Rajasthan High Court - Jodhpur
Fazale Rashid vs State Of Rajasthan (2025:Rj-Jd:39777) on 8 September, 2025
Author: Rekha Borana
Bench: Rekha Borana
[2025:RJ-JD:39777]
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT
JODHPUR
S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 10575/2025
Fazale Rashid S/o Shri Mohammed Sagir, Aged About 44 Years,
Resident Of Street No. 1, Noor Colony, Nimbahera, Tehsil
Nimbahera, District Chittorgarh, Rajasthan.
----Petitioner
Versus
1. State Of Rajasthan, Through The Secretary Cooperative
Department Govt. Of Rajasthan, Jaipur.
2. The Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Govt. Of Rajasthan,
Nehru Sahkar Bhawan, Jaipur.
3. The Deputy Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Govt. Of
Rajasthan, Chittorgarh.
4. The Chittorgarh Central Cooperative Bank Limited,
Through Its Managing Director, Chittorgarh.
5. The Bangreda, Gram Seva Sahkari Samiti Limited,
Through Its Chairman, Bangreda, Panchayat Samiti
Nimbahera, District Chittorgarh.
----Respondents
For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Ashok Kumar Chaudhary
For Respondent(s) : Mr. Samir Shrimali
Mr. Rakesh Kumar Sinha
Mr. Gaurav Ranka for
Mr. Muktesh Maheshwari
HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE REKHA BORANA
Order 08/09/2025
1. The present writ petition has been filed with the following prayers:
"a) By an appropriate Writ, order or directions the order dated 13.12.2024 (Annex-7) and consequential notice dated 06.03.2025 (annexure-8), may kindly be quashed and set aside;
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b) Any other order or direction, which the Hon'ble Court may deem just and proper be passed in favour of the petitioner;
c) Costs of this petition may kindly be allowed to the petitioner;"
2. The facts are that the petitioner, who is working as Vyavasthapak (Manager) with respondent No.5-Society, was subjected to inquiry in terms of Section 55 of Rajasthan Cooperative Societies Act, 2001 (hereinafter referred to as the 'Act of 2001'). The inquiry officer submitted his report dated 09.12.2024 to the competent authority. The inquiry officer recommended for an inquiry to be held in terms of Section 57 of the Act of 2001.
3. The competent authority i.e. the Sub-Registrar, vide order dated 13.12.2024 appointed the inquiry officer who in turn served a notice dated 23.12.2024 on the petitioner calling upon him to file his defence and the documents in support thereof qua the charges as reflected in the said notice.
4. The inquiry officer, after concluding the inquiry, submitted his inquiry report to the competent authority who in terms of Section 57(2) read with Rule 75 (2) of the Rajasthan Cooperative Society Rules, 2003, called upon the petitioner to file his reply with the supporting documents qua the charges as reflected in the notice dated 06.03.2025.
5. Aggrieved of the above, the present writ petition has been filed.
6. Learned counsel for the petitioner raised the following two grounds:
(Uploaded on 11/09/2025 at 07:44:19 PM) (Downloaded on 11/09/2025 at 09:37:52 PM) [2025:RJ-JD:39777] (3 of 8) [CW-10575/2025] Firstly, the enquiry report as referred to in notice dated 06.03.2025 (Annexure-8), was never served on the petitioner which is against the principles of natural justice. In absence of such report being served, the petitioner is not in a position to file his reply/defense.
Secondly, the notice issued in terms of Section 57 (1) of the Act of 2001 itself was not valid as any enquiry in terms of the said provision could not have been initiated after expiry of six years from the date of act or omission whereas admittedly, the charges as leveled against the petitioner pertain to the period more than six years ago.
7. Per contra learned counsel for the respondent-State submits that there is no provision mandating the service of copy of the enquiry report on the delinquent. The only requirement in terms of Section 57 (2) of the Act of 2001 is of affording an opportunity of representation, after the enquiry report in terms of Section 57 (2) of the Act of 2001 been received by the Registrar. Notice dated 06.03.2025 is definitely in terms of Section 57 (2) of the Act of 2001.
8. Learned counsel appearing for respondent No.4 Co-operative Bank submits that the petitioner has acted in a malafide manner, as on the one hand, he has already participated in the proceedings initiated vide notice dated 06.03.2025 and on the other hand, he has filed the present petition challenging the said notice.
9. Learned counsel submits that even otherwise the petitioner would be at liberty to file his defense, whatsoever, in the proceedings now initiated.
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10. Additionally, learned counsel made a specific averment that the petitioner has placed a forged document on record of the present petition. He submits that Annexure 16, the document annexed along with the rejoinder as filed by the petitioner, is a forged document as the alleged Issuing Authority of said letter dated 09.08.2021 was not even the Authority holding the office on the said date as he was under suspension.
11. Vide an additional affidavit filed on behalf of respondent- Bank, communication dated 12.08.2025 issued by the Sub- Registrar Co-operative Societies, Chittorgarh has been placed on record to the effect that the Officer who allegedly issued communication dated 09.08.2021 (Annexure-16) was under
suspension during the said period. Learned counsel therefore submits that the petitioner is not entitled to any relief by this Court, he having filed a forged document on record.
12. Heard the counsels and perused the record.
13. So far as the ground raised by learned counsel for the petitioner regarding the validity of the enquiry been held in terms of Section 55 (1) of the Act of 2001 is concerned, this Court is of the clear opinion that Section 55 of the Act of 2001 specifically empowers the Registrar to hold an enquiry either by himself or by a person authorized by him.
14. Further, Section 57 (1) of the Act of 2001 specifically empowers the Registrar to enquire into the conduct of a person either by himself or by any person authorized by him where a person concerned is alleged to have committed any act as reflected in the said provision.
