Union of India and Another v. Kulbir Singh

o -1-o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoo AToCHANDIGARHoo ooooooooooooooooooo o o o o o oooooLPA-113-2020o(O&M)o DATEoOFoDECISION:o30.01.2026o o UnionoofoIndiaoandoothersoUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers ...Appellantso o Vs.o KulbiroSingho o o o...Respondento o o CORAM:ooo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoASHWANIoKUMARoMISHRAo o o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoROHIToKAPOORo oooooooooooooooooooo o o Present:o Ms.oPuneetaoSethi,oAdvocate,oSenioroPaneloCounsel,oUOIowithoo Mr.oY.S.oThakur,oAdvocate,oSenioroPaneloCounsel,oUOIo forotheoappellants.o o o o Mr.oVarindraoPratapoSingh,oAdvocateoando o o Mr.oGurmanoSingh,oAdvocateoforotheorespondent.o oo ****o ROHIToKAPOORo,oJ.oo

1.e Theo appellantso haveo assailedo theo judgmento ando ordero datedo

31.05.2019opassedobyotheolearnedoSingleoJudgeoinoCWP-1034-2017,owherebyotheo writopetitionofiledobyotheorespondent-petitionerohasobeenoallowedoandotheoorderso datedo16.11.2015oando13.02.2016,odismissingohimofromoserviceoandorejectingohiso statutoryo appeal,o haveo beeno seto asideo ando directionso haveo beeno issuedo too theo appellantsotooreinstateotheowritopetitionerowithocontinuityoofoserviceoandoancillaryo benefits.o Theo learnedo Singleo Judgeo haso howevero heldo thato theo respondent-petitioneroshallonotobeoentitledoforobackowagesoduringotheoperiodoheoremainedoouto ofoservice.o

2.e Theo factso involvedolieo ino ao narrowo compass.o Theo respondento waso enrolledoinotheoBSFo(BorderoSecurityoForce)oasoaoFollowero(Cook)owithoeffecto o -2-o o fromo12.07.2000oandofurtherore-musteredoasoaoConstableoono28.11.2003.ooWhileo postedoono90BNoBSFoAbohar,oPunjaboinotheoyearo2015,oheogototheounfortunateo newsothatohisomother-in-lawohadopassedoawayoono17.10.2015.oItoisoclaimedothato sinceohisowifeowasoaodisabledoperson,osheocouldonotohandleotheoarrangementsoforo theolastoritesobyoherself,oandotherefore,otheorespondentorequestedoforoleave,owhicho wasonotoaccededoto.oTheolastoritesotookoplaceoono18.10.2015,oinohisoabsence.ooItoiso claimedobyotheorespondentothatowhileoheowasoperformingohisodutyoatotheosentryo postonearotheoofficers'oquartersoinotheolateoeveningoofo18.10.2015oitself,oheogotoao callo fromo hiso wife,o ando heo goto emotionalo ando startedo crying.o o Theo Deputyo Commandanto ofo theo Battaliono cameo outo ofo hiso residenceo ando goto furiouso ono accountoofotheorespondentodisplayingosuchoweakobehaviour.o

3.e Onotheocontrary,oitoisotheocaseoofotheoappellantsothatotheorespondent-petitionerowasofoundobyotheosuperioroofficersoinoanoinebriatedocondition,oandoheo usedothreatening/abusiveolanguageoquaohisosuperiorsoinosuchodrunkenostate.oo

4.e Ito transpireso thato theo respondento waso takeno ino custody,o however,o undisputedlyonoomedicaloexaminationowasogotoconducted.oAnooffenceoreportowaso preparedoono19.10.2015oandotheorespondentowasochargedounderoSectiono20(b)oando Sectiono40oofotheoBorderoSecurityoForceoAct,o1968o(inoshort,o'Actoofo1968')oforo usingo'insubordinateolanguage'otoohisosuperioroofficeroandoforocommittingoanoacto prejudicialo too goodo ordero ando disciplineo ofo theo force,o sinceo heo hado allegedlyo consumedoillegallyoprocuredoliquorofromoaocivilowineoshop,owhileoproceedingoono sentryo duty.o o Theo respondento iso allegedo too haveo pleadedo guiltyo too theo secondo chargeoofoconsumingoliquoroandonotoguiltyotootheofirstocharge.ooRecordoofoevidenceo ('ROE')owasoorderedotoobeorecordedounderoRuleo48oofoTheoBorderoSecurityoForceo o -3-o o Rules,o1969o(inoshort,o'Rulesoofo1969')oandoasoperotheoappellants,oaostatementoofo theorespondentounderosuboRuleo3othereof,owasorecordedoono05.11.2015.ooAocopyoofo theo ROEo alongo witho Charge-sheeto waso allegedo too haveo beeno suppliedo too theo respondentoono09.11.2015.ooo

