1996 (3) TMI 526 - SC - Indian Laws

Whether the delinquent officer/employee had or did not have a fair hearing? Held that - No prejudice has resulted to the respondent on account of not furnishing him the copies of the statements of witnesses. We are satisfied that on account of the said violations it cannot he said that the respondent did not have a fair hearing or that the disciplinary enquiry against him was not a fair enquiry. Though the copies of the statements of two witnesses Kaur Singh, Patwari and Balwant Singh were not furnished, the respondent was permitted to peruse them and take notes therefrom more than three days prior to their examination. Of the two witnesses, Balwant Singh was not examined and only Kaur Singh was examined. The respondent did not raise any objection during the enquiry that the non-furnishing of the copies of the statements is disabling him or has disabled him, as the case may be, from effectively cross- examining the witnesses or to defend himself. The Trial Court has not found that any prejudice has resulted from the said violation. The Appellate Court has no doubt said that it has prejudiced the respondent s case but except merely mentioning the same, it has not specified in what manner and in what sense was the respondent prejudiced in his defence. The High Court, of course, has not refereed to aspect of prejudice at all. Accordingly, we allow the appeal and set aside the judgment of the High Court affirming the judgments of the Trial Court and Appellate Court the suit filed by the respondent shall stand dismissed.

Issues Involved:
1. Violation of principles of natural justice in disciplinary proceedings.
2. Non-furnishing of copies of statements of witnesses and documents.
3. Examination of prejudice caused by procedural violations.
4. Distinction between substantive and procedural provisions.

Detailed Analysis:

1. Violation of Principles of Natural Justice in Disciplinary Proceedings:
The core issue raised by the appellant concerns the alleged violation of natural justice principles during disciplinary proceedings. The respondent was accused of temporary misappropriation of funds and issuing an unauthorized letter jeopardizing the bank's interests. The disciplinary enquiry found both charges established, leading to the respondent's removal from service. The respondent's appeal argued that the enquiry was flawed due to procedural lapses, specifically the non-furnishing of witness statements and documents.

2. Non-furnishing of Copies of Statements of Witnesses and Documents:
The factual position, as found by the Appellate Court, indicated that while a list of documents and witnesses was provided, copies of the documents and statements recorded during the preliminary enquiry were not supplied to the respondent. The respondent was allowed to peruse these documents only half an hour before the enquiry commenced. The High Court held that this failure violated Regulation 68(X)(b)(iii) of the State Bank of Patiala (Officers') Service Regulations, 1979, which mandates that copies of statements of witnesses recorded earlier should be furnished not later than three days before the commencement of witness examination.

3. Examination of Prejudice Caused by Procedural Violations:
The Supreme Court emphasized that not every procedural violation automatically vitiates the enquiry. The test of prejudice must be applied to determine whether the procedural lapse affected the fairness of the hearing. The Court noted that the respondent did not raise any objections during the enquiry regarding the non-furnishing of copies and did not claim that this hindered his ability to cross-examine witnesses or defend himself effectively. The Appellate Court's finding of prejudice was not substantiated with specific details on how the respondent's defense was impacted.

4. Distinction Between Substantive and Procedural Provisions:
The judgment distinguishes between substantive and procedural provisions. Substantive provisions, which are fundamental to the authority's jurisdiction, must be strictly complied with. Procedural provisions, designed to ensure a fair hearing, can be examined for substantial compliance. The Court held that the procedural lapse in this case, i.e., the non-furnishing of copies of witness statements, did not result in prejudice to the respondent. The Court applied the test of prejudice and substantial compliance, concluding that the respondent had a fair hearing despite the procedural lapse.

Conclusion:
The Supreme Court allowed the appeal, setting aside the judgments of the High Court, Trial Court, and Appellate Court. The suit filed by the respondent was dismissed, with the Court finding no prejudice resulted from the procedural violation. The judgment underscores the importance of examining procedural lapses through the lens of prejudice and substantial compliance, rather than automatically invalidating disciplinary proceedings for every procedural misstep.

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