# THE STATE OF RAJASTHAN & ORS v. SURJI DEVI

- **Citation:** [2021] 8 S.C.R. 641
- **Court:** Supreme Court of India
- **Decided:** 2021-10-07
- **Case number:** Civil Appeal No.6205 of 2021
- **Bench:** M.R. Shah, A.S. Bopanna
- **Source:** https://unisonlegal.in/judgment/supreme-court-of-india/the-state-of-rajasthan-ors-v-surji-devi-35249
- **Pages:** 4

## Headnote

Constitution of India - Writ petition - Delay and laches -
Respondent's husband terminated from service in 1996 - Appeal
filed by him, however, during the pendency of the said appeal he
passed away in 2009 - Appeal not pursued by respondent - Writ
petition filed by her in 2012 challenging the 1996 termination order
- Allowed - Held: Writ petition was barred by delay and laches -
Single Judge erred in entertaining the same - Further, despite the
pending appeal and the respondent's specific prayer in writ petition
to direct the authority to decide the same, the Single Judge entered
into the merits of the case and quashed the order of termination -
Impugned judgments passed by the Division Bench as well as the
Single Judge, set aside - Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 -
ss.91(3), (4) - Rajasthan Services Rules, 1951 - r.86.

## Text

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[2021] 8 S.C.R. 641
641
THE STATE OF RAJASTHAN & ORS.
v.
SURJI DEVI
(Civil Appeal No.6205 of 2021)
OCTOBER 07, 2021
[M.R. SHAH AND A.S. BOPANNA, JJ.]
Constitution of India - Writ petition - Delay and laches -
Respondent's husband terminated from service in 1996 - Appeal
filed by him, however, during the pendency of the said appeal he
passed away in 2009 - Appeal not pursued by respondent - Writ
petition filed by her in 2012 challenging the 1996 termination order
- Allowed - Held: Writ petition was barred by delay and laches -
Single Judge erred in entertaining the same - Further, despite the
pending appeal and the respondent's specific prayer in writ petition
to direct the authority to decide the same, the Single Judge entered
into the merits of the case and quashed the order of termination -
Impugned judgments passed by the Division Bench as well as the
Single Judge, set aside - Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 -
ss.91(3), (4) - Rajasthan Services Rules, 1951 - r.86.
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No.6205 of
2021
From the Judgment and Order dated 01.03.2019 of the High Court
of Judicature for Rajasthan Bench at Jodhpur in D.B. Spl. Appeal Writ
No.1045 of 2018.
Dr. Manish Singhvi, Sr. Adv., Milind Kumar, Advs. for the
Appellants.
Saurabh Ajay Gupta, Nishant Bishnoi, Ms. Srishti Prabhakar, Advs.
for the Respondent.
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
M. R. SHAH, J.
1. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned judgment
and order dated 01.03.2019 passed by the High Court of Judicature for
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SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[2021] 8 S.C.R.
Rajasthan at Jodhpur in D.B. Special Appeal Writ No. 1045 of 2018, by
which the Division Bench of the High Court has dismissed the said appeal
and has confirmed the order dated 17.01.2017 passed by the learned
Single Judge by which the learned Single Judge quashed and set aside
the order of termination dated 16.12.1996 dismissing the late husband of
the respondent from service, the State of Rajasthan and others have
preferred the present appeal.
2. The facts leading to the present appeal in nutshell are as under:-
2.1 That the late husband of the respondent herein late Shri
Rameshwar Lal was serving as Gram Sevak. He was suspended from
service vide order dated 08.01.1996 on the ground of willful absence
from duty and not completing the audit. The administrative committee of
Panchayat Samiti Nokha in its meting dated 26.02.1996 took a decision
to remove him from service. That thereafter a public notice was published
in the daily news paper on 14.03.1996, whereby Rameshwar Lal was
directed to join his duties within a period of 15 days with explanation.
Even after completion of 15 days the said Rameshwar Lal did not join
his duties. Thereafter the services of the said Rameshwar Lal - late
husband of the respondent were terminated vide order dated 16.12.1996
invoking the provisions of Section 91 (3) of the Rajasthan Panchayati
Raj Act, 1994 (hereinafter referred to as the Act 1994) and Rule 86 of
Rajasthan Services Rules, 1951. It appears that the late husband of the
respondent preferred an appeal against the order of termination issued
under Section 91 (4) of the Act 1994 before the District Establishment
Committee, Zila Parishad, Bikaner. During the pendency of the said
appeal the employee - Rameshwar Lal passed away on 18.09.2009.
That thereafter the respondent herein preferred a writ petition before
the High Court being S.B. Civil Writ Petition No.11405 of 2011 challenging
the dismissal/termination order dated 16.12.1996. By judgment and order
dated 17.01.2017, the learned Single Judge allowed the said writ petition
and quashed and set aside the order of termination dated 16.12.1996
and directed the appellants to give all consequential benefits to the
respondent treating her husband to be superannuated on 16.12.1996.
The judgment and order passed by the learned Single Judge has been
confirmed by the Division Bench, by the impugned judgment and order.
Hence the present appeal.
3. We have heard the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
respective parties at length.
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4. The facts which emerged are that the late husband of the
respondent was removed/dismissed from service by order dated
16.12.1996. He preferred an appeal which was pending before the
appellate authority. During the pendency of the appeal, the late husband
of the respondent - employee died/passed away in the year 2009. If the
late husband of the respondent would not have been terminated/dismissed
he would have attained the age of superannuation in the year 1999.
After the death of the employee - late husband of the respondent she
did not pursue the appeal, maybe she might not be aware of filing/
pendency of the appeal. That thereafter the respondent - widow of the
employee filed a writ petition before the High Court in the year 2012.
Thus, by the time the respondent preferred a writ petition before the
High Court, 15 years had passed from the date of termination and even
approximately 13 years from the date on which the employee would
have attained the age of superannuation i.e. from the year 1999.
Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances, as such, the learned
Single Judge ought not to have entertained the writ petition in the year
2012, challenging the order of termination passed on 16.12.1996, on the
ground of delay and laches alone. At this stage, it is required to be noted
that even despite the fact that it was specifically prayed by the respondent
in writ petition before the learned Single Judge to direct the authority to
decide the appeal preferred by her husband, the learned Single Judge
despite the above prayer and the pending appeal, entered into the merits
of the case and quashed and set aside the order of termination dated
16.12.1996.
5. The submission on behalf of the respondent is that the
termination on 16.12.1996 was absolutely illegal and against the principles
of natural justice is concerned, once we hold that the writ petition was
barred by delay and laches, thereafter the merits are not required to be
considered. As observed hereinabove, the learned Single Judge erred in
entertaining the petition in the year 2012 challenging the order of
termination passed in the year 1996, on the ground of delay and laches
and more particularly when even otherwise if the termination order would
not have been passed the deceased employee would have retired on
attaining the age of superannuation in the year 1999.
In view of the above and for the reasons stated above, the present
appeal succeeds. The impugned judgment and order dated 01.03.2019
passed by the Division Bench of the High Court as well as the judgment
THE STATE OF RAJASTHAN v. SURJI DEVI
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SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[2021] 8 S.C.R.
and order dated 17.01.2017 passed by the learned Single Judge are hereby
quashed and set aside. In the facts and circumstances of the case, there
shall be no order as to costs.
Divya Pandey
Appeal allowed.