedoandoheohadotoo proveothatotheoorderoofosanctionohadocausedograveoprejudiceotoohimoinoviewoofo Sectiono19oofotheoPCoAct.oHeohad,otherefore,osubmittedothatoimpugnedoordero beosetoasideoandorespondentoNo.2obeoprosecutedounderotheoPCoAct.oInosupporto ofohisosubmissions,oheohadoreliedouponotheojudgmentsoofotheoSupremeoCourto ino theo caseso ofo Dharamarajo Vs.o Shanmugam,o (2022)o SCCo Onlineo SCo 1186,oK.oShanthammaoVs.oStateoofoTelangana,o(2022)o4oSCCo574,oStateo throughoDeputyoSuperintendentoofoPoliceoVs.oR.oSoundirarasu,o(2022)o SCCo Onlineo SCo 1150,o Vijayo Rajmohano Vs.o Centralo Bureauo ofo Investigationo (Antio Corruptiono Branch),o (2023)o 1o SCCo 329,o Stateo ofo RajasthanoVs.oTejmaloChoudhary,o(2021)oSCCoOnlineoSCo3477,oNeerajo DuttaoVs.oStateo(GovernmentoofoNCToofoDelhi),o(2023)o4oSCCo731,oStateo ofoChattisgarhoVs.oAmanoKumaroSingh,o(2023)oSCCoOnlineoSCo198oando SheonandanoPaswanoVs.oStateoofoBihar,o(1987)o1oSCCo288.oo II.oo o SubmissionsoonobehalfooforespondentoNo.o1o

3.o o Learnedo Stateo counselo whileo relyingo upono theo replyo hado submittedothatolegalityoorovalidityoofotheosanctionoforoprosecutionohasotoobeo raisedoinotheocourseoofotheotrialoandohasotoobeodecidedoatotheoconclusionoofotheo trial.oAowrongooroimproperosanctionofromosomeootheroauthorityowouldonoto rendero theo caseo ofo theo prosecutiono aso nullo ando void.o Heo haso citedo theo judgmentso ino theo caseso ofo Vijayo Rajmohano Vs.o Centralo Bureauo ofo

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Investigationo (Antio Corruptiono Branch),o (2023)o 1o SCCo 329,o CBIo Vs.o Ashoko Kumaro Aggarwal,o (2014)o 14o SCCo 295.o Ino theo replyo filedo byo respondentoNo.1/State,oitoisoalsoostatedothatomerelyoonoaccountoofosanctiono notobeingoaccordedobyotheocompetentoauthorityotheowholeotrialowouldonotobeo vitiated.oTheoprayeroinotheoreplyoisothatotheopetitionobeoallowedoinoviewoofotheo submissionso madeo byo counselo foro theo petitionero aso wello aso answeringo respondentsoandoimpugnedoorderobeosetoaside.oo III.oo o SubmissionsoonobehalfooforespondentoNo.o2o

4.o o LearnedoseniorocounselohadosubmittedothatorespondentoNo.2ohado beeno rightlyo dischargedo byo theo impugnedo ordero becauseo theo sanctiono accordedo byo theo Stateo Governmento waso noto propero aso ito waso noto theo competentoauthority.oTheoCentraloGovernmentowasotheocompetentoauthorityo toograntosanction.oAlthoughotheoStateoGovernmentohadosentotheomatterotootheo Centralo Governmento buto latero ito hado re-examinedo theo matter,o upono ao representationo preferredo byo respondento No.2o datedo 14.07.2014.o Theo Stateo Government,o witho dueo applicationo ofo mindo ando consideringo theo relevanto material,ohadoarrivedoatotheoconclusionothatosanctionotooprosecuteorespondento No.2owasounwarranted.ooTherefore,otheoStateoGovernmentohadowithdrawnotheo requestoforograntoofosanctionoofoprosecutionosentotootheoCentraloGovernmento video communicationo datedo 26.03.2018.o Subsequently,o theo Centralo Government,ovideoletterodatedo01.05.2018,ohadosentobackotheoproposaloforo issuanceo ofo prosecutiono sanctiono againsto respondento No.2o alongo witho theo relevantodocuments.oRespondentoNo.2ohasoanounblemishedoserviceorecordo ando hado beeno unnecessarilyo facingo maliciouso ando frivolouso proceedingso initiatedo byo theo petitioner.o Theo petitiono iso motivated,o ito deserveso too beo dismissedoandonoofurtheroactionoisocalledoforoatothisostage.o

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5.o o InotheoreplyofiledobyorespondentoNo.2,oitoisoalsoosubmittedothato respondentoNo.2ohadobeenofalselyoimplicatedoinoaofakeoandoshamocaseoofo corruptionoorchestratedobyotheothenoDeputyoChiefoMinisteroofotheoStateoofo Punjab.oRespondentoNo.2ohadoalsoofiledoanoapplicationobeforeolearnedoJMIC,o Chandigarh,oagainstothoseowhoohadofalselyoimplicatedohimoinotheocaseowhoo includeotheopetitionerohereinoandocertainoofficersoofotheoVigilanceoBureau,o Ludhiana,o undero Sectiono 156o (3)o Cr.P.C.o Thiso applicationo undero Sectiono 156(3)oCr.P.C.owasotreatedoasoaocomplaint.oTheolearnedoJMIC,ovideoordero datedo30.11.2019o(AnnexureoR-10),ohadoheldothatoprimaofacieocaseoagainsto himo(respondentoNo.2)owasoaoresultoofocriminaloconspiracyoandofalseochargeso wereomadeoagainstohimoandoevidenceowasofabricated.oItoisofurtherostatedothato theo petitionero hado filedo ao Civilo Writo Petitiono bearingo No.1406o ofo 2020o challengingo theo validityo ofo theo withdrawalo ofo theo proposalo byo theo Stateo Governmento video lettero datedo 26.03.2018o whicho waso sento too theo Centralo Governmento byo Stateo Governmento ono 06.05.2014,o buto theo sameo waso dismissedo aso withdrawno ono 18.08.2022o (Annexureo R-7)o beforeo theo CoordinateoBenchoofothisoCourt.oTheocitationsoofo32ojudgmentsoreliedoupono byo counselo foro respondento No.2o ino theo courseo ofo arguments,o parto ofo compilationofurnishedotoothisoCourtobyohimoandoreferredotooinohisoreplyodatedo

08.08.2023,oareosetooutohereunder:-o

1.o StateoofoKarnatakaoLokayuktaoPoliceov.oS.oSubbegowda,o Criminalo Appealo No.1598o ofo 2023,o Decidedo ono

03.08.2023o

2.o Stateo ofo Madhyao Pradesho Vs.o Pradeepo Kumaro Gupta,o

(2011)o6oSCCo389;o

3.o Devendrao Natho Singho Vs.o Stateo ofo Biharo ando others,o

(2023)o1oSCCo48;o

4.o Nanjappaov.oStateoofoKarnataka,o(2015)o14oSCCo186;o

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5.o SanjaysinhRamraoo Chavano Vs.o Dattatrayo Gulabraoo Phalkeoandoothers,o(2015)o3oSCCo123;o

6.o ManzooroAlioKhanov.oUnionoofoIndia,o(2015)o2oSCCo3;o

7.o Subramaniano Swamyo v.o Director,o Centralo Bureauo ofo Investigation,o(2014)o8oSCCo682;o

8.o Anilo Kumaro v.o M.K.o Aiyappa,o (SC)o 2013o (4)o R.C.R.(Criminal)o586;o

9.o K.oDevassiaov.oStateoofoKerala,oSCo(2006)o10oSCCo447;o

10.o StateoInspectoroofoPoliceov.oSuryaoSanhkaramoKarri,o(SC)o 2006o(4)oR.C.R.o(Criminal)o53;o

11.o StateoofoKarnatakaov.oC.oNagarajaswamy,o(2005)o8oSCCo 370;o

12.o StateoofoGoaov.oBabuoThomas,o(2005)o8oSCCo130;o

13.o Ashoko Mehtao andoanothero Vs.o Ramo Ashrayo Singho ando others,o(2006)o(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o330;o

14.o Mohandasov.oStateoofoKerala,o2003o(9)oS.C.C.o504;o

15.o ManoranjanoPrasadoChoudharyov.oStateoofoBihar,o2002o

(10)oSCCo688;o

16.o RamoKrishanoPrajapatiov.oStateoofoU.P.,o2000(10)oSCCo 43;o

17.o R.S.oNayakov.oA.R.oAntulay,o(1984)o2oSCCo183;o

18.o RajpaloSinghoVs.oStateoofoPunjabo(P&H)o2019o(4)oRCRo (Criminal)o728;o

19.o Neelamo Kumaro v.o Stateo ofo Haryanao (P&H)o 2019o (2)o R.C.R.o(Criminal)o698;o

20.o HarioKeshov.oStateoofoPunjab,o(P&H)o2019(3)oLawoHeraldo 2366;o

21.o Darshano Singho v.o Stateo ofo Punjabo (P&H)o 2018(5)o R.C.R.(Criminal)o89;o

22.o Jagato Ramo v.o Centralo Bureauo ofo Investigation,o (P&H)o 2017(3)oR.C.R.o(Criminal)o244;o

23.o Ramo Singho Dhallo v.o Stateo ofo Punjabo (P&H)o 2015(3)o R.C.R.(Criminal)o667;o

24.o Rajindero Kumaro v.o Stateo ofo Punjabo (P&H)o 2015(8)o R.C.R.(Criminal)o986;o

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25.o Gursewako Singho v.o Stateo ofo Punjabo (P&H),o 2012(25)o RC.R.(Criminal)o230;o

26.o Kulbiro Singho Patwario v.o Stateo ofo Punjab,o (P&H)o 2006(2)R.C.R.(Criminal)567;o

27.o Dr.o Jaswanto Singho v.o Stateo ofo Punjab,o (P&H)o 2006(4)o R.C.R.(Criminal)o525;o

28.o Omo Rajo v.o Stateo ofo Punjab,o (P&H)o 2002o (1)o R.C.R.(Criminal)o799;o

29.o NaginderoSinghoRanaov.oStateoofoPunjab,o(P&H)o2002o(3)o R.C.R.(Criminal)o32;o

