NON-REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL  NO(S). 8685-8686/2018

(ARISING FROM SLP(C) No(s).31952-31953/2017)

EMMANUEL LALITH KUMAR                              APPELLANT(S)

                               VERSUS

THE ORTHODOX SYRIAN CATHOLIC EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY (R) RESPONDENT(S)

J U D G M E N T

KURIAN, J.

Mr.  Mahesh  Rao,  Regional  Joint  Director,

Department  of  Collegiate  Education,  Mangalore,

Karnataka, is present before this Court today.  He

has  also  filed  an  affidavit  in  compliance  of  the

order  dated  9.7.2018  and  has  also  tendered

unconditional apology.   

2. In  view  of  the  affidavit,  further  proceedings

against  Mr.  Mahesh  Rao,  Regional  Joint  Director,

Department  of  Collegiate  Education,  Mangalore,

Karnataka, are dropped.

3. The  State  of  Karnataka,  represented  by  the

Secretary, Higher Education and the Commissioner of

Collegiate Education, Karnataka, will stand impleaded

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as additional respondents.

4. Mr.  V.N.  Raghupathy,  learned  counsel,  waives

service  of  notice  for  the  newly  impleaded

respondents.  

5. Leave granted.

6. The appellant is before this Court with a long

pending  dispute  arising  out  of  the  disciplinary

proceedings  initiated  against  him  by  the

respondent/Society.   

7. Thanks to the efforts taken during the mediation

conducted  at  the  Bangalore  Mediation  Centre,  the

parties have reached a settlement on some of the main

disputes between the appellant and the Management of

the respondent/Society (hereinafter referred to as,

‘the  Management’).   The  Management  has  agreed  to

reinstate  the  appellant  in  service,  without  back-

wages, subject to reasonable compensation.

8. Accordingly,  pursuant  to  the  orders  passed  by

this Court, the appellant has been reinstated.  Still

further, on a representation filed by the appellant,

as  directed  by  this  Court,  the  Management  has

appointed him as Head of the Department.  The salary,

after  reinstatement,  has  also  been  paid  by  the

Directorate of Collegiate Education, pursuant to the

directions of this Court.  The surviving grievance is

with respect to the salary and compensation for the

period he has been kept out of service i.e. from 2007

to March, 2018 and the fixation of increments.

9. Having  regard  to  the  entire  facts  and

circumstances of the case, we are of the view that

complete justice between the parties can be done in

case  the appellant  is treated  to be  in continuous

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service  for  all  purposes  from  the  date  of  his

termination in the year 2007, except for the actual

back-wages.  Ordered accordingly.  In other words,

the Government, Directorate and the Management shall

see that the appellant is treated to be in service

for all purposes by fixing his annual increments and

fixing his pay accordingly.

10. However, the appellant shall not be entitled to

any  actual  monetary  benefits  arising  out  of  such

fixation  till  the  date  of  his  reinstatement  on

16.03.2018.  

11. We  direct  the  Government,  Directorate  and  the

Management to comply with this direction of fixation

of  increments  within  a  period  of  one  month  from

today.   The  monetary benefits  arising out  of such

fixation  shall  also  be  disbursed  within  a  month

thereafter.  The impugned order shall stand modified

to the above extent.

12. In  order  to  facilitate  the

respondent/Government/Directorate  to  take  action  as

above,  the  appellant  is  directed  to  handover  his

original Ph.D. Certificate to the Management within a

week  from today.   The  Management shall  return the

same after verification.  However, we make it clear

that this process of verification shall not be taken

as a ground for not complying with the directions we

have already issued.

13. The appeals are, accordingly, disposed of.  All

other  proceedings  against  the  appellant  are  also

dropped with a reminder to both the sides that they

have a holy duty to impart education and mould the

young minds and they should lead by example.

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14. Pending  applications,  if  any,  shall  stand

disposed of.

15. There shall be no orders as to costs.

.......................J.               [KURIAN JOSEPH]  

.......................J.               [SANJAY KISHAN KAUL]  

NEW DELHI; AUGUST 27, 2018.

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