5.e TheotrialobyotheoSummaryoSecurityoForceoCourto('SSFC')owasoheldo ono16.11.2015oandovideohisoverdictoofoanoevenodate,otheoCommandantoheldotheo respondento guiltyo ofo botho theo chargeso ando dismissedo himo fromo service.o o Theo respondentofiledostatutoryoappealoagainstotheosaidoorder,owhichowasorejectedobyotheo appellateoauthorityovideoorderodatedo13.02.2016,oprimarilyoonotheogroundothatotheo respondentohadobeenopunishedofifteenotimesoinotheopastoandohadoalsoooverstayedo hisoleaveoperiodoandowasoaohabitualoindisciplinedoperson.ooo

6.e Aggrievedobyotheoaforementionedoorders,otheorespondentoapproachedo theowritoCourt,owhichoallowedohisopetitionobyointeroaliaoobservingoasounder:-o "17.oo Itoisoevidentothatotheorespondentsoviolatedotheoprovisions,oibid.o Ruleo 134o ofo BSFo Rules,o 1969o clearlyo mandateso thato wheno anyo evidenceoisogivenoinoaolanguageowhichotheoCourtoorotheoaccusedodoeso noto understand,o thato evidenceo shallo beo translatedo too theo Courto oro accused,o aso theo caseo mayo be,o ino ao languageo whicho ito oro heo doeso understando ando foro thisopurposeotheo Courto shalloeithero appointoano interpreter,ooroshalloitselfotakeotheooathooroaffirmationoprescribedoforo theointerpreteroatoaoSummaryoSecurityoForceoCourt.oNooexplanationo hasobeenorenderedoinotheopresentocaseoasotoowhyotheoproceedingsowereo notoconductedoinotheolanguageounderstoodobyotheopetitioneroi.e.oHindio oro whyo theo translatoro waso noto provided.o Theo purposeo ofo sucho beneficialoserviceorulesoisodefeatedoifoanoemployeroisonotofollowingoito andobenefitothereofoisodeniedotootheoemployee.oo

18.oo Furthermore,o thereo waso violationo ofo ruleo 49o ibido byo theo respondentso inasmucho aso thereo iso nothingo ono recordo too showo complianceoofotheoprovisootooRuleo49oibid,owhichomandatesothatotheo accusedoshallobeogivenoreasonableotime,owhichoshalloinonoocaseobeo lessothano24ohoursoafteroreceivingotheoabstractoofoevidence,otoomakeo hisostatement.oAsostated,otheoevidenceowasorecordedoinoEnglish,oao languageonotounderstoodobyotheopetitioner,otheopetitioner,otherefore,o o -4-o o deservedoadequateoreasonableotimeotoorevert.oNoncomplianceoofothiso mandatoryorequirementowouldoobviouslyoprejudiceohisodefence.oo

19.oo Theorespondentsodidonotoadhereotootheoprovisionsocontainedoino Ruleo122,oibid,oasotheopetitionerowasoalsoodeniedoopportunityoofobeingo heardo witho ao friendo duringo Summaryo Securityo Forceo Courto proceedings.o Thus,o theo veryo basico principleso ofo naturalo justiceo ino adducingo theo evidenceo wereo overlookedo aso theo petitionero waso noto giveno ao fairo ando effectiveo chanceo too cross-examineo theo witnesseso whoseotestimonyoformsotheobasisoofoholdingotheopetitioneroguilty.oItoiso nowhereo disputedo thato theo petitionero dido noto knowo theo Englisho language.oYetorecordodoesonotoshowoifoasoperoRuleo134oofotheoBSFo Rules,o1969,otheoevidenceoadducedoinoEnglisholanguageoinoSummaryo SecurityoForceoCourtoproceedingsowasoread-overoinovernacularoando explainedotootheopetitioner.oo