30.o HarmeshoKumarov.oStateoofoPunjab,o(P&H)o1999(2)oCLJo (Criminal)o47;o

31.o AvinashChandero Sharmao v.o Stateo ofo Haryana,o (P&H)o 1993(3)oRCR(Criminal)o726;oandoo

32.o C.V.o Balano Vs.o Stateo ofo Kerela,o O.P.o Criminalo 510o ofo 2022o(KerelaoHighoCourt)o o IV.oo o SubmissionsoonobehalfooforespondentoNo.o3o

6.o o Learnedo counselo foro respondento No.3-Uniono ofo Indiao hado submittedo thato theo competento authorityo too accordo sanctiono iso theo Centralo Governmento ando theo Stateo Governmento hado alsoo sento theo proposalo ono

06.05.2014otootheoCentraloGovernmentoforoaccordingonecessaryosanction.oTheo Centralo Governmento had,o ono 03.02.2015,o soughto commentso fromo theo Investigatingo officero ando Supervisoryo officero ono theo issueo ando communicationso wereo addressedo too theo Stateo Governmento foro theo same.o Meanwhile,otheoDepartmentoofoPersonneloandoTrainingo(DoPT),oGovernmento ofoIndia,ohadoissuedoinstructionsoono20.05.2016otoosendoproposalsoseekingo sanctionothroughoaoSingleoWindowoSystemotooavoidodelayoinoproceedingsobuto theo Stateo Governmento hado noto compliedo witho theo same.o Theo letter/communicationodatedo23.01.2017o(AnnexureoR-3)owasosentolaterotootheo

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CentraloGovernmentoalongowithotheocommentsoofoInvestigatingoOfficeroando supervisoryo officero whicho hado beeno soughto earliero byo theo Centralo Governmentoono03.02.2015.oSubsequently,oono25.07.2017,oaocommunicationo wasoagainosentotootheoChiefoSecretary,oGovernmentoofoPunjab,owherebyotheo CentraloGovernmentohadorequestedotheoStateoGovernmentotoosendoaocompleteo proposalo alongo witho theo informationo ando documentso througho theo Singleo Windowo Systemo buto beforeo theo Centralo Governmento couldo receiveo theo completeoproposal,oconsideroitoandoapplyoitsomind,otheoStateoGovernmentohado withdrawnoitsoproposalovideoletterodatedo26.03.2018o(AnnexureoR-5).o

7.o o LearnedocounselofororespondentoNo.3ohadoalsoosubmittedothato theoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoStateoofoUttaroPradeshoVs.oVishwanatho Chaturvedi,o(2013)o11oSCCo567,ohadoupheldotheoviewoofoDivisionoBenchoofo AllahabadoHighoCourtoinotheocaseoofoVishwanathoChaturvedioVs.oUnionoofo India,o(2010)oSCCoOnlineoAllo2339,otootheoextentothatoinocaseonoodecisiono ono theo granto ofo sanctiono iso takeno byo theo competento authorityo withino sixo monthsothenoitoshallobeodeemedotoohaveobeenogranted.oThisojudgmentowasoino operationo whenotheo proposalo foro granto ofo sanctiono wasosentobyo theo Stateo Governmento ono 06.05.2014o ando theo impugnedo ordero waso passedo ono

08.01.2015obyotheoSpecialoJudge.oTheojudgementowasoapplicableothroughouto theocountryoasoitorelatesotootheoPCoActowhichoisoaoCentraloAct.oInosupportoofo hisosubmissions,oheohadocitedotheojudgementsoofoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseso ofoM/soKusumoIngotsoandoAlloysoLtd.oVs.oUnionoofoIndianoandoanother,o

(2004)o6oSCCo254oandoAlloIndiaoJamiatuloQureshoActionoCommitteeoVs.o Uniono ofo India,o 2017o (3)o RCRo (Civil)o 845.o Thus,o sanctiono shouldo beo deemedotoohaveobeenoaccordedoandorespondentoNo.o2ocouldonotohaveobeeno

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discharged.o Theo trialo oughto too haveo proceededo ando takeno too itso logicalo conclusion.o V.oo o Factualomatrixo

8.o o FIRoNo.9odatedo09.11.2009owasoregisteredoagainstorespondento No.2ounderoSectionso7oando13(2)oofotheoPCoActoatoPoliceoStationoVigilanceo Bureau,oFlyingoSquad-1,oMohali.oTheoallegationsoagainstorespondentoNo.2o wereo thato whileo waso workingo aso Director,o Departmento ofo Industrieso ando Commerce,oheoisoallegedotoohaveoacceptedoanoillegalogratificationoofoRs.2o lacs.oItoisoallegedothatoaodemandoofoRs.6olacsohadobeenoraisedobyorespondento No.2oforoallotmentoofovacantoplotoadjoiningotheoexistingobroilerofactoryoofotheo petitioneroatoFocaloPoint,oLudhiana.oTheodealowasostruckoatoRs.5olacsoandotheo petitioneroono09.11.2009ohadogoneotoopayoaosumoofoRs.2olacsotoorespondento No.2,owhooallegedlyoacceptedotheosame.oTheorecoveryohadobeenoeffectedoino theo presenceo ofo twoo witnesses,o namely,o Sukhmandero Singh,o Researcho Officer,oPlanningoDepartment,oPunjab,oChandigarhoandoSh.SubhashoChawla,o SuperintendentoGrade-I,oOfficeoofoDirector,oEducationoDepartment,oPunjab,o Chandigarh.o

9.o o TheoGovernoroofoPunjabohadoaccordedosanctionounderoSectiono 19oofotheoPCoActotooprosecuteorespondentoNo.2oono27.04.2010.oThisoordero wasochallengedobyorespondentoNo.2obyopreferringoCWPoNo.10055oofo2010o whichowasodismissedobyotheoSingleoBenchoofothisoCourtoono24.01.2014owhileo grantingolibertyotoorespondentoNo.2otooraiseotheoissuesobeforeotheotrialoCourt.oo

10.o o RespondentoNo.2ohadosubsequentlyochallengedotheoorderoofotheo SingleoBenchobyopreferringoLPAoNo.689oofo2014owhichowasoalsoodismissedo byotheoDivisionoBenchoono11.08.2014oandotheoorderopassedobyotheolearnedo SingleoBenchowasoupheld.oAsotheochargesohadonotobeenoframedoatothatotime,o

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libertyo waso grantedo too respondento No.2o too raiseo theo pointso takeno thereino beforeotheotrialoCourt.oTheooperativeopartoofotheojudgmentoofotheoDivisiono Benchoisoreproducedohereunder:-o o o "WeohaveobeenoinformedothatobeforeotheotrialoCourto theoappellantohasomovedoanoapplicationoforodischargeoraisingotheo questiono ofo validityo ofo grantingo theo sanctiono byo theo Punjabo Governmento aso wello aso theo jurisdictiono ofo Specialo Court,o Mohali,otootryotheocase,oandotheosaidoapplicationoisostillopending.o Noochargeohasobeenoframedoasoyetoagainstotheoappellant.oo o o Inoviewoofotheseofacts,oweoareoofotheoviewothatosinceo theo appellanto haso alreadyo movedo applicationso foro dischargeo beforeo theotrialo Courto raisingotheosameo issueo ando availedo theo effectiveoremedyoinothisoregard,oweodoonotofindoanyoillegalityoino theoorderopassedobyotheolearnedoSingleoJudge.oWeogiveolibertyotoo theoappellantotooraiseoallotheopointsoraisedohereinobeforeotheotrialo Court.oWeohopeothatotheotrialoCourtowillonotobeoinfluencedobyo anyoobservationsomadeobyotheolearnedoSingleoJudgeoinoitsoorder.o Heo furthero hopeo thato theo trialo Courto willo decideo theo aboveo applicationsobeforeoframingotheochargeoagainstotheoappellant.oo o o WithotheoaforesaidoobservationsothisoLettersoPatento Appealoisodismissed."o o o o o

11.o o Ino theo meantime,o theo Stateo Governmento hado addressedo ao communicationo datedo 06.05.2014o (Annexureo R-1/A)o too theo Centralo Governmento (competento authority)o foro obtainingo sanctiono too prosecuteo respondentoNo.2.o

12.o o Theo Specialo Judgeo whileo consideringo theo applicationo foro dischargeo hado passedo theo impugnedo ordero ono 08.01.2015o video whicho theo applicanto(respondentoNo.2oherein)owasodischargedoforotimeobeingoonotheo groundothatotheocompetentoauthorityoforograntingosanctionotooprosecuteoano IASoofficeroisotheoCentraloGovernmentowhileotheosanctionohadobeenograntedo

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byo theo Stateo Government.o Ito was,ohowever,o observedo thato theo respondento No.2oisodischargedoforotheotimeobeingoforowantoofoproperosanctionoandotheo matterocanobeorevivedoasoandowhenotheovalidosanctionoisoaccordedobyotheo competentoauthority.oItowasoalsoonoticedobyotheoSpecialoJudgeothatotheomattero foro accordingo sanctiono waso pendingo considerationo beforeo theo Centralo Government.oo VI.ooo o Analysiso

(a)o Theocompetentoauthorityotooaccordosanctionotooprosecuteoano officeroofotheoIndianoAdministrativeoServiceoservingoinotheo StateoGovernment.o o

13.oo o Theofirstoissueowhichofallsoforodeterminationoinotheoinstantocaseo isoasotoowhichoisotheocompetentoauthorityotooaccordosanctionotooprosecuteo respondento No.2.o Respondento No.2o waso ao membero ofo theo Indiano AdministrativeoServiceo ando servingo inotheo Stateo Governmento aso Director,o DepartmentoofoIndustriesoandoCommerce,oatotheotimeoofotheoallegedoincident.o TheoappointingoauthorityoofoanoofficeroofotheoIndianoAdministrativeoServiceo iso theo Centralo Governmento aso providedo ino Ruleo 6(1)o ofo theo Indiano Administrativeo Serviceo (Recruitment)o Rules,o 1954o whicho iso reproducedo hereunder:-o "6.oAppointmentotootheoService:-o