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15. A bare perusal of the charges as leveled against the petitioner reflects that the same definitely fall within the purview of Section 57 (1) of the Act of 2001. The Registrar was therefore, well empowered to conduct an enquiry qua the allegations as leveled against the petitioner.
16. Coming on to the second ground, true it is that no provision of the Act of 2001 prescribes for serving a copy of the enquiry report on the delinquent. But then, as is the settled position of law, each employee is entitled to be served with a copy of a report which admittedly goes against him. In absence of such report, the delinquent definitely would not be in a position to defend himself effectively. In Union of India and Others vs. Mohd. Ramzan Khan; (1991) 1 SCC 588, the Hon'ble Apex Court, while laying down the said ratio, held as under:-
"17. There have been several There have been several decisions in different High Courts which, following the Forty-Second Amendment, have taken the view that it is no longer necessary to furnish a copy of the inquiry report to delinquent officers. Even on some occasions this Court has taken that view. Since we have reached a different conclusion the judgments in the different High Courts taking the contrary view must be taken to be no longer laying down good law. We have not been shown any decision of a coordinate or a larger bench of this Court taking this view. Therefore, the conclusion to the contrary reached by any two-Judge bench in this Court will also no longer be taken to be laying down good law, but this shall have prospective application and no punishment imposed shall be open to challenge on this ground.
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18. We make it clear that wherever there has been an Inquiry Officer and he has furnished a report to the disciplinary authority at the conclusion of the inquiry holding the delinquent guilty of all or any of the charges with proposal for any particular punishment or not, the delinquent is entitled to a copy of such report and will also be entitled to make a representation against it, if he so desires, and non-furnishing of the report would amount to violation of rules of natural justice and make the final order liable to challenge hereafter."
The above view was reiterated by Hon'ble Apex Court in another case of Managing Director, ECIL, Hyderabad and Others vs. B. Karunakar and Others; 4 SCC 727 wherein the Court has held:
"57. The findings or recommended punishment by the enquiry officer are likely to affect the mind of the disciplinary authority in his concluding the guilt or penalty to be imposed. The delinquent is, therefore, entitled to meet the reasoning, controvert the conclusions reached by the enquiry officer or is entitled to explain the effect of the evidence recorded. Unless the copy of the report is supplied to him, he would be in dark to know the findings, the reasons in support thereof or nature of the recommendation on penalty. He would point out all the factual or legal errors committed by the enquiry officer. He may also persuade the disciplinary authority that the finding is based on no evidence or the relevant material evidence was not considered or overlooked by the enquiry officer in coming to the conclusions, with a view to persuade the disciplinary authority to disagree with the enquiry officer and to consider his innocence of the charge, or even (Uploaded on 11/09/2025 at 07:44:19 PM) (Downloaded on 11/09/2025 at 09:37:52 PM) [2025:RJ-JD:39777] (7 of 8) [CW-10575/2025] that the guilt as to the misconduct has not been established on the evidence on records or disabuse the initial impression formed in the minds of the disciplinary authority on consideration of the enquiry report. Even if the disciplinary authority comes to the conclusion that charge or charges is/are proved, the case may not warrant imposition of any, penalty. He may plead mitigating or extenuating circumstances to impose no punishment or a lesser punishment. For this purpose the delinquent needs reasonable opportunity or fair play in action. The supply of the copy of the report is neither an empty formality, nor a ritual, but aims to digress the direction of the disciplinary authority from his derivative conclusions from the report to the palliative path of fair consideration. The denial of the supply of the copy, therefore, causes to the delinquent a grave prejudice and avoidable injustice which cannot be cured or mitigated in appeal or at a challenge under Art. 226 of the Constitution or S. 19 of the Tribunal Act or other relevant provisions. Ex post facto opportunity does not efface the past impression formed by the disciplinary authority against the delinquent, however, professedly to be fair to the delinquent. The lurking suspicion always lingers in the mind of the delinquent that the disciplinary authority was not objective and he was treated unfairly. To alleviate such an impression and to prevent injustice or miscarriage of justice at the threshold, the disciplinary authority should supply the copy of the report, consider objectively the records, the evidence, the report and the explanation offered by the delinquent and make up his mind on proof of the charge or the nature of the penalty. The supply of the copy of the report is thus, a sine qua non for a valid, fair, just and proper procedure to defend the delinquent himself effectively and efficaciously. The denial thereof is (Uploaded on 11/09/2025 at 07:44:19 PM) (Downloaded on 11/09/2025 at 09:37:52 PM) [2025:RJ-JD:39777] (8 of 8) [CW-10575/2025] offending not only Art. 311(2) but also violates Arts. 14 and 21 of the Constitution."
17. As is admitted, the petitioner has already filed his representation before the Registrar and has already prayed for supplying of the enquiry report.
18. In view of the above, the respondents are directed to supply a copy of the enquiry report as conducted in terms of Section 57 (1) of the Act of 2001 to the petitioner, within a period of two weeks from now. On the said enquiry report been served, the petitioner would be under an obligation to submit his reply/representation within a period of two weeks thereafter. The petitioner would not be entitled for any further time thereafter.
19. So far as filing of alleged forged document dated 09.08.2021 (Annexure-16) is concerned, the Registrar would be at liberty to take into consideration the said document too in the present disciplinary proceedings as initiated by him vide notice dated 06.03.2025. If the Registrar reaches to a conclusion that the said is a forged document, he would be at liberty to take appropriate action against the petitioner in accordance with law.
20. With the above observations and directions, the present writ petition is disposed of.
21. Stay petition and pending applications, if any, also stand disposed of.
(REKHA BORANA),J 28-Devanshi/-
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