20.oo Ino theo courseo ofo argumentso aso alsoo ino theo pleadingso ano emphatico stando haso beeno takeno thato theo petitionero iso ao habitualo offenderoandoduringohisoentireoserviceocareerohasobeenoheldoguiltyoaso manyo aso 15o timeso and,o therefore,o theo ordero awardingo himo theo punishmento ofo dismissalo fromo serviceo haso beeno rightlyo passed.o However,oaoperusaloofotheocharge-sheetoasoalsootheopunishmentoordero (AnnexureoP-10)oreflectsothatothereoisonotoevenoaowhisperoinorespecto ofotheopastoserviceorecordoofotheopetitioner.oNoodoubt,oifotheocharge-sheetocontainedoanoallegationoofopetitionerobeingohabitualooffender,o heowouldohaveohadoanoopportunityotoodefendohimselfoquaotheosameo andotheorespondent-BSFowasoentitledotooagreeoorodisagreeowithotheo saido defenceo ando proceedo accordingly.o Noto onlyo theo charge-sheeto eveno theo punishmento order(Annexureo P-10)o doeso noto mentiono theo pastoserviceorecordoofotheopetitioneroi.e.obeingoaohabitualooffenderotoo beotheogroundoofohisodismissalofromoservice.oThisoomissionoinotheo initialopunishmentoordero(AnnexureoP-10)onegatesotheocontentionothato theopastoconductoofotheopetitionerojustifiedotheosaidoorder.oItoisosettledo positionothatotheopunishmentoorderoshouldospeakoforoitselfoandotheo caseocannotobeoimprovedouponobyotheoappellateoorderooroonotheobasiso ofopleadingsofiledoinotheoCourt.oTheostandoofohabitualooffenderoonlyoino theoimpugnedoappellateoordero(AnnexureoP-11)oandoinotheoreturnofiledo byotheorespondentsoinoresponseotootheopresentowritoproceedingsohas,o therefore,otoobeodisregarded.oo

21.oo Ioamoalsooofotheoviewothatotheochargeoofotheopetitionerohavingo beenofoundoinebriatedoisoalsootoobeoviewedowithocertainosuspicionoino theo absenceo ofo anyo medicalo examinationo havingo beeno carriedo outo uponotheopetitioner.oIfofoundointoxicatedoduringodutyohours,ohavingo regardo too theo natureo ofo jobo ofo combato services,o theo delinquento employee,o withouto anyo mannero ofo doubt,o wouldo noto deserveo theo sympathyo eithero ofo theo employero oro ofo thiso Court.o Theo sameo is,o however,o subjecto too certaino safeguardso too beo observedo keepingo ino viewotheobasicohumanorightsoofoanoemployee.oTheoconclusiveoproofoofo intoxicationo cannot,o therefore,o beo mereo levellingo ofo theo chargeo oro o -5-o o wordo ofo moutho ofo witnesseso producedo ato theo instanceo ofo theo employer.o Concreteo ando reliableo proofo thereofo cano onlyo beo theo medicalo examinationo whicho isobasedo ono cogento scientifico findingso whichoareomoreoorolessoirrefragableogivenotheoscientificoprecisionoofo thisodayoandoage.oo

22.oo Learnedocounseloforotheorespondentsohasolaidoemphasisoonotheo admissionoofotheopetitioneroquaotheodelinquencyoofohisohavingobeeno foundoinointoxicatedostate.oIohaveogoneothroughotheosaidoconfessiono whichohasobeenorecordedoinoEnglishoandowasorecordedoinotheopresenceo ofoSecondoCommandantowhooenjoyedopositionoofosuperioroauthorityo andodominanceooverotheopetitioneroinotheohierarchy.oTheopetitionero was/oisomerelyoaoCook/oConstableoandoheowouldodareonotodisobeyoanyo directionoofohisosuperioroandowouldosignoonotheodottedolines,owithouto evenoflinchingoanoeye-lid,oregardlessoofotheofact,owhetherotheosameo wasoinoHindiooroEnglish.oAsoalreadyonotedoabove,otheopetitionerodoeso notoknowoandounderstandoEnglisholanguage.oHadotheoconfessionobeeno recordedo ino Hindi,o ito mighto haveo beeno ao possibility,o buto onlyo ao possibilityo ando nothingo more,o thato heo wouldo haveo gatheredo theo courageo ofo raisingo ano objection,o eithero ato theo timeo ofo signingo theo confessiono oro lateron,o duringo Summaryo Securityo Forceo Courto proceedings.o Thato situationo dido noto ariseo ato allo foro theo petitioner,o owingotootheorespondentsonon-complianceoofotheoBSFoRules,oibid.oo

23.oo Evenootherwise,oawardingoofomajoropunishmentoofodismissalo fromo serviceo iso akino too economico deatho penaltyo foro ao delinquento employeeoandoitohasotoobeoresortedowithoextraocaution.oNotoonlyoitoiso lossoofolivelihoodoforotheoemployee,obutotheoentireofamilyoisoreducedo tooliveoinopenuryoandomadeotoosufferoconsequencesofororestoofotheiro lives.oOwingotootheostigmaoattached,oitoisoimpossibleoforoaopersonotoo getoanyoemploymentoelsewhere.oRelianceocanobeoplacedoonoUnionoofo Indiao&oOrs.oVs.oSrioSankaroProsadoGhosho&oAnr.o2008(5)oSLRo170,o whereinoitohasobeenoheldoasounder:-o "13.oItowouldobeonaiveotoosayoasoonotoday,othatolivelihoodoisonoto ao parto ofo righto too life.o Byo thiso time,o byo ao largeo numbero ofo decisions,oitohasobeenoheldobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoaso wello aso Higho Courtso ino thiso countryo thato livelihoodo iso ano integralofacetooforightotoolife.oInothisoconnection,oaodecisionoofo theoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtorenderedoinotheocaseoofoStateoofo HimachaloPradeshov.oRajaoMahendra,oreportedoinoAIRo1999o SCo1786.omayobeoremembered.oo