(1)koAllo appointmentso too theo Serviceo aftero theo commencementoofotheseorulesoshallobeomadeobyotheo CentraloGovernmentoandonoosuchoappointmentoshallobeo madeoexceptoafterorecruitmentobyooneoofotheomethodso specifiedoinoruleo4."o o o o AnoofficeroofotheoIndianoAdministrativeoServiceoisoallocatedoao Stateo cadreo byo theo Centralo Governmento too serveo theo Stateo Government.o ReferenceomayobeomadeotooRuleo6o(1)oofotheoIndianoAdministrativeoServiceo

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(Cadre)o Rules,o 1954,o whicho provideso thato ao cadreo officero may,o witho theo concurrenceo ofo theo Stateo Governmentso concernedo ando theo Centralo Government,o beo deputedo foro serviceo undero theo Centralo Governmento oro anotheroStateoGovernment.oRuleo6o(1)oisoreproducedohereunder:-o "6o(1)oAocadreoofficeromay,owithotheoconcurrenceo ofo theo Stateo Governmentso concernedo ando theo Centralo Government,o beo deputedo foro serviceo undero theo Centralo Governmento oro anothero Stateo Governmento oro undero ao company,o associationo oro bodyo ofo individuals,o whethero incorporatedo oro not,o whicho iso whollyo oro substantiallyo ownedoorocontrolledobyotheoCentraloGovernmentoorobyo anotheroStateoGovernment.oo Providedo thato ino caseo ofo anyo disagreement,o theo matteroshallobeodecidedobyotheoCentraloGovernmentoando theoStateoGovernmentooroStateoGovernmentsoconcernedo shallo giveo effecto too theo decisiono ofo theo Centralo Government."o o o Theo competento authorityo whicho cano dismisso oro removeo fromo serviceo ano officero ofo theo Indiano Administrativeo Serviceo iso theo Centralo GovernmentoasostipulatedoinoRuleo7(2)oofotheoAlloIndiaoServiceo(Disciplineo&o Appeal)oRules,o1969,owhichoisoreproducedohereunder:-o "Theopenaltyoofodismissal,oremovaloorocompulsoryo retiremento shallo noto beo imposedo ono ao membero ofo theo ServiceoexceptobyoanoorderoofotheoCentraloGovernment."o o o

14.o o Articleo 311o (1)o ofo theo Constitutiono ofo Indiao stateso thato noo person,owhooisoaomemberoofoaociviloserviceoofotheoUnionooroanoAlloIndiao ServiceooroaociviloserviceoofoaoStateooroholdsoaocivilopostounderotheoUnionooro Stateoshallobeodismissedoororemovedobyoanoauthorityosubordinateotoothatobyo whicho heo waso appointed.o Articleo 311o (1)o ofo theo Constitutiono ofo Indiao iso reproducedohereunder:-o

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"(1)oNoopersonowhooisoaomemberoofoaociviloserviceo ofotheoUnionooroanoall-Indiaoserviceooroaociviloserviceoofoao StateooroholdsoaocivilopostounderotheoUnionooroaoStateoshallo beodismissedoororemovedobyoanoauthorityosubordinateotoo thatobyowhichoheowasoappointed."o o o o EvenoinotermsoofoSectiono19o(1)oofotheoPCoAct,otheocompetento authorityo too accordo sanctiono foro prosecutiono ofo ao publico servanto iso theo authorityowhichoisocompetentotooremoveohimofromohisooffice.oTheorelevanto extractoofotheoprovisionoisoreproducedohereunder:-o o o "19.oPreviousosanctiononecessaryoforoprosecution.―o

(1)o Noo courto shallotakeo cognizanceo ofo ano offenceo punishableo undero sectionso 7,o 10,o 11,o 13o ando 15o allegedo too haveo beeno committedo byo ao publico servant,o excepto witho theo previouso sanction,―o

(a)oinotheocaseoofoaopersonowhooisoemployedoinoconnectiono withotheoaffairsoofotheoUnionoandoisonotoremovableofromo hiso officeo saveo byo oro witho theo sanctiono ofo theo Centralo Government,oofothatoGovernment;o

(b)oinotheocaseoofoaopersonowhooisoemployedoinoconnectiono withotheoaffairsoofoaoStateoandoisonotoremovableofromohiso officeo saveo byo oro witho theo sanctiono ofo theo Stateo Government,oofothatoGovernment;o

(c)o ino theo caseo ofo anyo othero person,o ofo theo authorityo competentotooremoveohimofromohisooffice."o o o oooooooo o

15.o o Ito iso apto too noticeo thato theo Stateo Government,o aftero havingo consideredotheomatter,ohadoaccordedosanctionotooprosecuteorespondentoNo.2o ono 27.04.2010,o buto theo Stateo Government,o aftero grantingo theo sanction,o appearsotoobeoconsciousoofotheofactothatotheocompetentoauthorityotooaccordo sanctionowasotheoCentraloGovernmentoandotherefore,oitohadoaddressedotheo communicationotootheoCentraloGovernmentoono06.05.2014otooconsiderotheo

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issueo ofo granto ofo sanctiono whicho waso latero withdrawno ono 26.03.2018o (AnnexureoR-5).ooTheotrialoCourtohasoalsooreliedouponotheoinstructionsoissuedo byo theo Centralo Governmento ono 27.10.1999o whereino ito iso statedo thato theo competentoauthorityo tooaccordosanctionoinorespectoofotheomembersoofotheo Indiano Administrativeo Serviceo iso theo Centralo Government.o Theo relevanto paragraphsono.1oando3oofotheoinstructionsodatedo27.10.1999oissuedobyotheo DepartmentoofoPersonneloandoTraining,oGovernmentoofoIndiaotootheoChiefo Secretarieso ofo allo Stateo Governments/Uniono Territoryo Administrations,o iso reproducedohereunder:-o "1.o Asoyouoareoaware,ounderoSectiono19oofotheoP.C.oAct,o1988o (correspondingo Sectiono 6o ofo theo P.C.o Act,o 1947),o ito iso necessaryo foro prosecutingo agencyo too seeko previouso sanctiono ofo theo appropriateoadministrativeo authorityo foro launchingo prosecutiono againsto ao publico servanto foro theo allegedoP.C.oActooffencesomentionedoinotheoInvestigationo Report.o Ino respecto ofo memberso ofo theo Indiano AdministrativeoService,osuchosanctionoisorequiredotoobeo accordedobyotheoDepartmentoofoPersonnelo&oTrainingoino theoCentraloGovernmentoasoinotermsoofoSectiono19(1)oofo theoP.C.oAct,o1988,otheoCentraloGovernmento(Departmento ofoPersonnelo&oTraining)oaloneoisocompetentotooremoveo suchoofficersofromoservice.oo

2.o oxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxo

3.o Wheno sucho sanctiono undero theo P.C.o Acto iso requiredo againstoanoIASoofficerobyotheoStateoGovernmentoandotheo concernedoofficeroisoservingoinoconnectionowithotheoaffairso ofotheoStateoGovernment,otheoCompetentoAuthorityoundero theoStateoGovernmentoisorequiredotooexamineotheocaseoono theo basiso ofo evidenceo ono recordso ando forwardo theo documentsotootheoCentraloGovernmentoalongowithotheiro SWARN JIT SINGH views/recommendationo thereono ando alsoo enclosingo theo

CRM-M-11381-2016o(O&M)oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(14)

sanction,o ifo any,o issuedo byo theo Stateo Governmento u/so 197(1)oofotheoCr.P.C."o o o o o o Ito is,o thus,o manifesto thato theo competento authorityo too accordo sanctionotooprosecuteoanoofficeroofotheoIndianoAdministrativeoServiceoisotheo CentraloGovernment.oo

(b)oo o Deemedosanctiono

16.o o Itoisodifficultotooacceptotheocontentionoofocounselofororespondento No.3o thato aso theo mattero waso pendingo considerationo beforeo theo Centralo Governmentoforooverofouroyears,otheosanctionowasodeemedotoobeoaccordedo andorespondentoNo.2obeoprosecutedounderotheolaw.oReferenceocanobeomadeotoo theojudgmentoofotheoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoVijayoRajmohanoVs.o Centralo Bureauo ofo Investigationo (Antio Corruptiono Branch)o (supra)o whereinowhileoexaminingoconsequencesoofosanctioningoauthorityonototakingoao decisionowithinofouromonthsoitowasoheldothatodeemedosanctionoinosuchocaseso wouldocauseoprejudiceotootheoaccusedoasothereowouldobeonon-applicationoofo mind.oItowasoalsooheldothatonon-complianceoofotheomandatoryoperiodocannoto automaticallyo leado too theo quashingo ofo criminalo proceedingso becauseo theo prosecutiono ofo ao publico servanto foro corruptiono haso ano elemento ofo publico interestohavingoaodirectobearingoonotheoruleoofolawoandoitomustoalsoobeokeptoino mindo thato theo complainanto oro victimo haso noo othero remedyo availableo foro judicialoredressaloifotheocriminaloproceedingsostandoautomaticallyoquashed.o Theorelevantoparagraphsoofotheojudgementoareoreproducedohereunder:-o "30.o TheointentionoofotheoParliamentoisoevidentofromoao combinedo readingo ofo theo firsto provisoo too Sectiono 19,o whicho useso theo expressiono 'endeavour'o witho theo subsequentoprovisions.oTheothirdoprovisoomandatesothato theoextendedoperiodocanobeograntedoonlyoforooneomontho afteroreasonsoareorecordedoinowriting.oThereoisonoofurthero $eutralo-itationo$u ber: %.%):P99-:/%%%%,o o

-!M8M8//),/8%./:o4;<M5oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo4/05

extension. The fourth proviso, which empowers the Central Government to prescribe necessary guidelines for ensuring the mandate, may also be noted in this regard. It can thus be concluded that the Parliament intended that the process of grant of sanction must be completed within four months, which includes the extended period of one month.

¶31If it is mandatory for the sanctioning authority to decide in a time-bound manner, the consequence of non-compliance with the mandatory period must be examined. This is a critical question having no easy answer. In Subramanian Swamy, this Court suggested that Parliament may consider providing deemed sanction if a decision is not taken within the prescribed period. The Appellant herein contends the very opposite that the criminal proceedings must be quashed if the decision is not taken within the prescribed period.

