Ras Behari. Vs. Haryana Agricultural University Through Vice Chancellor, Hissar & Ors.
EmailAppeal: Civil Appeal No. 713 (N) of 1972.
Petitioner: Ras Behari.
Respondent: Haryana Agricultural University Through Vice Chancellor, Hissar & Ors.
Apeal: Civil Appeal No. 713 (N) of 1972.
Judges: M.P. THAKKAR & S. NATARAJAN, JJ.
Date of Judgment: Jul 25, 1986
Head Note:
CIVIL SERVICE:
Order of termination of service quashed – Re-instatement may lead to complication as another person already appointed to the same post – Lumpsum compensation awarded – Order also passed in the same terms as was passed in 1985 (3) S.C.C. p.153 to enable the appellant to avail relief under I.T.Act.
Cases Reffered:
1. Anoop Jaiswal v. Government of India & Anr., 1984 (2) S.C.C. page 369.
2. Inder Pal Gupta v. Managing Committee Model Inter College, Thora., 1984 (3) S.C.C. page 384.
3. K.C. Joshi v. Union Of India., 1985 (3) S.C.C. page 153.
2. Inder Pal Gupta v. Managing Committee Model Inter College, Thora., 1984 (3) S.C.C. page 384.
3. K.C. Joshi v. Union Of India., 1985 (3) S.C.C. page 153.
JUDGEMENT:
JUDGMENT
1. Heard counsel for the parties.
2. The impugned order of termination of service cannot be sustained having regard to the law laid down by this court in Anoop Jaiswal v. Government of India & Anr. 1984 (2) S.C. page 369. Inder Pal Gupta v. Managing Committee Model Inter College, Thora 1984 (3) S.C.C. page 384. The appeal must therefore be allowed and the impugned order of termination must be quashed and set aside. As a consequential relief we will have to re-instate the appellant. However, complications will arise inasmuch as there is only one post of Assistant Agronomist. And as someone else has already been appointed to the said post, his service may have to be terminated in order to make room for the appellant as appellant cannot be appointed on any other post in view of his special qualification. Since the appellant does not insist on reinstatement, if he is awarded compensation in lieu thereof, payment of lump sum compensation will solve the problem to the satisfaction of both the sides. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, we direct that the respondent-university shall pay a sum of Rs.1,60,000/- in full and final settlement of all the claims including the claim for compensation in lieu of reinstatement, salary for the intervening period, and his claim in regard to provident fund and gratuity etc. On payment of the said sum of Rs. 1,60,000/- the appellant shall have no other claim against the University. We may mention for the sake of record that in fixing the aforesaid amount we have taken into consideration the fact that the appellant was gainfully employed elsewhere.
3. We also consider it necessary to pass an order on the same terms as was passed in K.C. Joshi v. Union of India (3) S.C.C. page 153, viz:
“Now that the amount is being paid in one lump sum, it is likely that the employer may take recourse to Section 192 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 which provides that any person responsible for paying any income chargeable under the head ‘Salaries’ shall, at the time of payment, deduct income tax on the amount payable at the average rate of income tax computed on the basis of the rates in force for the financial year in which the payment is made, on the estimate income of the assessee under this head for that financial year. If therefore the employer proceeds to deduct the income tax as provided by Section 192, we would like to make it abundantly clear that each appellant would be entitled to the relief under Section 80 of the Income Tax Act which provides that where, by reason of any portion of assesses’ salary being paid in arrears or in advance or by reason of his having received in any one financial year salary for more than 12 months or a payment which under the provisions of Clause (3) of Section 17 is a profit in lieu of salary, his income is assessed at a higher than that it would otherwise have been assessed, the Income-tax Officer shall on an application made to him in this behalf grant such relief as may be prescribed. The prescribed relief is set out in Rule 21-A of the Income Tax Rules. The appellant is entitled to relief under Section 89 because compensation herein awarded includes as also the compensation in lieu of reinstatement and the relief should be given as provided by Section 89 of the Income Tax Act read with rule 21-A of the Income Tax Rules. The appellant indisputably is entitled to the same. If any application is necessary to be made, the appellant may submit the same to the competent authority and the Commission shall assist the appellant for obtaining the relief.”
4. Liberty to pay a cheque in favour of the appellant crossed and endorse “Payee’s Account” to learned counsel for the appellant Mr. V.J. Francis, who will pass due receipt on behalf of his client.
5. The appeal is disposed of accordingly. There will be no order as to costs.
Appeal allowed.
1. Heard counsel for the parties.
2. The impugned order of termination of service cannot be sustained having regard to the law laid down by this court in Anoop Jaiswal v. Government of India & Anr. 1984 (2) S.C. page 369. Inder Pal Gupta v. Managing Committee Model Inter College, Thora 1984 (3) S.C.C. page 384. The appeal must therefore be allowed and the impugned order of termination must be quashed and set aside. As a consequential relief we will have to re-instate the appellant. However, complications will arise inasmuch as there is only one post of Assistant Agronomist. And as someone else has already been appointed to the said post, his service may have to be terminated in order to make room for the appellant as appellant cannot be appointed on any other post in view of his special qualification. Since the appellant does not insist on reinstatement, if he is awarded compensation in lieu thereof, payment of lump sum compensation will solve the problem to the satisfaction of both the sides. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, we direct that the respondent-university shall pay a sum of Rs.1,60,000/- in full and final settlement of all the claims including the claim for compensation in lieu of reinstatement, salary for the intervening period, and his claim in regard to provident fund and gratuity etc. On payment of the said sum of Rs. 1,60,000/- the appellant shall have no other claim against the University. We may mention for the sake of record that in fixing the aforesaid amount we have taken into consideration the fact that the appellant was gainfully employed elsewhere.
3. We also consider it necessary to pass an order on the same terms as was passed in K.C. Joshi v. Union of India (3) S.C.C. page 153, viz:
“Now that the amount is being paid in one lump sum, it is likely that the employer may take recourse to Section 192 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 which provides that any person responsible for paying any income chargeable under the head ‘Salaries’ shall, at the time of payment, deduct income tax on the amount payable at the average rate of income tax computed on the basis of the rates in force for the financial year in which the payment is made, on the estimate income of the assessee under this head for that financial year. If therefore the employer proceeds to deduct the income tax as provided by Section 192, we would like to make it abundantly clear that each appellant would be entitled to the relief under Section 80 of the Income Tax Act which provides that where, by reason of any portion of assesses’ salary being paid in arrears or in advance or by reason of his having received in any one financial year salary for more than 12 months or a payment which under the provisions of Clause (3) of Section 17 is a profit in lieu of salary, his income is assessed at a higher than that it would otherwise have been assessed, the Income-tax Officer shall on an application made to him in this behalf grant such relief as may be prescribed. The prescribed relief is set out in Rule 21-A of the Income Tax Rules. The appellant is entitled to relief under Section 89 because compensation herein awarded includes as also the compensation in lieu of reinstatement and the relief should be given as provided by Section 89 of the Income Tax Act read with rule 21-A of the Income Tax Rules. The appellant indisputably is entitled to the same. If any application is necessary to be made, the appellant may submit the same to the competent authority and the Commission shall assist the appellant for obtaining the relief.”
4. Liberty to pay a cheque in favour of the appellant crossed and endorse “Payee’s Account” to learned counsel for the appellant Mr. V.J. Francis, who will pass due receipt on behalf of his client.
5. The appeal is disposed of accordingly. There will be no order as to costs.
Appeal allowed.