14.oDismissalofromoservicesoundoubtedlyoisotakingoawayotheo livelihoodoofoaopersonoatoanoadvancedostageobecauseoatothato stage,o ito iso impossibleo foro ao persono too geto anyo employmento elsewhereo aso theo ordero ofo dismissalo willo beo treatedo aso ao disqualification.oLoosingoaojoboinoanoestablishmentoamountsotoo aocivilodeath,oasotheoconcernedopersonowillonotobeoinoaopositiono o -6-o o tooearnolivelihoodoatotheoadvancedostage,owhenoallohisoenergieso andoendeavoursohaveoalmostocomeotooaodiminishingostage."o

24.oo Asoaoresultoofotheoaboveodiscussionoandotheoreasonsocontainedo therein,o theo writo petitiono iso allowed.o Impugnedo orderso datedo

16.11.2015o(AnnexureoP-10)oando13.02.2016o(AnnexureoP-11)oareo herebyo seto aside.o Consequently,o theo respondentso areo directedo too reinstateotheopetitionerowithocontinuityoofoserviceoandootheroancillaryo benefits.oHowever,otheopetitioneroshallonotobeoentitledoforobackowageso duringotheoperiodoheoremainedooutoofoservice."o o

7.e TheolearnedoSenioroPaneloCounsel,oappearingoonobehalfoofotheoUniono ofoIndiao(inoshorto'UOI')ohasoatotheoveryooutsetoarguedothatotheolearnedoSingleo Judgeo haso misconstruedo theo provisionso ofo theo Acto ofo 1968o ando Ruleso framedo thereunder.oItoisocontendedothatoRuleo49oofotheoBSFoRules,omandatesogivingoofoao minimumo twenty-fouro houro noticeo too theo accusedo aftero receipto ofo Abstracto ofo Evidenceo('AOE'),otoomakeohisostatement.ooItoisosubmittedothatoinotheoinstantocase,o whatowasoorderedowasoanoROEounderoRuleo48oandonotoanoAOEounderoRuleo49,oando asosuchonoosuchominimumotimeoperiodoofotwentyofourohours,owasorequiredotoobeo givenotootheorespondent,obeforeorecordingohisostatementounderosuboruleo(3)oofoRuleo

48.ooItoisofurtherocontendedothatotheofindingsoofotheolearnedoSingleoJudgeolikeotheo charge-sheeto noto containingo theo allegationso ofo misconducto ando theo respondento beingodeniedotheoopportunityoofoao'friendoofotheoaccused',oareoagainstotheorecord.oo Itoisosubmittedothatoinofactoaofairoopportunityowasoprovidedotootheorespondentotoo crossoexamineotheowitnesses,owhichowasodeclined.o

8.e Itoisourgedothatotheorespondentodidonotoraiseoanyoobjectionsoduringotheo proceedingsoofotheoROEoandoSSFC,oandothusocouldonotohaveobeenopermittedotoo raiseosuchogroundsoinotheowritopetition.oItoisofurtheroarguedothatotheorespondentodido notorequestoforotranslationoofotheostatementsoinoHindiooroanyootherolanguage,oandoino anyocaseotheosameowereoreadooveroandoexplainedotoohimoinoHindi,oandotheosaidofacto o -7-o o wasodulyoacknowledgedobyohimobyoappendingohisosignatures.oAsoregardsotheoissueo regardingo conductingo medicalo examinationo foro theo purposeo ofo ascertainingo whetherotheorespondentohadoconsumedoliquor,oitoisoarguedothatotheorespondentohado himselfo pleadedo guiltyo too theo saido charge,o ando thereforeo thereo waso noo sucho requirement.o Lastly,o ito waso arguedo witho vehemence,o thato theo respondento waso foundoguiltyoonofifteenoearlierooccasions,oandothereowasonooplaceoforosuchohabitualo offendersoinoaodisciplinedoforceolikeotheoBSF.oo

9.e RelianceohasobeenoplacedouponotheojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeo Courto ino 'Uniono ofo Indiao ando otherso vs.o Devo Singh,o (2007)o 15o SCCo 709,o too contendothatoobjectionsoregardingocorrectnessoofopreliminaryoproceedingsoasowello asonon-complianceoofomandatoryoprovisionsoofolaw,ocouldohaveoonlyobeenotakenoato theoinitialostageoofotheoproceedings.ooFurtherorelianceohasobeenoplacedoonoAvtaroAvtaro Singhoandoothersovs.oGurdialoSinghoandoothers,o(2006)o12oSCCo552oandoMritunjoyo Settovs.oJadunathoBasako(D)obyoLrs,o(2011)o3oSCCo402otoocontendothatoadmissionso areotheobestoformoofoevidenceoagainstotheomaker.o