¶32In the first place, non-compliance with a mandatory period cannot and should not automatically lead to the quashing of criminal proceedings because the prosecution of a public servant for corruption has an element of public interest having a direct bearing on the rule of law. This is also a non-sequitur. It must also be kept in mind that the complainant or victim has no other remedy available for judicial redressal if the criminal proceedings stand automatically quashed. At the same time, a decision to grant deemed sanction may cause prejudice to the rights of the accused as there would also be non-application of mind in such cases.Io o o o o o o o o ooooooo4G phasisosupplied5oo /3.o o (notheovie"oofotheola"olaidodo"nob&otheoSupre eo-ourtoinotheo caseo ofo ;,4-@o R-4.#/-$o ;s&o Ce$1 -+o B' e-'o #3o I$!es1,<-1,#$o (A$1,o C# '61,#$o B -$(/)o (s'6 -),o ito iso difficulto too holdo thato sanctiono too

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prosecuteo respondento No.2o beo deemedo too beo accordedo byo theo Centralo Governmentoasotheomatterowasopendingobeforeoitoforoaboutofouroyears.oTheo CentraloGovernmentohadonotoappliedoitsomindoasoproposaloforosanctionowaso incomplete.oo

(c)oo o Conse9uencesoofoinvalidosanctiono

18.o o Now,othisoCourtowouldoproceedotoodetermineotheoconsequenceso ofo invalido sanctiono oro sanctiono accordedo byo ano incompetento authority.o Io wouldo noto accepto theo contentiono ofo counselo foro theo petitionero thato theo questionoofoimproperooroinvalidosanctionocouldoonlyobeodeterminedoatotheo conclusionoofotheotrialoandotheoaccusedohasotooproveothatotheoorderohadocausedo graveoprejudiceotoohimoforotheoreasonothatothisoquestionoisonoolongeroreso integra.oTheoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoNanjappaov.oStateoofoKarnatakao (supra),oafteroexaminingotheoprovisionsoofoSectionso19(1),o19(3)oando19(4)oofo theoPCoAct,ohadoheldothatosub-sectionso(3)oando(4)oofoSectiono19oofotheoPCo Actostipulateochallengeotootheovalidityoofotheoorderoofosanctionoorovalidityoofo proceedingsoatotheoappellateoororevisionalostageobeforeotheohigherocourtoando notobeforeotheoSpecialoJudgeoandothatoitodoesonotoforbidoaoSpecialoJudgeofromo passingoanoorderoofodischargeoifoaovalidoorderosanctioningoprosecutionoisonoto producedoinotermsoofoSectiono19o(1)oofotheoPCoAct.oTheorelevantoparagraphso ofotheojudgementoareoreproducedohereunder:- "7.o Weo haveo heardo theo learnedo counselo foro theo partiesoatoconsiderableolength.oThisoappealomust,o inoouroopinion,osucceedoonotheoshortogroundothato ino theo absenceo ofo ao valido previouso sanctiono requiredounderoSectiono19oofotheoPreventionoofo Corruptiono Act,o theo trialo courto waso noto competento too takeo cognizanceo ofo theo offenceo SWARN JIT SINGH allegedoagainstotheoappellant.o $eutralo-itationo$u ber: %.%):P99-:/%%%%,o o

-!M8M8//),/8%./:o4;<M5oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo4/35

¶10A plain reading of Section 19(1)(supra) leaves no manner of doubt that the same is couched in mandatory terms and forbids courts from taking cognizance of any offence punishable under Sections 7, 10, 11, 13 and 15 against public servants except with the previous sanction of the competent authority enumerated in clauses (a), (b) and (c) to sub-section (1) of Section 19. The provision contained in sub-section (1) would operate in absolute terms but for the presence of sub-section (3) to Section 19 to which we shall presently turn. But before we do so, we wish to emphasise that the language employed in sub-section (1) of Section 19 admits of no equivocation and operates as a complete and absolute bar to any court taking cognizance of any offence punishable under Sections 7, 10, 11, 13 and 15 of the Act against a public servant except with the previous sanction of the competent authority.

¶11A similar bar to taking of cognizance was contained in Section 6 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 which was as under: "6.Previous sanction necessary for prosecution.—

(1) No court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under Section 161 or Section 165 of the Penal Code, 1860 or under sub-section (2) of Section 5 of this Act, alleged to have been committed by a public servant except with the previous sanction—

(a) in the case of a person who is employed in connection with the affairs of the Union and is not removable from his office save by or with the sanction of the Central Government … of the Central Government;

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(b)o ino theo caseo ofo ao persono whoo iso employedo ino connectionowithotheoaffairsoofoaoStateoandoisonoto removableo fromo hiso officeo saveo byo oro witho theo sanctionoofotheoStateoGovernmento…oofotheoStateo Government;o

(c)oinotheocaseoofoanyootheroperson,oofotheoauthorityo competentotooremoveohimofromohisooffice.o

(2)o whereo foro anyo reasono whatsoevero anyo doubto ariseso whethero theo previouso sanctiono aso requiredo undero sub-sectiono (1)o shouldo beo giveno byo theo Centralo oro Stateo Governmento oro anyo othero authority,o sucho sanctiono shallo beo giveno byo thato Governmentooroauthorityowhichowouldohaveobeeno competentotooremoveotheopublicoservantofromohiso officeoatotheotimeowhenotheooffenceowasoallegedotoo haveobeenocommitted."o "22.oTheolegalopositionoregardingotheoimportanceoofo sanctiono undero Sectiono 19o ofo theo Preventiono ofo Corruptiono Acto iso thuso mucho tooo clearo too admito equivocation.oTheostatuteoforbidso1o(2015)o14oSCCo 186o takingo ofo cognizanceo byo theo courto againsto ao publicoservantoexceptowithotheopreviousosanctionoofo anoauthorityocompetentotoograntosuchosanctionoino termsoofoclauseso(a),o(b)oando(c)otooSectiono19(1).o Theo questiono regardingovalidityo ofo sucho sanctiono canobeoraisedoatoanyostageoofotheoproceedings.oTheo competenceo ofo theo courto tryingo theo accusedo soo mucho dependso upono theo existenceo ofo ao valido sanction.oInocaseotheosanctionoisofoundotoobeoinvalido theocourtocanodischargeotheoaccusedorelegatingotheo partieso too aostageo whereotheo competentoauthorityo mayograntoaofreshosanctionoforotheoprosecutionoino accordanceo witho law.o Ifo theo trialo courto proceeds,o despiteo theo invalidityo attachedo too theo sanctiono order,otheosameoshallobeodeemedotoobeononoestoino

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theoeyesoofolawoandoshallonotoforbidoaosecondotrialo foro theo sameo offences,o upono granto ofo ao valido sanctionoforosuchoprosecution.oo

23.oHavingosaidothatothereoareotwooaspectsowhicho weomustoimmediatelyoadvertoto.oTheofirstorelatesotoo theoeffectoofosub-osectiono(3)otooSectiono19,owhicho startsowithoaononoobstanteoclause.oAlsoorelevantotoo theosameoaspectowouldobeoSectiono465oCrPCowhicho weohaveoextractedoearlier.o

23.1.o Ito waso arguedo ono behalfo ofo theo Stateo witho considerableotenacityoworthyoofoaobetterocause,othato inotermsoofoSectiono19(3),oanyoerror,oomissionooro irregularityoinotheoorderosanctioningoprosecutionoofo anoaccusedowasoofonooconsequenceosoolongoasothereo wasonoofailureoofojusticeoresultingofromosuchoerror,o omissionooroirregularity.oItowasocontendedothatoino termsoofoExplanationotooSectiono4,o"erroroincludeso competenceo ofo theo authorityo too granto sanction".o Theo argumento iso ono theo faceo ofo ito attractiveo buto doesonot,oinoouroopinion,ostandocloseroscrutiny.o

23.2.o Ao carefulo readingo ofo sub-sectiono (3)o too Sectiono 19o wouldo showo thato theo sameo interdictso reversalooroalterationoofoanyofinding,osentenceooro orderopassedobyoaoSpecialoJudge,oonotheogroundothato theosanctionoorderosuffersofromoanoerror,oomissiono oro irregularity,o unlesso ofo courseo theo courto beforeo whomo sucho finding,o sentenceo oro ordero iso challengedoinoappealoororevisionoisoofotheoopiniono thatoaofailureoofojusticeohasooccurredobyoreasonoofo sucho error,o omissiono oro irregularity.o Sub-sectiono

(3),o ino othero words,o simplyo forbidso interferenceo witho ano ordero passedo byo theo Specialo Judgeo ino appeal,oconfirmationoororevisionaloproceedingsoono theogroundothatotheosanctionoisobadosaveoandoexcept,o ino caseso whereo theo appellateo oro revisionalo courto

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findsothatofailureoofojusticeohasooccurredobyosucho invalidity.oWhatoisonoteworthyoisothatosub-osectiono

(3)o haso noo applicationo too proceedingso beforeo theo Specialo Judge,o whoo iso freeo too passo ano ordero dischargingotheoaccused,oifoheoisoofotheoopinionothato ao valido ordero sanctioningo prosecutiono ofo theo accusedohadonotobeenoproducedoasorequiredoundero Sectiono19(1).oo

23.3.oSub-sectiono(3),oinoouroopinion,opostulatesoao prohibitiono againsto ao highero courto reversingo ano orderopassedobyotheoSpecialoJudgeoonotheogroundoofo anyodefect,oomissionoorooirregularityoinotheoorderoofo sanction.oItodoesonotoforbidoaoSpecialoJudgeofromo passingo ano ordero ato whatevero stageo ofo theo proceedingso holdingo thato theo prosecutiono iso noto maintainableoforowantoofoaovalidoorderosanctioningo theosame.oo

23.4.oTheolanguageoemployedoinosub-sectiono(3)o is,oinoouroopinion,oclearoandounambiguous.oThiso is,oinoouroopinion,osufficientlyoevidentoevenofromo theo languageo employedo ino sub-o sectiono (4)o accordingo too whicho theo appellateo oro theo revisionalocourtoshall,owhileoexaminingowhethero theo error,o omissiono oro irregularityo ino theo sanctiono hado occasionedo ino anyo failureo ofo justice,o haveo regardo too theo facto whethero theo objectionocouldoandoshouldohaveobeenoraisedoato anoearlyostage.oSufficeoitotoosay,othatoaoconjointo readingoofosub-sectionso19(3)oando(4)oleavesonoo mannero ofo doubto thato theo saido provisionso envisageoaochallengeotootheovalidityoofotheoordero ofo sanctiono oro theo validityo ofo theo proceedingso includingofinding,osentenceooroorderopassedobyo theoSpecialoJudgeoinoappealoororevisionobeforeoao

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higherocourtoandonotobeforeotheoSpecialoJudgeo tryingotheoaccused.oo

23.5.o Theo rationaleo underlyingo theo provisiono obviouslyo iso thato ifo theo trialo haso proceededo too conclusionoandoresultedoinoaofindingoorosentence,o theosameoshouldonotobeolightlyointerferedowithobyo theoappellateoorotheorevisionalocourtosimplyobecauseo thereowasosomeoomission,oerrorooroirregularityoino theo ordero sanctioningo theo prosecutiono undero Sectiono 19(1).o Failureo ofo justiceo is,o whato theo appellateoororevisionalocourtowouldoinosuchocaseso lookofor.oAndowhileoexaminingowhetheroanyosucho failureo hado indeedo takeno place,o theo Courto concernedo wouldo alsoo keepoino mindo whethero theo objectiono touchingo theo error,o omissiono oro irregularityoinotheosanctionocouldooroshouldohaveo beenoraisedoatoanoearlierostageoofotheoproceedingso meaningo therebyo whethero theo sameo couldo ando shouldohaveobeenoraisedoatotheotrialostageoinsteadoofo beingourgedoinoappealoororevision."o

24.oInotheocaseoatohand,otheoSpecialoCourtonotoonlyo entertainedotheocontentionourgedoonobehalfoofotheo accusedo abouto theo invalidityo ofo theo ordero ofo sanctiono buto foundo thato theo authorityo issuingo theo saidoorderowasoincompetentotoograntosanction.oTheo trialocourtoheldothatotheoauthorityowhoohadoissuedo theo sanctiono waso noto competento too doo so,o ao facto whichohasonotobeenodisputedobeforeotheoHighoCourto orobeforeous.oTheoonlyoerrorowhichotheotrialocourt,o inoouroopinion,ocommittedowasothat,ohavingoheldo theo sanctiono too beo invalid,o ito shouldo haveo dischargedo theo accusedo rathero thano recordingo ano ordero ofo acquittalo ono theo merito ofo theo case.o Aso observedo byo thiso Courto ino Baijo Natho Prasado Tripathiocaseo[BaijoNathoPrasadoTripathiov.oStateoofo

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Bhopal,oAIRo1957oSCo494o:o1957oCrioLJo597]o,otheo absenceoofoaosanctionoorderoimpliedothatotheocourto wasonotocompetentotootakeocognizanceoorotryotheo accused.oResultantly,otheotrialobyoanoincompetento courtowasoboundotoobeoinvalidoandononoestoinolaw."o o o o o oooooooo(Emphasisosupplied)o o

19.o o ThisojudgmentohadobeenofollowedobyotheoSupremeoCourtoinotheo caseoofoStateoofoKarnatakaoLokayuktaoPoliceov.oS.oSubbegowda,o(2023)o SCCoOnLineoSCo911,owhereinoitowasoalsooobservedobyotheoSupremeoCourto thato interlocutoryo applicationo seekingo dischargeo ino theo midsto ofo theo trialo wouldonotobeomaintainableoasoitowouldoscuttleotheoproceedingsobeforeotheotrialo Court.oInothatocase,otheofirstoapplicationoforodischargeohadobeenopreferredoono theogroundothatosanctionohadobeenograntedowithoutoapplicationoofomind.oTheo applicationowasodismissedobyotheotrialoCourtoandoinorevisionotheoHighoCourto disposedoofotheomatterodirectingotheotrialoCourtotooconsiderotheodocumentso madeoavailableobyotheorespondentsoduringotheoinvestigationoandoproducedobyo prosecutiono witho theo charge-sheet.o Thereafter,o theo secondo applicationo preferredobyotheoaccusedoseekingodischargeowasodismissedoasonotopressedobyo him.oTheothirdoapplicationoforodischargeowasopreferredobyohim,owhenotheotrialo hado proceededo ando 17o witnessesohadobeeno examined,oonotheo groundothato sanctioningo authorityo waso noto theo competento authorityo ando investigatingo officersohadosuppressedotheomaterialoevidence.oTheoapplicationowasorejectedo byo theo trialo Courto buto theo petitiono undero Sectiono 482o Cr.P.C.o preferredo thereagainstowasoallowedobyotheoHighoCourt.oTheoSupremeoCourtohadoheldo thatoapplicationoforodischargeoonotheogroundoofovalidityoofosanctionocouldo haveobeenopreferredoatoanoinitialostage,obutoafterotheocommencementoofotheo trialotheoquestionoofoinvalidosanctionocanoonlyobeodecidedoatotheoconclusionoofo

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theotrial.oTheojudgmentoofotheoHighoCourtowasosetoasideobutotheorespondento wasoaffordedolibertyotooraiseotheoissueoofotheovalidityoofotheosanctionoatotheo finalostageoofotheoargumentsoinotheotrial.o o

20.o o Iohaveoalsooconsideredotheojudgmentsowhichohaveobeenocitedobyo learnedo senioro counselo foro respondento No.2o includingo thoseo ino theo compilationo ofo judgmentso aso wello aso thoseo referredo ino hiso replyo foro considerationoofothisoCourt.oThereoisonoodenyingotheopropositionoofolawolaido downo thato sanctiono too prosecuteo fromo competento authorityo iso necessaryo beforeo prosecutingo ao publico servant.o Prosecutiono ino absenceo ofo sanctiono wouldobeovitiated.oTheopublicoservantomayotakeoobjectionsowithoregardotoo validityo oro absenceo ofo ao valido sanctiono ato cognizanceo stageo buto aftero theo commencementoofotheotrialoheomayotakeoobjectionsoatotheotimeoofoconclusiono ofotheotrial,obutotheotrialoshallonotobeoscuttledoinotheomidst.oTheonecessityotoo obtainosanctionobeforeoprosecutingopublicoservantsoisotooensureothatotheyoareo protectedofromofrivolous,ovexatiousoandoconcoctedocomplaintsootherwiseoito willobeodifficultoforotheopublicoservantsotoodischargeotheirofunctionofearlessly.o Therefore,othereodoesonotoseemotoobeoanyolegaloinfirmityoinodischargingotheo respondentoNo.2oforotheotimeobeingoforowantoofosanctionofromotheocompetento authority.oo

(d)oo o Furtherocourseoofoactionotoobeoadoptedoafterodischargeodueoo o o tooinvalidosanctionoo o

21.o o InotheocommunicationoaddressedobyotheoStateoGovernmentotootheo CentraloGovernmentoono26.03.2018,oitowasostatedothatoinvestigatingoofficerso wereonotoableotoosubstantiateotheoallegationsoagainstorespondentoNo.2obeyondo reasonableodoubtoandohenceotheomatterohasobeenoclosed.oTheocommunicationo datedo26.03.2018o(AnnexureoR-5)oisoreproducedohereunder:-o

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o o "Io amo directedo too refero too youro lettero No.107/7/2014-AVD.Io datedo 25.07.2017o ono theo subjecto mentionedo above.o Theo views/commentso ofo theo Stateo Governmentoinorespectoofosanctionoofoprosecutionoundero theoPCoAct,o1988oalong-withoopinionoofoLawoDepartmento ofotheoStateoGovernmentoonotheomeritsoofotheocaseohaveo beenosoughtovideoaboveomentionedoletter.oo

2.oo o Theo competento authorityo haso re-examinedo theo mattero ando haso concludedo thato theo investigatingo officersohaveoneitheroclearlyorebuttedotheoissuesoraisedobyo Sh.oVijayoKumaroJanjua,oIASonorohaveotheyoansweredotheo pointso raisedo byo himo ino hiso representationo datedo

14.07.2014,o and,o therefore,o theo benefito ofo inadequateo rebuttalo ando non-replyo byo theo investigatingo officerso shouldogootootheoconcernedoofficer.oAsoallegationsoagainsto theoofficerohaveonotobeenosubstantiatedobeyondoreasonableo doubtobyotheoinvestigatingoofficers,ohence,otheomatterohaso beenoclosed."o o

3.oo o Inotheolightoofoabove,oitoisointimatedothatotheo prosecutionosanctionosoughtovideoletterodatedo06.05.2014o ofotheoStateoGovernmentoisonotorequiredoandothisolettero mayobeotreatedoasowithdrawn.oTherefore,okeepingoinoviewo theo decisiono takeno byo theo Stateo Government,o theo views/commentso ofo theo Stateo Governmento ando Lawo Departmento ofo Stateo Governmento ono sanctiono ofo prosecutionoareonotorequired."oo o o o o o oooooooo

22.o o Theo Centralo Government,o consequently,o video lettero datedo

01.05.2018,o ono theo requesto ofo theo Stateo Governmento hado sento backo theo proposaloalongowithotheodocuments.oTheorelevantoparagraphsoofotheolettero datedo01.05.2018oisoreproducedohereunder:-o o o "Ioamodirectedotooreferotooyouroletterodatedo

26.03.2018oonotheosubjectomentionedoaboveoinoreferenceo

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too thiso Department'so lettero ofo eveno numbero datedo

25.07.2017.o Theo proposalo ofo theo Stateo governmento ofo Punjabo haso noto beeno construedo too receiveo byo thiso DepartmentounderoSingleowindowosystemobeingoincomplete.o

2.o Proposalo sento too thiso Departmento alongo witho theo documentsoforoissuanceoofoprosecutionosanctionoagainstoSh.o VijayoKumaroJanjua,oIASo(oPB:o89)oinocaseono.o09odatedo

09.11.2009o registeredo byo Stateo Vigilanceo iso returnedo herewithoinooriginalosubsequentotootheodecisionoofotheoStateo GovernmentoofoPunjaboregardingoclosingoofomatter."o o