10.e Perocontra,olearnedocounseloappearingoonobehalfoofotheorespondento whileocontrovertingotheosubmissionsomadeoonobehalfoofotheoappellants,ohasoarguedo thatoperusaloofotheorecordsowouldorevealothatotheoentireoproceedingsoleadingotootheo punishmento ofo theo respondento wereo conductedo ino ao biasedo ando premeditatedo manner,o ino completeo derogationo ofo theo statutoryo provisionso ando principleso ofo naturalojustice,oandowithoutoprovidingoanyorealoopportunityotootheorespondentotoo defendo himself.o o Ito iso contendedo thato theo respondento waso onlyo frustratedo ono accountoofohisoinabilityotooattendotheolastoritesoofohisomother-in-law,owhichowaso takenoasoanoactoofoweaknessobyotheosuperioroofficersoandotheoextremelyoharsho o -8-o o punishmento ofo terminationo fromo serviceo waso awardedo too himo ono theo basiso ofo unsubstantiatedoallegationsobyomisuseoofotheodominantopositionoofotheosuperioro officers.oItoisosubmittedothatotheocharge-sheetoandotheoROEowereonotosuppliedotoo theorespondentopriorotootheoSSFCohearing,oandohisosignaturesowereotakenoonotheo acknowledgementosheet,owithoutoappendingotheosame.ooItoisofurtherocontendedothato theoentireorecordoandoevidenceowasopreparedoinoEnglisholanguage,owhichowasonoto understoodobyotheorespondent,owhoowasomerelyoaomatriculate,oandothereforeotheo proceedingsostoodovitiatedobeingoinodirectoviolationoofoRuleo134oofotheoRulesoofo 1969.ooLearnedocounselohasopointedooutoseveralootheroproceduralolapsesosuchoaso failureo too appointo ano 'independent'o friendo ofotheo accused;o too conducto medicalo examinationo foro ascertainingo theo chargeo regardingo intoxication;o ando lacko ofo opportunityo too leado propero evidence.o o Ito iso arguedo thato theo premiseo ofo earliero offencesoandounauthorizedoabsenceocouldonotohaveobeenotakenoasoaogroundoforotheo firstotimeoduringoappellateoproceedings,osinceotheosameoneveroformedotheobasisoofo theochargeonorotheorespondentowasogivenoanyoopportunityotooofferoanyoexplanationo orodefendohimselfoinothisoregard.oItoisosubmittedothatoevenootherwiseotheoallegedo periodoofooverstayingotheoleave,ostoodoextended/regularizedobyotheoUnitoandocouldo notobeoaoconsiderationoforoawardingopunishmentounderoSectiono20(b)oandoSectiono 40oofotheoActoofo1968.o

11.e Learnedo counselo foro theo respondento haso placedo relianceo ono twoo judgmentsorenderedobyoHon'bleoDivisionoBenchesoofotheoDelhioHighoCourtoinotheo casesotitledoasoKaushaloKishoroRaioandoanotherovs.oUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers,oKaushaloKishoroRaioandoanotherovs.oUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers,o

(2014)oSCCoOnoLineoDelo852oandoBalwinderoSinghovs.oUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers,o

(2010)oSCCoOnoLineoDelo2209.ooTheofirstocaseodealsowithotheoissueoregardingo o -9-o o necessityo ofo conductingo medicalo examination,o whereo thereo iso ao chargeo ofo intoxication,owhileoonoduty,owhileotheolatterodealsowithotheoeffectoofoproceduralo lapsesoonopartoofotheoCourt,owhileodeliveringopunishmentotootheoaccused.o

12.e Weohaveoheardotheolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoandohaveoperusedo theomaterialoavailableoonorecord.oo

13.e Beforeoproceedingofurther,oitowouldobeoappositeotooreferotoosomeoofo theorelevantostatutoryoprovisions,owhichoareoextractedohereunder:o I.o BSFoAct,o1968:-oo "20.oStrikingoorothreateningosuperioroofficers.―Anyopersonosubjecto toothisoActowhoocommitsoanyoofotheofollowingooffences,othatoisotoo say,―oo

(a)ousesocriminaloforceotoooroassaultsohisosuperioroofficer;ooro

(b)ousesothreateningolanguageotoosuchoofficer;ooroo

(c)ousesoinsubordinateolanguageotoosuchoofficer;o shall,oonoconvictionobyoaoSecurityoForceoCourt,―oo

(A)oifosuchoofficeroisoatotheotimeoinotheoexecutionoofohisoofficeo or,o ifotheo offenceoiso committedo ono activeo duty,o beoliableotoo sufferoimprisonmentoforoaotermowhichomayoextendotoofourteeno yearsoorosucholessopunishmentoasoisoinothisoActomentioned;oandoo

(B)oinootherocases,obeoliableotoosufferoimprisonmentoforoaotermo whichomayoextendotootenoyearsoorosucholessopunishmentoasoisoino thisoActomentioned:oo Providedothatoinotheocaseoofoanyooffenceospecifiedoinoclauseo(c),otheo imprisonmentoshallonotoexceedofiveoyears.o xxx...oo xxx...oo xxx...o

40.oViolationoofogoodoorderoandodiscipline.―Anyopersonosubjectotoo thiso Acto whoo iso guiltyo ofo anyo acto oro omissiono which,o thougho noto specifiedoinothisoAct,oisoprejudicialotoogoodoorderoandodisciplineoofotheo Forceoshall,oonoconvictionobyoaoSecurityoForceoCourt,obeoliableotoo sufferoimprisonmentoforoaotermowhichomayoextendotoosevenoyearsooro sucholessopunishmentoasoisoinothisoActomentioned."o o II.o BSFoRules,o1969:-o "40.o Rightso ofo ao persono undero arrest.-o(1)o (a)o Anyo persono placedoRightso ofo ao persono undero arrest. underoarrestoshall,oatotheotimeoofobeingoplacedounderoarrest,obeogiveno o -10-o o inowritingobyotheoofficeroeffectingotheoarrestotheoparticularsoofotheo chargesoagainstohim.o

(b)oTheosaidoparticularsoshallobeorenderedoinosimpleolanguageo andoalsooexplainedotootheoaccused.o xxx...oo xxx...oo xxx...o

48.o Recordo ofo evidence.-o (1)o Theo officero orderingo theo recordo ofo evidenceomayoeitheroprepareotheorecordoofoevidenceohimselfoorodetailo anotheroofficerotoodooso.o

(2)oTheowitnessesoshallogiveotheiroevidenceoinotheopresenceoofo theoaccusedoandotheoaccusedoshallohaveorightotoocross-examineoallo witnessesowhoogiveoevidenceoagainstohim.oo o[Providedoo xxx...oo xxx...oo xxx...]o

(3)o Aftero allo theo witnesseso againsto theo accusedo haveo beeno examined,oheoshallobeocautionedoinotheofollowingoterms;o"Youomayo makeoaostatementoifoyouowishotoodooso,oyouoareonotoboundotoomakeo oneoandowhateveroyouostateoshallobeotakenodownoinowritingoandomayo beousedoinoevidence."oAfterohavingobeenocautionedoinotheoaforesaido mannerowhateverotheoaccusedostatesoshallobeotakenodownoinowriting.o

(4)oTheoaccusedomayocallowitnessesoinodefenceoandotheoofficero recordingotheoevidenceomayoaskoanyoquestionothatomayobeonecessaryo tooclarifyotheoevidenceogivenobyosuchowitnesses.o

(5)oAllowitnessesoshallogiveoevidenceoonooathooroaffirmation.o Providedothat,onoooathooroaffirmationoshallobeogivenotootheo accusedonoroshalloheobeocross-examined.o

(6)oo xxx...oo xxx...oo xxx...o

(7)oo xxx...oo xxx...oo xxx...oo

(8)oo xxx...oo xxx...oo xxx...oo oo

49.o Abstracto ofo evidence.-o (1)o Ano abstracto ofo evidenceo shallo beo preparedoeitherobyotheoofficeroorderingoitooroanoofficerodetailedobyo him.oo

(2)o(a)oTheoabstractoofoevidence,oshalloinclude;oo

(i)osignedostatementsoofowitnessesowhereveroavailableooroao precisothereof,oo

(ii)ocopiesoofoallodocumentsointendedotoobeoproducedoatotheo trial.oo

(b)o Whereo signedo statementso ofo anyo witnesseso areo noto availableoaoprecisoofotheiroevidenceoshallobeoincluded.oo

(3)oAocopyoofotheoabstractoofoevidenceoshallobeogivenobyotheo officeromakingotheosameotootheoaccusedoandotheoaccusedoshallo beogivenoanoopportunityotoomakeoaostatementoifoheosoodesireso afteroheohasobeenocautionedoinotheomannerolaidodownoinosub-ruleo(3)oofoRuleo48:oProvidedothatotheoaccusedoshallobeogiveno suchotimeoasomayobeoreasonableoinotheocircumstancesobutoinonoo caseolessothanotwentyofourohoursoafteroreceivingotheoabstractoofo evidenceotoomakeohisostatement.o xxx...oo xxx...oo xxx...o o -11-o o