23.o o Itoisonoteworthyothatotheosanctioningoauthorityohasotooonlyosee,o whetheroaoprimaofacieocaseoforocommissionoofooffenceoisomadeooutooronot.o Theo allegationso cano beo provedo beyondo reasonableo doubto onlyo aftero appreciationoofoevidenceobyotheotrialoCourtoatotheoconclusionoofotheotrial.oItoiso notomentionedoinotheocommunicationodatedo26.03.2018o(AnnexureoR-5)oasotoo whetheroanyofreshomaterialoexceptoaorepresentationobyorespondentoNo.2odatedo

14.07.2014ohadocomeotootheolightodueotoowhichotheoStateoGovernmentohado withdrawnoitsoproposalofromotheoCentraloGovernment.oTheochallanohadobeeno filedoono29.04.2010oandonoofurtheroinvestigationoappearsotoohaveobeenocarriedo outothereafter.oTheoorderodatedo27.04.2010ograntingosanctionobyotheoStateoo Governmentoohasooneitheroobeenoospecificallyoowithdrawnoonorooreviewedoobyo theooStateooGovernmentooalthoughootheoStateoGovernmentoisonototheocompetento authorityotooaccordosanction.oEvenootherwise,oitoisowellosettledothatoonceoano orderohasobeenopassedobyotheocompetentoauthorityounderoSectiono19oofotheoo PCooAct,oitoisonotopermissibleoforotheosanctioningoauthorityootooreviewoooroo reconsiderootheomatteroonootheoosameomaterialoagain.oHowever,otheoomatterocanoo beooreconsideredobyotheosanctioningoauthorityooonlyooinootheoolightooofoofreshooo

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material.ooReferenceoomayoobeoomadeootoootheojudgmentoinotheocaseoofoStateoofo HimachaloPradeshoVs.oNishantoSareeno(2010)o14oSCCo527.oTheorelevanto paragraphoofotheojudgmentoisoreproducedohereunder:-o "12.oo ItoisotrueothatotheoGovernmentoinotheomatteroofogranto ororefusalotoograntosanctionoexercisesostatutoryopoweroando thatowouldonotomeanothatopoweroonceoexercisedocannotobeo exercisedoagainooroatoaosubsequentostageoinotheoabsenceoofo expressopowerooforeviewoinonoocircumstanceowhatsoever.o Theo powero ofo review,o however,o iso noto unbridledo oro unrestricted.oItoseemsotoousosoundoprincipleotoofollowothato onceotheostatutoryopowerounderoSectiono19oofotheo1988o ActooroSectiono197oofotheoCodeohasobeenoexercisedobyotheo Governmentoorotheocompetentoauthority,oasotheocaseomayo be,oitoisonotopermissibleoforotheosanctioningoauthorityotoo reviewo oro reconsidero theo mattero ono theo sameo materialso again.oItoisosoobecauseounrestrictedopowerooforeviewomayo notobringofinalityotoosuchoexerciseoandoonochangeoofotheo Governmento oro changeo ofo theo persono authorisedo too exerciseo powero ofo sanction,o theo mattero concerningo sanctiono mayo beo reopenedo byo sucho authorityo foro theo reasonsobestoknownotooitoandoaodifferentoorderomayobeo passed.o Theo opiniono ono theo sameo materials,o thus,o mayo keepoonochangingoandothereomayonotobeoanyoendotoosucho statutoryoexercise.oInoouroopinion,oaochangeoofoopiniono pero seo ono theo sameo materialso cannoto beo ao groundo foro reviewingoororeconsideringotheoearlieroorderorefusingotoo grantosanction.oHowever,oinoaocaseowhereofreshomaterialso haveo beeno collectedo byo theo investigatingo agencyo subsequento too theo earliero ordero ando placedo beforeo theo sanctioningo authorityo ando ono thato basis,o theo mattero iso reconsideredobyotheosanctioningoauthorityoandoinolightoofo theofreshomaterialsoanoopinionoisoformedothatosanctionotoo prosecuteotheopublicoservantomayobeogranted,othereomayo notobeoanyoimpedimentotooadoptosuchocourse."o

CRM-M-11381-2016o(O&M)oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(27)

o o o o o oooooooo

24.o o Theo Supremeo Courto ino theo caseo ofo Stateo ofo Goao v.o Babuo Thomaso(supra)oheldothatosanctionotooprosecuteotheorespondentothereinowhoo wasoemployedoasoaoJointoManageroinotheoGoaoShipyardoLimitedohadobeeno grantedo byo ano incompetento authority.o Theo Supremeo Court,o takingo intoo accountotheogravityoofotheoallegationsoagainstotheorespondentotherein,ohado permittedotheocompetentoauthorityotooissueofreshosanctionoorderoandodirectedo theotrialoCourtotooproceedoafreshoagainstotheorespondentofromotheostageoofo takingo cognizanceo ofo theo offence.o Theo allegationso againsto theo respondento thereinowereothatoheohadodemandedoandoacceptedoanoillegalogratificationoofo Rs.3,68,000/-oforoshowingofavourotooaocontractor.oTheorelevantoextractoofotheo operativeopartoofotheojudgmentoinotheocaseoofoStateoofoGoaov.oBabuoThomaso (supra)oisoreproducedohereunder:-o "14.o Havingo regardo too theo gravityo ofo theo allegationso leveledoagainstotheorespondent,oweopermitotheocompetento authorityotooissueoaofreshosanctionoorderobyoanoauthorityo competentounderotheoRulesoandoproceedoafreshoagainstotheo respondento fromo theo stageo ofo takingo cognizanceo ofotheo offenceoandoinoaccordanceowitholaw."o o

25.o o IomayoalsooreferotootheojudgmentoofotheoSupremeoCourtoinotheo caseoofoStateoofoKarnatakaov.oC.oNagarajaswamyo(supra)owhereinotheo allegationoagainstotheoaccusedotherein,owhoowasoManageroinotheoBankowaso thato sheo hado misappropriatedo ao sumo ofo Rs.40,000/-.o Theo sanctiono too prosecuteotheoaccusedothereinohadobeenoinitiallyograntedobyoanoincompetento authorityoandotheoaccusedowasodischarged.oSubsequently,otheosanctionohado beenograntedobyotheocompetentoauthorityoandofreshochargeosheetowasofiledo whicho waso challengedo byo theo accused.o Theo Higho Courto quashedo theo proceedingso byo holdingo thato deo novoo proceedingso wereo bado ino law.o Theo

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appealothereagainstowasoallowedobyotheoSupremeoCourtoandotheojudgmentoofo theo Higho Courto waso seto aside.o Theo Supremeo Courto dido noto accepto theo contentionoofotheorespondentothereinothatosheoshouldonotobeoputotootrialoagain.o Theo Supremeo Courto requestedo theo trialo Courto too disposeo ofo theo caseo expeditiously.oTheorelevantoextractoofotheojudgmentoinotheocaseoofoStateoofo Karnatakaov.oC.oNagarajaswamyo(supra)oisoreproducedohereunder:-o "26.oo Theo learnedo counselo foro theo respondento nexto contendedo thato havingo regardo too theo facto thato theo respondentsohereinohaveofacedoordealoofotrialoforoaolongo time,oitowouldonotobeoinotheointerestoofojusticeotooputothemo ono trialo onceo again.o Ino thiso behalfo heo reliedo ono theo decisiono ofo thiso Courto ino Stateo ofo M.P.o v.o Bhoorajio [(2001)o7oSCCo679o:o(2001)oSCCo(Cri)o1373o:oJTo(2001)o7o SCo55]owhereinoitoisoobservedothatofreshotrialoshouldobeo orderedoonlyoinoexceptionalocasesoofo"failureoofojustice".o InoBhoorajio[(2001)o7oSCCo679o:o(2001)oSCCo(Cri)o1373o:o JTo(2001)o7oSCo55]otheospecifiedocourtobeingoaoSessionso CourtotookocognizanceoofotheooffenceounderotheoSCoando STo(PreventionoofoAtrocities)oActowithoutotheocaseobeingo committedotooit.oItoconvictedoandosentencedotheoaccused.o Duringo pendencyo ofo appealo byo theo accusedo beforeo theo Higho Court,o thiso Courto tooko theo viewo thato committalo proceedingsoareonecessaryoforoaospecifiedocourtotootakeo cognizanceo ofo offenceso too beo triedo undero theo Act.o Theo Higho Court,o therefore,o quashedo theo entireo proceedingso andodirectedotrialodeonovo.oInothatocontextothisoCourtoheldo thatoorderingodeonovootrialowasonotojustifiedoandoasotheo trialo waso conductedo byo ao "competento court",o theo sameo cannoto beo erasedo merelyo ono accounto ofo ao proceduralo lapse.oWeomayonoticeothatoinoaocaseowhereotheotrialowaso conductedobyoaocourtoofocompetentojurisdictionoendingoino convictiono oro acquittal,o ao retrialo mayo noto beo directed.o Interpretingo Sectiono 465o ofo theo Code,o thiso Courto ino

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Bhoorajio[(2001)o7oSCCo679o:o(2001)oSCCo(Cri)o1373o:o JTo(2001)o7oSCo55]oheldo:o(SCCop.o689,oparao22)o "22.oTheobaroagainstotakingocognizanceoofocertaino offenceso oro byo certaino courtso cannoto governo theo questionowhetherotheocourtoconcernedoiso'aocourtoofo competento jurisdiction',o e.g.o courtso areo debarredo fromotakingocognizanceoofocertainooffencesowithouto sanctiono ofo certaino authorities.o Ifo ao courto tooko cognizanceo ofo sucho offences,o whicho wereo latero foundotoobeowithoutovalidosanction,oitowouldonoto becomeotheotestoorostandardoforodecidingowhethero thatocourtowaso'aocourtoofocompetentojurisdiction'.o Ito iso nowo wello settledo thato ifo theo questiono ofo sanctionowasonotoraisedoatotheoearliestoopportunityo theo proceedingso wouldo remaino unaffectedo ono accounto ofo wanto ofo sanction.o Thiso iso anothero exampleotooshowothatotheoconditionoprecedentoforo takingocognizanceoisonototheostandardotoodetermineo whethero theo courto concernedo iso 'ao courto ofo competentojurisdiction'."oo o o o 27.oo xxxxxxxo o o o 28.oo xxxxxxxo o o o 29.oo xxxxxxxo o o o 30.oo xxxxxxxo