122.oDefendingoOfficer,oFriendoofoAccusedoandoCounsel:-o(1)oAtoanyo122.oDefendingoOfficer,oFriendoofoAccusedoandoCounsel: GeneralooroPettyoSecurityoForceoCourtoanoaccusedopersonomayobeo representedobyoaocounseloorobyoanyoofficerosubjectotootheoActowhoo shallo beo calledo "theo defendingo officer"o oro assistedo byo anyo persono whoseoservicesoheomayobeoableotooprocureoandowhooshallobeocalledo "theofriendoofotheoaccused".oo

(2)oTheodefendingoofficeroshallohaveotheosameorightsoandodutieso asoappertainotooaocounselounderotheseorulesoandoshallobeounderotheolikeo obligations.oo

(3)oTheofriendoofotheoaccusedomayoadviseotheoaccusedoonoallo pointsoandosuggestotheoquestionsotoobeoputotootheowitnesses,obutoheo shallo noto examineo oro cross-examineo theo witnesses,o oro addresso theo Court.o xxx...oo xxx...oo xxx...o

134.o Evidenceo wheno too beo translated.-o (1)o Wheno anyo evidenceo iso giveno ino ao languageo whicho theo Courto oro theo accusedo doeso noto understand,othatoevidenceoshallobeotranslatedotootheoCourtooroaccusedo asotheocaseomayobeoinoaolanguageowhichoitooroheodoesounderstand.oo

(2)o Theo Courto shallo foro thiso purposeo eithero appointo ano interpreter,ooroshalloitselfotakeotheooathooroaffirmationoprescribedoforo theointerpreteroatoaoSummaryoSecurityoForceoCourt.oo

(3)oWhenodocumentsoareoproducedoforotheopurposeoofoformalo proof,oitoshallobeoinotheodiscretionoofotheoCourtotoocauseoasomuchotoobeo interpretedoasoappearsonecessary.o

14.e o PerusaloofotheoRulesoofo1969,owouldoshowothatonecessaryosafeguardso areoprovidedotherein,oasoregardsotheorightsoofoanoaccusedoandotheomanneroinowhicho theotrialoisotoobeoconducted.ooHarmoniousoreadingoofotheosameowouldoshowothatotheo accusedoisorequiredotoobeogivenoaofairoandorealoopportunityotoodefendohimself,o keepingoinoviewotheoprinciplesoofonaturalojustice.oo

15.e oooooooooHowever,o whato emanateso fromo theo gamuto ofo factso iso thato theo respondentowasonotogivenoaofairoopportunityoinobreachoofotheostatutoryoschemeoando principlesoofonaturalojustice.oItoisoundisputedothatotheorespondentowasoaosimpleo matriculateoandowasonotowelloconversantowithotheoEnglisholanguage,oyetotheoROE,o StatementounderoRuleo48o(3),oentireoproceedingsoduringotheohearingoofotheoSSFC,o wereo conductedo ino ao languageo heo dido noto understand.o o Despiteo thereo beingo ao MedicaloOfficeroattachedowithotheoUnit,otheorespondentowasoneitheromedicallyo o -12-o o examinedoonotheoeveningowhenoheowasoarrested,onoroonotheosubsequentoday,otoo ascertaino theo allegationso regardingo theo allegedo illegalo consumptiono ofo liquor.oo Thereoisonoomaterialoavailableoonotheorecordotoosubstantiateotheoallegedopurchaseo ofoalcoholofromoaocivilowineoshopobeforeoproceedingoforosentryoduty,owhichoformso theobasisoofotheosecondocharge.ooAlthough,oitosoorecordedothatoanoopportunityotoo cross-examineotheoprosecutionowitnessesowasoinofactoprovided,ohoweverorecordso wouldorevealothatotheorespondentoisoallegedotoohaveodeclinedotheoopportunityoofo cross-examinationoatotheotimeooforecordingoofoevidenceo(ROE)oasowelloasoduringo theocourseoofotrial.ooTheonecessaryorequirementoofoprovidingoao'friendoofoaccused'o asomandatedounderoRuleo122,owasonotocarriedooutoinoitsotrueoletteroandospirit,oaso threeopre-selectedonamesowereoprovided,oratherothanopermittingotheorespondentotoo chooseoanoindependentopersonotooassist/defendohimoinotheoproceedings.ooThereoiso nothingoonorecordothatotheosaido'friendoofoaccused'oadvisedotheorespondentoando assistedohimoinotheomannerorequiredounderotheosaidoRule.ooo

16.e ooooooooWhatoisoshockingotoonoteoisothatoalthough,otheocopyoofotheoROEoando charge-sheeto wereo allegedlyo suppliedo too theo respondento ono 09.11.2015,o aftero takingohisosignaturesoonotheoacknowledgement,ohowever,operusaloofotheocharge-sheetowouldoreflectothatotheosameowasoinofactodatedo12.11.2015,owhichoclearlyo reflectsothatotheoentireoproceedingsowereoinofactoaofarce,oandotheosaidofactoaloneo lendsocredenceotootheofindingoofotheolearnedoSingleoJudge,othatotheorespondentowaso madeotoosignoonodottedolines,oandoitoisoaocaseoofoabuseoofodominantoposition.ooo

17.e ooooooooSeveralootheroincoherencesoareoreflectedofromoperusaloofotheorecordo suchoasotheofactothatowhileooffenceoreportomentionsotheofirstooffenceoasooneoundero Sectiono20(b)oofotheoActoofo1968,ohowever,oitoisodescribedoaso"usingoinsubordinateo o -13-o o languageotoohisosuperioroofficer",owhileoinotheocharge-sheetoitoisoallegedothatoheo usedo 'threateningo language'o too hiso superioro officero i.e.o Sh.o Surendero Tokas,o DC/ADJT.o o Interestingly,o theo firsto personso whoo areo statedo too haveo meto theo respondentoatotheotimeoofoallegedoincident,oasoperotheoROEoareoSh.oGurnamoSingh,o DCo(MT),oSHQ,oAboharoandoSh.oAniloKumaroSinghoTomar,oDCo90oBN,oBSF,owhoo haveo botho noto mentionedo anythingo aso regardso theo useo ofo anyo offensive/threatening/abusiveolanguage,obyotheorespondent.ooo

18.e Comingotootheorivalocontentionsomadeoonobehalfoofotheoparties,ooweo findothatotheoargumentoofotheolearnedocounseloforotheoUOI,oregardingothereobeingo noorequirementoofogivingoanyominimumotime,oasoenvisagedounderoprovisootooRuleo 49(3),oinomattersopertainingotoorecordoofoevidenceounderoRuleo48,oisomisconceived.oo TheoprovisionsoofotheoRulesohaveotoobeoreadokeepingoinoviewotheoobjectothereof,o whichorequireoprovidingosufficientoopportunityotooanoaccusedotoounderstandotheo natureoofoallegationsoandomaterialobroughtoagainstohim/her,oandotooprovideoaofairo opportunityotooprepareohis/herodefence.ooItocannotobeotheolegislativeointentothato sucho opportunityo iso onlyo providedo too theo accusedo ino matterso pertainingo too recordingoofoabstractoofoevidence.ooTheosecondoargumentoregardingotheofindingsoofo theolearnedoSingleoJudgeoasoregardsofailureotooappointo'friendoofoaccused',obeingo againstotheorecordoisoalsoomisconceived,oinoasomuchoas,otheosoocalledoopportunityo wasoaomereoeyeowash,oasoobservedobyousohereinabove.ooTheoargumentoregardingo pastoooffences/misconductoofotheorespondent,ocanoalsoonotobeoaccepted,owhenotheo sameowasonotoaogroundotakenoinotheopunishmentoorderonorotheorespondentowaso providedoanoopportunityotoodefendohimselfoinothatoregard.ooTheojudgmentsocitedobyo theoappellants,owouldonotocomeotootheiroaid,oasotheoprinciplesoenunciatedotherein,o o -14-o o wouldonotobeoapplicableoinotheopeculiarofactsoandocircumstancesoinvolvedoinotheo presentomatter,oasonoticedohereinabove.ooo

19.e Weo findo forceo ino theo argumentso ofo theo learnedo counselo foro theo respondent-petitionerothatotheofailureotooconductomedicaloexamination;otootranslateo theo statementso ofo theo prosecutiono witnesses;o theo ante-datedo acknowledgemento receiptoetc.owouldoallobeofactors,owhichowouldoshakeotheoveryoedificeoofotheoentireo SSFCotrialoproceedings.o

20.e WeofindoourselvesoinorespectfuloagreementowithotheolearnedoSingleo Judgeo thato theo trialo proceedingso stoodo vitiatedo ono accounto ofo denialo ofo fairo opportunityo ando non-complianceo ofo theo mandatoryo statutoryo provisions,o ando thereforeotheoimpugnedoordersocannotobeosustained.ooo

21.e Inothatoviewoofotheomatteroandoforotheoreasonsorecordedoabove,oweodoo notofindoanyomeritoinotheopresentoappeal,owhichoisodismissed,owithonooorderoasotoo costs.o

22.e Theopendingoapplications,oifoany,oshallostandodisposedoofoaccordingly.o o o o o(ASHWANIoKUMARoMISHRA)oo o ooo(ROHIToKAPOOR)o o o ooJUDGEo o o o ooooooooooooJUDGEo o o o o o o

30.01.2026o mohitogoyal/rajo o o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo:o Yesoo o Noo o o o WhetheroReportableo:o o Yeso o Noo o