31.o Keepingoinoviewotheoaforementionedoprinciplesoando havingoregardotootheofactsoandocircumstancesoofothisocase,o however,oweoareoofotheoopinionothatotheointerestoofojusticeo shallobeosubservedoifowhileoallowingotheseoappealsoando settingoasideotheojudgmentsoofotheoHighoCourt,otheotrialo Courtoisorequestedotoodisposeoofotheomattersoatoanoearlyo dateo preferablyo withino sixo monthso fromo theo dateo ofo communicationo ofo thiso order,o subject,o ofo course,o too renditionoofoallocooperationoofotheorespondentsoherein.oIno theo evento theo trialo iso noto completedo withino theo aforementionedo periodo ito wouldo beo openo too theo

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respondentso too approacho theo Higho Courto again.o Theseo appealso areo disposedo ofo witho theo aforementionedo directions.oNoocosts."o o o o o o o o o ooooooo

26.o o Itowouldobeodifficultotooacceptotheocontentionoofolearnedocounselo fororespondentoNo.2othatoasotheocaseowasolodgedoagainstotheopetitioneroinoao malaofideoandomotivatedomanner,otheomatterooughtotoobeoclosedoatothisostageo aso ito haso beeno renderedo infructuous.o Relianceo haso beeno placedo upono theo judgmento ofo theo Supremeo Courto ino theo caseo ofo Nanjappao Vs.o Stateo ofo Karnatakao(supra).oThisojudgmentoisoclearlyodistinguishableoonofactsoando wouldonotobeoapplicableotootheocaseooforespondentoNo.2oforotheoreasonothato theoaccusedothereinowhoowasoworkingoasoaoBilloCollectorowithotheoGramo PanchayatowasoallegedotoohaveoacceptedoillegalogratificationoofoRs.500/-oforo furnishingoaocopyoofotheoresolutionoofotheoPanchayat.oTheoaccusedothereino hadofacedotheotrial.oHeohadobeenoconvictedoandosentenced.oOnotheocontrary,o respondentoNo.2oisotheomemberoofotheoIndianoAdministrativeoServiceoandotheo allegationopertainsotooillegalogratificationoofoRs.2olacs.oo

27.o o Curiously,o theo criminalo proceedingso appearo too haveo hado noo effecto ono respondento No.2o whoo roseo too theo positionso ofo Financialo Commissioner,o Revenueo ando Chiefo Secretaryo ofo theo State,o whicho iso theo highestopostoinotheoStateobureaucracy.oo

28.oo o Itoisoaosettledopropositionoofolawothatocriminaloprosecutionoifo otherwiseo justifiableo ando basedo ono adequateo evidenceo iso noto vitiatedo ono accountoofomalaofideoofotheofirstoinformant.oReferenceocanobeomadeotootheo judgmentsoofotheoSupremeoCourtoinotheocasesoofoSheonandanoPaswanoVs.o Stateo ofo Biharo (supra)o ando Krishnao Ballabho Sahayo ando otherso vs.o CommissionoofoEn9uiryo&others,o1969oSCRo(1)o387.oo

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29.oo o ThisoCourtowouldonotoopineoonotheomeritsoofotheocaseoatothiso stageo buto theo allegationso againsto respondento No.2,o whoo waso occupyingo ao senioropostoinoIndianoAdministrativeoService,oareoratheroseriousobecauseoheo hadoallegedlyodemandedoRs.6olacsoforoallottingotheovacantoplotoadjacentotootheo broilerofactoryoofotheopetitioner.oAlthoughotheodealowasostruckoatoRs.5olacs,oano amountoofoRs.2olacsowasotoobeopaidoinitiallyotoohimowhileotheoremainingo amountoofoRs.3olacsowasotoobeopaidoafterotheocompletionoofowork.oOnotheo statementoofotheocomplainant,oaotrapowasolaidobyotheoVigilanceoBureauoono

09.11.2009o ando theo currencyo notes,o whicho wereo handedo overo byo theo petitionerotoorespondentoNo.2,owereocoveredowithophenolphthaleinopowdero ando later,o theo demonstrationo ofo reactiono ofo phenolphthaleino powdero witho solutionoofosodiumocarbonateowasoconductedoandotheoallegedorecoveryotootheo tuneoofoRs.2olacsowasoeffectedoinotheopresenceoofotwoowitnesses,onamely,o Sukhmandero Singh,o Researcho Officer,o Planningo Department,o Punjab,o ChandigarhoandoSh.oSubhashoChawla,oSuperintendentoGrade-I,oOfficeoofotheo DirectoroEducationoDepartment,oPunjab,oChandigarh.o

30.o o Ito deserveso too beo noticedo thato althougho theo salarieso ofo theo governmento employeeso haveo increasedo handsomelyo overo theo yearso buto corruptionocontinuesounabatedoasothereoisonoolimitotoohumanogreed.oTheosocialo stigmaoattachedotoocorruptionoisoalsoodiminishing.oTheoelementooforiskoforo indulgingoinocorruptopracticesoneedsotoobeoincreasedotooserveoasoaodeterrent.o Corruptiono appearso too beo ao lowo risko ando higho profito ventureo ando ito iso imperativeothatoitobecomesoaolowoprofitoandohighoriskoventureoifoitohasotoobeo ultimatelyo eradicated.o Ito iso needo ofo theo houro too adopto ao zeroo toleranceo

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31.o o TheoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoStateoofoChhattisgarhoando anotheroVs.oAmanoKumaroSinghoandootherso(supra)ohasoexpressedograveo concernooverotheomalaiseoofocorruptionoandoobservedothatotheoinvestigationso oroinquiriesothatofollowotheseoscamsoareobotchedoandoassumeotheoproportiono ofobiggeroscamsothanotheoscamsothemselves.oTheorelevantoparagraphoofotheo judgmentoisoreproducedohereunder:-o "49.oo xxxxxxx…..Thoughoitoisoaopreambularopromiseoofo theoConstitutionotoosecureosocialojusticeotootheopeopleoofo Indiaobyostrivingotooachieveoequalodistributionoofowealth,o itoisoyetoaodistantodream.oIfonototheomain,ooneoofotheomoreo prominentohurdlesoforoachievingoprogressoinothisofieldoiso undoubtedlyo 'corruption'.o Corruptiono iso ao malaise,o theo presenceoofowhichoisoallopervadingoinoeveryowalkoofolife.o Ito iso noto nowo limitedo too theo sphereso ofo activitieso ofo governance;o regrettably,o responsibleo citizenso sayo ito haso becomeo ao wayo ofo one'so life.o Indeed,o ito iso ao mattero ofo disgraceoforotheoentireocommunityothatonotoonlyoonotheo oneohandoisothereoaosteadyodeclineoinsteadofastlyopursuingo theo loftyo idealso whicho theo foundingo fatherso ofo ouro Constitutionohadoinomind,odegradationoofomoralovaluesoino societyo iso rapidlyo ono theo riseo ono theo other.o Noto mucho debateoisorequiredotootraceotheorootoofocorruption.o'Greed'o regardedoinoHinduismoasooneoofotheosevenosins,ohasobeeno overpoweringoinoitsoimpact.oInofact,ounsatiatedogreedoforo wealthohasofacilitatedocorruptionotoodevelopolikeocancer.oIfo theo corrupto succeedo ino dupingo theo lawo enforcers,o theiro successoerodesoevenotheofearoofogettingocaught.oTheyotendo toobaskounderoaohubrisothatorulesoandoregulationsoareoforo humbleromortalsoandonotothem.oToogetocaught,oforothem,oiso ao sin.o Littleo wondero outbreako ofo scamo iso commonlyo noticed.oWhatoisomoreodistressingoisotheoinvestigations/o inquirieso thato follow.o Moreo ofteno thano not,o theseo areo

CRM-M-11381-2016o(O&M)oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(33)

botchedoandoassumeotheoproportionoofotheobiggeroscamso thanotheoscamsothemselves.oxxxxxx"o o o o o o o

32.oo o Itoisotriteolawothatoinotheoeventoofodischargeoofoaopublicoservanto forowantoofosanctionooroillegalityoofosanction,otheomatterooughtonotobeoclosedo butorevivedoonotheograntoofosanctionobyotheocompetentoauthorityoasoheldobyo theoSupremeoCourtoinotheocasesoofoStateoofoGoaov.oBabuoThomaso(supra)o andoStateoofoKarnatakaov.oC.oNagarajaswamyo(supra).o

33.o o Theo petitionero hado preferredo theo writo petitiono bearingo CWPo No.1406oofo2020ochallengingotheowithdrawaloofotheoproposalosentobyotheo Stateo Governmento too theo Centralo Governmento foro grantingo sanctiono too prosecuteorespondentoNo.2.oThatopetitionohadobeenopreferredomuchoafterotheo instantopetitionowhichowasopreferredoinotheoyearo2016.oItoisonoteworthyothato respondento No.2o waso theo Chiefo Secretary,o Punjab,o wheno CWPo bearingo No.1406o ofo 2020o waso withdrawno ono 18.08.2022.o Theo petitiono haso beeno dismissedoasowithdrawnoandothereowasonooadjudicationoonomerits.oo

34.o o ThisoCourtocannotoshutoitsoeyesotootheoseriousoallegationsoagainsto theopetitioner.oIfothisoCourtoallowsotheomatterotoobeoclosedoorobrushedoundero theocarpetoatothisostageoitowouldobeofailingoinoitsodutyotooensureothatojusticeoiso notoonlyodoneobutoseemotoobeodoneoinocasesoinvolvingocorruptionobyohigho governmentofunctionaries.oItoisotheosacredodutyoofothisoCourtotooupholdotheo ruleoofolawoandoanyoleniencyoinocorruptionocasesowouldoerodeotheofaithoofotheo commonomanoinotheoruleoofolaw.oRespondentoNo.2owasoaomemberoofotheo Indiano Administrativeo Serviceo andopostedo asotheo Director,o Departmentoofo IndustriesoandoCommerce,oPunjab,owhenotheoFIRowasoregisteredoagainstohimo inotheoyearo2009.oo

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35.o o ItoisotrueothatothisoCourtocannotodirectotheocompetentoauthorityotoo accordosanction.oItoisoentirelyoupotootheocompetentoauthorityotooindependentlyo decideotheoissueoofograntoofosanction.oo

36.o o However,othisoCourtowhileoexercisingojurisdictionounderoSectiono 482oCr.P.C.owouldodirectotheocompetentoauthorityotooapplyoitsomindotootheo issueoofograntingosanctionotooprosecuteorespondentoNo.2oafteroconsideringotheo relevantomaterialoandotakeoaodecisionoinoaccordanceowitholaw.ooo VII.oo o ConcealmentoofomaterialoparticularsobyorespondentoNo.2o

37.o o ItoisoimportantotoonoteothatorespondentoNo.2,oinohisoreply,ohaso referredo too theo ordero passedo byo theo Magistrateo ono 30.11.2019o ono theo applicationopreferredobyorespondentoNo.2ounderoSectiono156(3)oCr.P.C.oforo directingotheoSHO,oPoliceoStationoSectoro17,oUT,oChandigarh,otoocarryoouto theo investigationo aftero registrationo ofo FIRo againsto theo Police/Vigilanceo officersoandotheopetitionerohereinoforofabricatingoevidenceoandofilingoaofalseo caseoagainstohim.oo o

38.o o Theo trialo Courto treatedo theo applicationo undero Sectiono 156(3)o Cr.P.C.o aso ao complainto ando summonedo theo petitionero hereino ando theo Police/Vigilanceo officerso byo ordero datedo 30.11.2019o whileo opiningo thato ao primao facieo caseo foro commissiono ofo variouso offenceso iso madeo out.o Respondento No.2o hado alsoo placedo ono recordo ao copyo ofo theo ordero datedo

30.11.2019oasoAnnexureoR-10obyopreferringoapplicationobearingoCRMoNo.o 8228oofo2023oono16.02.2023.oThereoisonoomentionoinotheoapplicationoabouto theosubsequentoordersoorotheooutcomeoofotheseoproceedingsoand,otherefore,o thisoCourtolearntoaboutotheostatusoofothoseoproceedingsofromotheowebsiteoofo thisoCourtoasowelloasotheoDistrictoCourt,oChandigarh,owhichorevealedostartlingo factsonotodisclosedobyorespondentoNo.2.oTheoorderodatedo30.11.2019owaso

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challengedobyotheopetitionerohereinobyopreferringoaopetitionobearingoCRM-Mo No.8764oofo2020obeforeothisoCourt.oTheopetitionowasodismissedoasowithdrawno beforeotheoCoordinateoBenchoofothisoCourtoono13.04.2023oafterotheoCourtohado beeno informedo thato theo maino criminalo complainto waso withdrawno byo respondentoNo.2obeforeotheotrialoCourtoono16.08.2022.oTheooperativeopartoofo theoorderopassedoono13.04.2023oinoCRM-MoNo.8764oofo2020oisoreproducedo hereunder:-o "Reporto submittedo byo theo trialo Courto iso orderedo too beo takenoonorecord.o AsoperotheoreportosubmittedobyotheolearnedotrialoCourt,otheo maino criminalo complainto alreadyo standso dismissedo aso withdrawnovideoordero16.8.2022.o Facedo witho theo aforesaido situation,o theo counselo foro theo petitioneropraysoforopermissionotoowithdrawotheopetition.o Dismissedoasowithdrawn."o o

39.o o Aocopyoofotheoorderodatedo16.08.2022opassedobyotheotrialoCourto wherebyo theo complaintohadobeenodismissedo aso withdrawno asodownloadedo fromotheowebsiteoofotheoe-courtsoChandigarhoisoreproducedohereunder:-o o o "Fileotakenoupotodayoonotheoapplicationofiledo byocounseloforocomplainantoforowithdrawingotheopresento complaint.o Sh.o Anandeshwaro Advo haso filedo POAo ono behalfoofotheocomplainant.oStatementoofocomplainantohaso beeno recorded,o withdrawingo theo presento complaint.o Therefore,oinoviewoofotheostatementoofotheocomplainant,o theo presento complainto standso dismissedo aso withdrawn.o Accusedostandsodischarged.oFileobeoconsigned."oo oo

40.o o Ito is,o thus,o patento thato respondento No.2o haso placedo heavyo relianceoonotheointerimoorderopassedobyotheoJudicialoMagistrateo(trialoCourt)o ono30.11.2019owithoutodisclosingotheofactumothatotheocomplaintoitselfohado

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beenowithdrawnobyohimoono16.08.2022.oTheoreplyoonobehalfooforespondento No.2oinotheoinstantopetitionowasofiledoono08.08.2023.oTheorelevantoextractoofo theoreplyowhereinotheoorderodatedo30.11.2019opassedobyotheoMagistrateoiso referredotoobyorespondentoNo.2oisoreproducedohereunder:-o "4.oo Thatotheopurposeoofoprioroprosecutionosanctionou/so19oofo theoPCoAct,o1988oisotooprotectotheohonestoofficersoandotooensureo thatonooinnocentopersonoisosubjectedotoovexatious,ofrivolousooro maliciouso prosecution.o Too protecto theo publico servantso fromo harassmentotheoprovisionoofopriorosanctionohasobeenoprovided.o Onlyoifoaoprimaofacieocaseoisomadeooutotheocompetentoauthorityo grantsoprosecutionosanction.oTheoLearnedoJudicialoMagistrateoofo Chandigarh,o ono ano applicationo filedo 156(3)o Cr.P.C.o byo theo respondentoNo.2,ovideohisoorderodatedo30.11.2019o(AnnexureoR-10)ohasoheldothatoprimaofacieotheocaseoagainstotheorespondento waso resulto ofo criminalo conspiracy,o falseo chargeo waso madeo againstohimoandoevidenceowasofabricated.oThisoorderowasopassedo afteronearlyo8oyearsoofotrialoandotheorelevantoportionohasobeeno extractedobelow:o o o "Ono theo basiso ofo aboveo discussions,o primao facieo commissiono ofo offenceo punishableo undero Sectiono 120Bo (criminalo conspiracy),o 166o (Publico servanto disobeyingolaw),o167o(Publicoservantoframingoanoincorrecto document),o186o(obstructingoaopublicoservant),o195o(foro fabricatingofalseoevidence),o211o(Falseochargeowithointento tooinjure),o218o(Publicoservantoframingoincorrectorecord),o 347o (wrongfulo confinemento too extorto property),o 353o (assaulto ono publico servant),o 355o (criminalo forceo too dishonoro person),o 357o (criminalo forceo too confineo ao person),o 365o (Kidnappingo too confineo secretly),o 386o (Extortionobyoputtingoaopersonoinofearoofogrievousoinjury),o 452o(CriminaloTrespass)oando500o(Defamation)oofoIPC,o 1860obyotheoaccusedonamelyoS.S.oMand,oSPoVigilance,o Ludhianao Ravcharano Singho Brar,o DSPo Vigilanceo

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Ludhiana,o SPo Singho SPo Vigilanceo (Retd.),o Tulsio Ramo Misrao ando Ramo Swartho Misrao appearso too haveo beeno committed."oo o

41.o o ItowasoincumbentouponorespondentoNo.2otoohaveodisclosedotheo factumo ofo withdrawalo ofo theo complaint.o Onceo theo complainto haso beeno withdrawnobyorespondentoNo.2,oheooughtonototoohaveoreliedouponotheointerimo orderopassedotherein.oTheoconductooforespondentoNo.2odoesonotoredoundotoo theocreditoofoaopersonowhoohasoheldotheohighoofficeoofoChiefoSecretaryoofoao State.oo

42.o o Evenootherwise,otheoorderosummoningotheoaccusedotoofaceotrialo aftero recordingo preliminaryo evidenceo haso beeno passedo byo theo Magistrateo withoutoconsideringotheodefenceoversionoandowithoutoissuanceoofonoticeotoo theoaccused.oTheoMagistrateoatothatostageowasonotorequiredotooevaluateotheo meritso ofo theo materialo oro sufficiencyo ofo evidenceo ofo theo complainanto (respondentoNo.2oherein).oRespondentoNo.2ohasoreliedouponotheocallodetailso ando theo locationo ofo theo petitionero hereino ando otherso includingo police/Vigilanceo officers.o Theseo areo issueso whicho wouldo requireo determinationoatotheotrialoafteroappreciationoofoevidenceoledobyotheoparties.o VIII.ooo Conclusiono

43.o o Inotheoresult,othisoCourtodoesonotofindoanyomanifestoillegalityoino theoimpugnedoorderodischargingorespondentoNo.2oforotheotimeobeing,obutoato theosameotimeothisoCourtodeemsoitofitotoodirectotheoStateoofoPunjabotooforwardo allo documentso pertainingo too theo considerationo foro granto ofo sanctiono too prosecuteorespondentoNo.2otootheoCentraloGovernment.oTheoChiefoSecretary,o PunjaboshalloforwardotheopapersowithinoaomonthotootheoSecretary,oDepartmento ofoPersonneloandoTraining,oGovernmentoofoIndia.oTheocompetentoauthorityoino theoCentraloGovernmentowouldoconsiderotheoissueoandotakeoaofinalodecisionoino

CRM-M-11381-2016o(O&M)oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo(38)

accordanceowitholawowithinoaoperiodoofothreeomonthsoextendableobyoanothero monthofromotheoreceiptoofotheopapers.oo

44.o o Needlessotoosayothatotheoobservationsomadeohereinbeforeoareoforo theo purposeo ofo decidingo thiso petitiono ando wouldo noto beo construedo aso ano expressionoofoopinionoonotheomeritsoofotheocaseoagainstorespondentoNo.2.o

45.oo o Inocase,otheosanctionoisoaccordedotooprosecuteorespondentoNo.2,o theotrialoCourtoshalloproceedoinoaccordanceowitholawoandoconcludeotheotrialo expeditiously.o

46.o o Theo petitiono standso disposedo ofo accordingly.o Pendingo application(s),oifoany,oalsoostandsodisposedoof.oo o o o o o o o o (ANUPINDERoSINGHoGREWAL)o o o o o o o o JUDGEo o Pronouncedoon:o15.09.2023o o SwarnjitSo o o o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :oo Yeso/oNoo o o o o Whetheroreportableo o :oo Yeso/oNoo